The Big Deal of Christmas Morning
Read more articles on Let Me Share With You and Holidays.December 21, 2006
Posted by Karen Amato Schwartz
December 21, 2006
Posted by Karen Amato Schwartz
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It’s the time of year when I start asking myself about the cumulative psychology of the hundreds of millions, or billions, who will be celebrating Christmas in a few days.
For the majority, it’s ingrained in us that the big deal is waking up on Christmas morning and opening presents. Of course, many prefer to do so on the Eve, and many more open their gifts later after arriving at others’ homes, but there is something about the morning that makes it clear that “this is it; this is the special time”.
Is it the whole marketing angle, where almost every ad shows a happy family (some in their jammies) smiling next to a pile of wrapped boxes? Is it that we’ve been conditioned that opening gifts is what we’re supposed to be doing at the particular time? Or is it that we want to continue the tradition and sentiment of our youth by being surprised at what Santa left under the tree while we slept?
Of course, when I was little, and I’d creep down the stairs at dawn, it was absolutely mesmerizing to see those boxes-even if they weren’t all mine. But now, as a somewhat cynical adult, I have to wonder about our need to have those boxes of items that, for the most part, we don’t need, and some of which will simply go back to the stores. To many, it doesn’t even matter if the item will be returned; it’s more the issue of “buying something nice” and hopefully the size and color will suffice. When I see the multitudes in the stores right now, then I see almost the same numbers returning stuff the week following Christmas, I just shake my head.
Why do we do this? Why are we so gullible that we buy almost anything, at higher prices than they’ll be in a few weeks, in order to put them “under the tree”? Just the thought of saying that someone will get their gift a little late is tantamount to being declared scrooge, crazy, abnormal or unnatural! Even a day or so late isn’t the same; for some reason, many-even adults-want to have that joy of opening their loot on Christmas day.
But we want-or need-to see our gifts be greeted with hoopla and shared admiration. We want to have our kids be able to get on the phone or IM and tell their friends about their gifts. Even though the opening process rarely takes a half hour, and leaves a mess of paper and ribbons and empty containers, it’s important to us. (Now what it has to do with the religious aspect of why we’re celebrating Christmas is a whole other matter, but we won’t go there…)
So here’s to those who are having a hard time right now getting stuff bought in the midst of the commotion and crowds and are tempted to wait, and here’s to those who are considering giving their gifts early. You may as well aim for Christmas day-or morning if you can-because, doing so will be following a tradition that’s bigger than all of us. But, if you really want to surprise someone by giving a gift at some other time, take comfort in knowing that at least it won’t be lost in the shuffle of all the rest!
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