Evolution of the Holiday Season Experience: A 22-Year Reflection
Twenty years ago, I had an 8-year-old and a newborn baby, and the holiday season was a chaotic nightmare. Working long hours, nursing a newborn, wrapping presents after everyone had gone to bed, and enduring a significant lack of sleep for a month - all of these challenges made me long for lazy holidays. Yet, despite these struggles, I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. While nothing has changed in terms of my love for Christmas, the way I perceive the holiday season has evolved significantly over the years.
Finding Flaws in the Holiday Tradition
Personally, I've always loved Christmas, but it wasn’t always that way. In my younger years, around 1959, I noted the excessive frequency of holidays. Back then, it felt as if they came around too often. The suggestion of having one every two years seemed like a much-appreciated idea and would likely be more enjoyable and less of a burden.
Over the years, the business community has relentlessly pushed the Christmas shopping season, starting with the Macy's parade at Thanksgiving and extending it to near Halloween. By the time the real Christmas arrives, people are exhausted, and many are just sick of the holiday.
Dilution of Traditional Christmas Activities
One of the things that has changed significantly is the traditional activities associated with Christmas. Carolling door-to-door used to be a great fun experience, with hot chocolate waiting for the carolers to regroup. However, this tradition has vanished. Back in the early 1990s, I remember meeting the first commercial carolers who would offer to carol for $5. I refused their offer, but it marks the beginning of a new, less wholesome era for holiday traditions.
The War on Christmas Controversy: Then and Now
Twenty years ago, the concept of a "war on Christmas" was non-existent. Starbucks cups with festive, yet vague holiday designs were no controversy. Nobody seriously believed that saying "Happy Holidays" implied an attack on Christmas or Christianity. It was seen more as a gesture of acknowledgment for people who celebrate other holidays around the same time.
However, efforts to keep "Christ" in Christmas were evident, as the holiday was already heavily commercialized. As early as the 1980s and 1990s, some argued that public schools should have a "winter holiday" instead of a "Christmas break," reflecting a broader attempt to remove the religious aspect from what is fundamentally a religious holiday.
Commercialization and Cultural Shifts
One of the most notable changes in the holiday season is the acceleration of its commercialization. Earlier in my life, Christmas lights were hung and kept up for a longer duration during the holiday season. Yet, in recent years, the trend has shifted, with people taking down lights and throwing out Christmas trees and turning off music as soon as Christmas begins, rather than allowing the season to stretch through to January 6, which is the traditional end date of the Christmas season.
Interestingly, some Thirty years ago, our small town outside of Seattle used to experience a snowy Christmas every year. It was a common occurrence in the 1980s and early 1990s, with drifts often reaching up to the windows. However, in the past 15 years, the town has seen only two snow-covered Christmases. This significant change in a generation reflects the broader impact of climate change on seasonal weather patterns.
In conclusion, while my love for Christmas remains undiminished, the way I experience the holiday season has undergone significant changes. These changes reflect not only the commercialization of the holiday but also cultural shifts, including the lessening of traditional activities and the impact of climate change on seasonal weather patterns.