| To know me is to know I love Christmas. I love everything about it. I'm almost embarrassed to admit how many Christmas songs I have saved on my laptop. In college I got into an argument with a nun on the first day of class when she posited that no one wants to be deceived. I countered by saying that I wish I still believed in Santa Claus.
Part of the reason I love it so much is that it comes but once a year. There is something special in the anticipation, in waiting, in counting down the days. When you get too much of it then it becomes like nearly every other good thing out there: nice, but ordinary. That is why, for the second year, I am joining SulDog's Thanksgiving Comes First campaign. Last year he wrote
If you believe, as I do, that Thanksgiving should play out before Christmas; that Christmas carols should not be heard on the radio before at least Thanksgiving evening; that advertisers who dare to encroach upon Thanksgiving with their hideous advertisements should be told in no uncertain terms that you will not shop at their establishments; that malls who put Santa Claus on display before Veterans Day has even finished should be made to pay a price; then please consider doing what I'm going to ask of you.
He asked that we publicly identify those stores that put up plastic reindeer before the wishbone is broken and boycott them. I was told that Lowe's has a Christmas display up already, not surprising since they had one up as early as October 6th last year.
On Saturday Adam at UHub ventured out of Roslindale to visit our very own Papa Gino's. What he first encountered when arriving was not the delicious aroma of the 7 cheese blend. No, he was "assaulted by 'Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire' and 'Little Drummer Boy.'" As he rightfully grumbled, "Redrum-pa-pum-pum, stick a fork in my ear drum." |
| Per Generalissimo SulDog's request, I will be writing to Lowe's and Papa Gino's to inform them that they won't get another penny out of me until at least January 7th, that is, until the 12 days of Christmas are over. If the list of those prematurely hanging twinkle lights in their storefronts should grow I'll list them in comments here and will be sending them the same letter. If you see any offenders, be sure to let us all know as well.
That said, after the Marauders maul the Mustangs (10am, Norwood High) nothing would please me more than to see every business in town light up like the Civatrese/ Cushman household or Gaffney Rd. I'm told they have been at it on Garfield Road for several weeks already.
I was once in the library of the Dedham Historical Society when a woman reading a newspaper from the 1920s or 1930s remarked that people were then griping at how commercialized Christmas had become. Personally, so long as you remember what the real reason for the season is, I say bring on the presents! Wrap them up in bright paper and stick big bows on top.
There was a marketing campaign a few years ago that said "The only thing better than seeing a smile on a child's face is knowing you put it there." It was designed to sell toys, but I think it is true anyway. I don't mind all the commercialism, but it has its proper place. That place, like my Christmas Carol playlist, is to be hidden away until everyone has so gorged themselves on turkey and mash potatoes that they pass out on the couch watching football.
By all means, merchants of Dedham, celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. Do it up. Let Dedham been seen from space with all the lights you string up. Let the TV stations do news stories on what Christmas spirit the people on business of Dedham have. But please, remember, Thanksgiving comes first. |
