Not-So-Happy Holidays

Pumpkin cider, eggnog, peppermint and pine - the fragrances of the season seem to waft in quietly as Christmas approaches. Sometimes the holiday spirit is felt months before the festivities begin and other times the happy holidays are, well, not-so-happy.

When I witness the crass and selfish behavior of so many people, I can see why some would get the holiday blues. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the stores are a stark reminder that “peace on earth, good will towards men” isn’t always evident. Folks punch, kick, bite and even shoot each other over the year’s hottest items.

This holiday in particular has become so commercialized it only serves to deepen the depression of those already suffering. I’ve heard so many people sigh at the mere thought of Christmas. The daunting task of gift giving, shopping and entertaining tends to add more stress to those just trying to make ends meet. Most can hardly afford to live, let alone buy gifts that some recipients won’t even remember to take home. Children expect toys at Christmas, and it’s hardly worth their time unless it’s some overpriced, electronic gadget.

I was raised in a simple, middle-class family. I remember how we would all converge upon the house following the traditional Christmas Eve church service. There, we’d eat, visit and open a few gifts. Yes, we exchanged gifts, but it was a simple affair. Seeing all the new additions to the family as well as friends we hadn’t seen in years was a true gift in itself. Don’t get me wrong, I loved presents as much as the next little girl, but there didn’t seem to be the emphasis on it that there is now. The whole idea of gift giving and its true intention was kept in perspective.

Gone are the days of getting together for the sheer joy of each other's company and a chance to fill in the spaces of our lives. Sadly, times have changed, and the phrase Happy Holidays just might become a thing of the past if we continue to view the most joyous of seasons as an "obligation."