Why Christmas is starting earlier and earlier (and earlier)

There are two reasons (at least):

1. Retailers are constantly looking for ways to increase year-over-year sales. One way to do this (there are many) is to start a season earlier and run it longer. That part isn't rocket science.

2. The other occurred to me today [2012-10-09]: Christmas is an emotional fix losing its effectiveness in the modern age; each year, we need a little more a little earlier to attain the same high.[1]

The Christmas season recalls childhood and simpler times, allows one day of hope for unlikely things like a world hug, and grants one moment, however brief, in which we have no other responsibilities than satisfying ourselves to excess and cleaning up afterward.

Why is this emotional fix losing its effectiveness?

1. We have a cultural memory that something ought to be at the center of this annual celebration.

2. But that memory is of a religious belief long since discarded.

3. So we look in vain to find it, and unable to do so, invent something we think can take its place.

4. But it doesn't, so we try harder, and retailers, as much a part of the cultural memory as we are, offer to help us.

We chase a shadow unawares in and out of yesteryear.

We read about Scrooge, who learned to keep Christmas well; we watch George Baily restored after learning what life would be like if he'd never been born; and we listen to Linus tell us "that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

Year after year.

And we still don't get it..

Instead we spend and overspend and outspend, thinking we can buy it.

And we can't.

It's not for sale.

"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Christmas - perhaps - means a little bit more."
--The Grinch

c0

When How the Grinch Stole Christmas was written, Dr Seuss didn't need to declare openly what Christmas really meant; viewers knew why the Grinch's heart grew three sizes that day. That was almost 50 years ago. Lest there be any doubt: Christmas is about the birth of the Jesus, who grew up to die for the redemption of mankind.

c0

[1]
This is repeated on a miniature scale with breakfast cereals that promise a happy new day, cars and beers and deodorants that make men irresistible to women, and presidents that are going to fix the world.

c0

Started: 2012-10-09