Thanksgiving is just a week away. I love the holiday and the celebrating of all that is Autumn. Gathering together with family and being thankful for the wonderful life we have. So why is Christmas being shoved down our throats before Halloween is even past. Thanksgiving is becoming just a part of the Christmas celebrations and is barely acknowledged as it's own holiday any more. There are already quite a few homes in my town that are fully decorated for Christmas. Lights on the house, massive Christmas themed inflatables and so many really trashy decorations. It just drives me crazy!
I remember back to when I was a child. The first Christmas ad on TV was on Thanksgiving afternoon and was traditionally the Norelco Shaver ad with Santa riding the shaver like a sled. There catch-line was "even our name says Merry Christmas - Noelco. The weeks that followed felt like eternity waiting for Christmas morning. I feel so bad for the children now being subjected to this anticipation for two solid months. It must be torturous for them.
I did love as a child that Thanksgiving day was the official kick-off of the holiday season. Just look back at the Macy's Thanksgiving day Parade, it was all things Thanksgiving until the final float of the day - Santa! I haven't watched it in quite a few years as the coverage was more about the celebrities than the parade itself. As a child there were no crazy black Friday sales. The ones that now stretch for weeks instead of a single day. Santa arrived at the stores and malls after Thanksgiving.
Christmas was simple in our house. We would usually get a toy off our wish list, maybe something my mom thought we'd enjoy, a new sweater or outfit, socks, and winter hats, gloves or scarfs. It was always enough. I was never disappointed. With my own children I tried to keep it close to the same. I was able to buy maybe a nicer toy, or electronics. I often tried to get one nice family gift. I did not spend thousands of dollars though. I don't think I ever spent one thousand dollars on presents for the entire family. I still don't. Since my kids and even my grandson are all adults I love to do theme gifts. One year (Co-Vid) I put together at home spa-day kits. Robes, slippers, soaps, oils, etc. I've made themes of cooking supplies that appeal to cuisines they want to learn such as - Pizza, Korean, Soups. I also look to things they are interested in - Quilting, Gardening, Travel. I love just buying them all PJ's and a cozy blanket with teas or hot chocolate mix. I keep it simple. I even sometimes look to thrift stores and used book stores for unusual items or books suited to the theme.
I do love the holidays, but I prefer it to be simple. I want to celebrate Thanksgiving before I get inundated with Christmas ads, decor, music, etc. My Autumn decor stays up through to the end of November. Christmas decorations go up on or after December 1 now. When Alan and I were still married he loved to decorate the house and yard. The only time he ever had though was Thanksgiving weekend. So no matter the date it went up then. I often held back on putting the tree up though until after the first. I still have most of the lights and yard decor he put out. But it is just too much for me to do on my own now. A wreath on the door and my 1960's Santa Face that hangs on the front of the house and I call it done. I do a bit more inside, but I have scaled it back a bit. It is my decorations in the house though that bring me so much joy and bring back memories of Christmases past. It is these memories that we cherish the most. I will write about them on another day.
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