I'm okay with a Two-Month Christmas and the abolition of Thanksgiving

[captain_slinky]

Thanksgiving is a celebration of how the White Man came and stole the land from the Native Americans and tried to commit mass genocide through traditional and germ warfare, as well as segregation and starvation. We celebrate by being gluttonous and then trampling each other at "Black Friday" sales. This is the only holiday celebration that gets it's own National Day Of Mourning on the following day. I really can't believe that this is a holiday that some folks still defend as a thing that needs more recognition! I'll pass, thanks.

However, there *is* an alternative, called "The Holiday Season"! It starts on October 31st with the Opening Ceremonies Masquerade Ball, which has overtones of death and horror in honor of the atrocities committed against the Native Americans and those who lost their lives on Black Friday of years passed. We then move on to the Rehearsal Dinner on the last Thursday in November (they don't even give Thanksgiving it's own specific day, just "I dunno, somewhere around the end of November"), and then the Four Days Of Christmas (Little Christmas Eve, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day). followed by the All-Night Wrap Party on December 31st! TWO SOLID MONTHS of one awesome Holiday Celebration WOO!!!

That's not to say that you don't need to *pace yourself*. Just because Rudolph is on the radio doesn't mean you have to eat cookies, chug nog and buy more presents 24/7 - just go with it! Just be happy that there's only *two months* out of the entire year that this stuff is acceptable and allowed to exist. Two months where you're allowed to talk about Santa Claus, enjoy a candy cane and hum "Jingle Bells" without suffering public ridicule. TWO MONTHS! That's all I ask for, is permission to be happy for *two months* before you force me back into the "We should accept everyone for whatever they want to like and believe in EXCEPT Christmas stuff, because liking Christmas stuff when it's NOT Christmas is just CRAZY".

I really don't understand the people who have very real, very passionate HATRED towards these two months. I just don't get it.

Comments

[lynna12000.livejournal.com]

Technically, the Christmas holiday ends on Epiphany (Three Kings Day), January 6.

Personally, my family views Thanksgiving as more of a harvest fest. It's a celebration of good food. Then again, my mom grew up in England, my dad's parents immigrated from Holland as adults. They came to the feast a bit later than most.

I've only participated in the Black Friday shopping combat event one time. The combatants are far too blood thirsty for my further participation. If you are over 18, and can't afford it for yourself; no one else in the family can either. December 25 is just another day of feasting for us.

[aurora77]

Black Friday is a day when we hole up in our house and eat leftovers while watching movies. I can't think of any good reason to venture toward any retail establishments that day. It frightens and depresses me.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

It's as close to the "Xmas" that they present on Futurama as we're likely to get in my lifetime :)

[aurora77]

I certainly hope we never see an Xmas like Futurama!

[aurora77]

Thanksgiving is WOOT! PARADE, TIME OFF AND STUFFED TURKEY! day for me. I like your rehearsal dinner idea best, though.

I did a real Halloween season this year. All October was pumpkins and decorations and spooky music and costumes and candy and TONS of Halloween specials. I like the contrast with the Christmas Season.

On November 1st, I sat down and watched my first Christmas special. I will watch Thanksgiving specials up to Thanksgiving, with the occasional Christmas special mixed in. This is the time for pumpkin everything. Holiday music is now encouraged. Thanksgiving starts with hot cocoa and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Then we go to the in-laws' house for Turkey dinner and board games with family. After Thanksgiving, it's in full swing. Decorations go up. Wrapped gifts sit under the wreath (no tree due to cats), new scented plug-ins with holiday scents get changed. There's usually a holiday musical or play to be attended. Christmas movies come out. Cookies are baked and decorated. There's always gingerbread. Christmas Eve is for A Christmas Story and cooking whatever I'll be taking to Christmas Dinner. Christmas itself starts with hot cocoa and the Disney parade. Then we move over to the in-laws for an early afternoon dinner and presents. Then we play a board game and hang out until the evening. The following week usually has a holiday party with friends where we get together and have a potluck using our Christmas leftovers and maybe hold a white elephant exchange. New Year's Eve has been quiet for us recently, though we've attended some big bashes in the past. If we do, they're usually themed costume parties with dancing. It wraps up for me on January 1st with the Tournament of Roses parade, also watched in my PJs with a cup of cocoa.

I have been following the Christmas Countdown at the Organized Christmas website. They have Christmas preparation stuff all set up. The first week is about getting organized. Printing some checklists, making sure you take care of certain things that will take a while, etc. The second week is about doing a reality check. Looking at what your values and expectations of the holiday season are, what's important to you, how much can you spend, setting up a list of who you realistically can give gifts to, how not to over-do things on the scheduling front, etc. The third week concentrates on figuring out gifts, starting to fill out cards, getting in any catalog/online orders early, etc. The fourth week concentrates on planning for cooking, shopping for the pantry, cooking some things ahead of time and freezing them, etc. Then the fifth week is for decorating (takes place Thanksgiving week) and wrapping up gift buying and most preparation. The sixth week is in early December and concentrates on prep for celebrating. They mix in holiday housework plans and lots of great little things within the countdown, too. I have my binder and Christmas box which I'm finding really useful right now.
http://christmas.organizedhome.com/

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

This is great, thanks!