Tis the season

Once again, America is in the midst of a ridiculous holiday season. It's nothing new, not at all. Every year, the masses go out and buy stringed, colorful lightbulbs and oversized, stiff socks. They go out and they get their napkins decorated with leaves of fall colors or pilgrims with their stupid little hats. Spirit driven consumers spend the money they work so hard for on miniature books that actually just contain eight rolls of lifesavers. Evergreen trees sit in living room corners until they begin to wilt.
It makes me wonder how these traditions start. I don't mean which religion started it or what the point of it is. What I'm curious about is the human need for tradition and ritual. To some extent, it's a good thing to do something regularly. Routines make sense. Holiday traditions don't. At least not to me, really. I don't mean to be Scrooge-like or anything but so many people spend money that they shouldn't on Christmas gifts. Parents who may not have a lot of money feel inadequate because they can't get little Richard that new bicycle. It's all a gimmick to get you to buy stuff.

Thanksgiving is a good excuse to spend time with the family and that's wonderful. It's a little sad that you need an excuse, though. Really, family shouldn't feel obligated when Turkey Day comes around, to go home and eat with people who share some genes. If you don't want to spend time with your family, you shouldn't. Don't waste your time. You'd be wasting their time, too if you truly aren't interested in the company. Family isn't the most important thing. It certainly can be but it's not necessary. By family, there, I mean parents, siblings, uncles and such. If you have children of your own, it's different and you maybe should feel obligated.
The most wonderful time of the year is cold and chaotic. It's depressing to a lot of people. The roads get more dangerous.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,

-N

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