[ Outline ] · Standard · Linear+ I'm not lining up at the store

[Janie]

The major shops have opened at 5 this morning for "Black Friday". I don't know who came up with that, the consumers or the stores, but I won't be doing the over consumerism this holiday season.
And sorry, but I don't call it holiday season either. I call it Christmas.
When I was young we spent Christmas morning with our family, and then went around to friends to see what they got. We did not have to bring them an elaborate gift. We just enjoyed the day. There was no stress and credit cards were not maxed out.
Why did we ruin it?

[Janie]

I don't believe "Christmas" is the source of the mass consumerism. It's happening on many different holidays. "Christmas" does not make you open the wallet and go far into debt. "Christmas" does not make you think you can buy your kids a fancy gift insted of doing something special with them. I can remember very few gifts from when I was young, but I do remember my father taking us out sledding in cardboard boxes.
I think the mass consumerism comes from us thinking that money and heart are interchangeable.