Published: October 05, 2007 01:14 pm            

REFLECTIONS: Don't rush the holiday season

Halloween is just around the corner. The days are growing shorter, and the leaves are turning and falling. The weather is not yet unbearably cold, the air smells crisp and clean, and lovely fall decorations paint a warm welcome to the homes of friends and neighbors.

It’s time for hearty soup, crock pot dinners, and warm apple pie for dessert. Football season is in full force, and thankfully, it’s been warm and sunny for weekend games.

This is truly my favorite time of year, except for one thing; the subtle reminder that the holiday shopping season is quickly approaching. Tree ornaments, holiday cards, and wrapping paper obnoxiously liter the aisles and shelves of several retail stores. Soon, more and more retailers will begin to display additional reminders; holiday decorations, wreaths, gift packages, and other assorted items.

Every year I feel more rushed to get through the fall and find it harder and harder to enjoy the very things I love about this season — warm and sunny days, cool and cozy evenings, comfy sweaters, bonfires, pumpkin farms and apple cider.

Instead, I am forced to reluctantly contemplate the upcoming tasks of decorating, buying and wrapping gifts, baking and party planning, well before my son has even picked out his Halloween costume.

Why do retailers find it necessary to market their wares for a season that has not yet arrived? It is still two celebrations away (if you count Halloween as a celebration).

I understand that business’ try to capture as much of the spending that will occur during the holiday season. Do they believe that consumers will spend more, if they display their products sooner? I won’t.

This practice of forced marketing serves only to annoy me to the point that I want to boycott any unnecessary spending, and in turn, search for more of the true meaning in the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Isn’t that what the Christmas season is meant to be? Not a race to buy all that retailers throw in our faces at the start of the fall season.

Instead, a birth day celebration. A time to reflect on the one true gift, to count our blessings, and to spend quality time with family and friends.

Retailers should slow down to give us time to stop and smell the pumpkin spice candles in aisle 12. Besides, Halloween costumes are still taking up the space they will need for artificial trees, garland, candles and even more unnecessary, meaningless holiday items.

Linda Crist is a member of the Greater Niagara Newspapers advertising department. She is a Grand Island resident.

        

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