While walking through the main exchange with a post-Halloween sugar hangover on the first of November, I found myself bombarded by a growing wall of Christmas. Ornaments, candy canes, toys and lots of holiday advertising enticed me down practically every aisle.
After passing through some festive red and green aisles, it hit me: Where's Thanksgiving?
Fading from department store shelves more with each passing year are turkey cards, colorful cornucopias and cute little pilgrims with buckle hats and bonnets, smiling and bidding folks a blessed holiday.
I'm not the only one who has noticed: countless people online are asking the same question.
Thanksgiving has the unfortunate distinction of being sandwiched between two holiday powerhouses. Add to it the realization that marketers typically go where the money goes and Thanksgiving is doomed. Let's face it, Thanksgiving is rather boring by comparison.
Halloween has all the wild crazy costumes, fun parties and an army of little children who know how to work a neighborhood! And CANDY! Piles and piles of candy, all for the taking. How can you beat candy?
On the other side is Christmas: the worldwide king of all holidays. Period. Even the Easter Bunny, with all his cuteness, colorful eggs and piles of Peeps treats can't compete with jolly ol' Saint Nick. Santa has whole towns sold into filling streets with pretty lights and store windows with candy canes and gingerbread houses. And Christmas cookies! We'll try to forget the fruitcakes for now as I'm still not sure why that's even a thing. Did I mentioned Christmas cookies?
Then there's the popular perception for each.
Halloween is perceived as a children's dream holiday: they get to play make believe and go door-to-door speaking a magic phrase that's sure to win the hearts, and candy, of all participating adults. Even adults have a fun time getting in on that action, and getting into their kids' candy stashes later.
And Christmas? I could write all day about that flawless marketing scheme shaping perceptions.
There is an army of movie producers, advertisers, authors and musicians keeping the Christmas spirit alive year after year. There are nonstop product indorsements in stores and on smart devices, a whole month of endless Christmas music pouring out of what used to be your favorite radio station, Fake Christmas trees springing up in all colors and configurations, and bright festive home décor- not to mention the sparkling shiny presents flooding the tree, overstuffed stockings, Christmas movies, ugly sweaters, magical snow from a can (in case the real stuff doesn't show up), strangers appearing on your doorstep to sing the same songs already pouring out of your former favorite radio station, pounds of presents promised by a fat bearded guy with a sleigh pulled by tiny deer that apparently can fly faster than Superman, spiced wine and eggnog, noel and yuletide greetings, Grinch and Advent themes, parades, chestnuts, Scrooge and Rudolph, jingle bells, garland, ribbon, elves on shelves and Ho Ho hold on -
- (taking a breath) -
Between all the happy horror and merry madness sits a really awesome day generally free from commercialization and stress (depending on your family dynamic, of course); a day to simply gather around a table to catch up on old times and share some laughter and a great meal together; to embrace all the bounty of God's blessings upon your life and the lives of those you love.
Thanksgiving actually has the good fortune of being sandwiched between Halloween and Christmas because it is a special time to be extra appreciative, sincerely happy and hopeful; a day to remember what matters most while we leave all the holiday chaos behind.
Until Black Friday begins.
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