I work in a big box store, and with all big box stores, you get this problem; namely Christmas shit starts going up the day after Halloween. So of course we're not even halfway through November yet, and Christmas is on the mind. Which gets me thinking about a couple of things, and the opinions of the forumed masses about it.

How do you guys feel about Christmas being hyped well over a month in advance? I don't mind it if it's for the right reasons, like the season of togetherness and stuff, but in the case of stores and such, it loses its sincerity and becomes "better think of what you're going to buy for one day months ahead of time!" Has Christmas become too commercialized? Have we really all lost the real meaning of Christmas, and do you agree or disagree with it?

What about Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is fundamentally as American a holiday as the Fourth of July when you think about it... it celebrates Native Americans' friendship (at the time) and spirit of giving to proto-Americans, a feast of brotherhood for our ancestors in America before there even WAS an America, and thus I believe it should be as recognized as July 4th, yet because everyone's so bombarded by Christmas, we seem to forget. It's November 15th today, yet the store is decorated for Christmas, and for Thanksgiving... maybe one little endcap. What happened to Thanksgiving? You could say that's it's only one day, but isn't is just as important as Christmas? And, isn't it one day in the same spirit? The only difference is you get presents instead of food.

Lastly, getting back to the commercialization of Christmas, how do you guys feel about receiving gift cards as Christmas presents? The idea is sound, but it's almost like a big FUCK YOU to receive one from a close relative. There is the idea that you'll be able to use it yourself and get what YOU want for christmas instead of some crapshoot, hope-for-the-best present from some out of touch relative, but it also has this stigma of "I just bought you this because I'm too fucking lazy to pick out something you may like" on it. Do you or do you not feel that giving gift cards as a present is too impersonal? That, during a holiday where you show your generosity and thoughtfulness through gift, you eliminate thoughtfulness with an impersonal card?

See, the thing is, I AM married, and I DO have kids (well, KID, until February) and I am extremely bothered by the whole deal. Thanksgiving is AOK with me because it's a family get-together with a big meal. It seems we actually do remember the spirit of Thanksgiving, but of course, they forget about this for Christmas.

My son will probably either love or hate the month of December, because it's Christmas AND his birthday. I think gift cards are OK if you have no clue what to buy for someone, but there's no reason someone close to you shouldn't get you something more personal. We all know people don't get shit they like (hence why it's hell to work retail December 26th, AKA Returns Day) but you're also losing a sentiment, "it's the thought that counts." OK, return it if you don't like it, but isn't Christmas also about thinking of others? You may have gotten a book you hate, but at least someone thought enough of you to know you love books and buy it for you.