I was tired, crabby, and thankfully almost done running errands. It was at my second-to-last stop, a Target near home, that I heard it. I had to stop for a moment, because it was difficult to process and believe what I was hearing. I stopped, listened closely, and…yes, there it was, the unmistakable Muzak-ish chorus of “Away in a Manger.” For an instant, I thought my head was going to explode.
Really? It’s November 2nd; we just barely finished Halloween, we’re more than three weeks away from Thanksgiving…and you’re already playing carols and putting out Christmas decorations? Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, I worked in retail, so I get that some businesses depend on the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas for up to a quarter of their yearly inome. For some retailers, the Christmas holiday season is literally a make it or break it proposition. A good holiday season can carry a business through a lean year, while a slow Christmas can be a recipe for a slow death. I understand the pressure that businesses face, especially in our new jobless recovery. Retailers are looking for every possible edge they can get…but no matter how I parse things, I still can’t stomach the idea of Christmas carols burrowing into my brain on November 2nd. As if that isn’t bad enough, Erin was shopping this past weekend (BEFORE Halloween, mind you), and she came home telling me about going into a store that already had it’s Christmas decorations out and Christmas Muzak serenading shoppers. Ugh….
Don’t get me wrong; I like Christmas. No one should be confusing me with Ebenezer Scrooge…but can we at least get to Thanksgiving before we start getting bombarded with Christmas messages, imagery, and music? Being subjected to almost two months of Christmas means that by the time December 25th arrives, I’m pretty much burned out on the whole holiday thing. How long until retailers are in Christmas mode two weeks before Halloween??
Beside, isn’t there some other reason for Christmas besides propping up the American retail sector? Wait, wait…don’t tell me…it’ll come to me before long….
