Christmas Music
I know that I will probably catch some flack for this...but if you have ever worked in a mall or a restaurant around the holidays you can probably sympathize.
There are many people out there who love the holidays for many reasons...some like to spend time with their families, some like to shop, some look for a good excuse to have a vacation from work...and some like the "holiday cheer". The latter of that list usually entails a love of Christmas music and all things related.
I want to start by saying that I AM NOT A SCROOGE by any means. I love holidays...I love hanging out with my family...I love taking some time off from school and work. I truly love the "real" meaning to celebrate Christmas (the birth of Jesus). But something that I truly truly do not like is Christmas music.
Fourteen years of working in restaurants (the majority of which was in malls) has jaded me when it comes to holiday music. To the point that when I come across it on the radio I instantly change the dial. Dont get me wrong...there are some old songs with good theological meaning that I can tolerate. But the thought of having a "Blue Christmas" or "Seeing momma kissing Santa Clause" makes my stomach turn even writing the words :). And every year it has gotten earlier and earlier. In the old days they used to hold off until the day after Thanksgiving...this year I actually heard some Christmas music on the radio more than a week ago.
Let me know your thoughts...
posted by Kevin Yates @ 4:48 PM
7 comments
7 Comments:
Not that I'm encouraging your jadedness towards Santa-inspired music, but here is the latest news on the holiday... It seems like you won't have many years left to hear the music around town:
Survey Proves Retailers Banning Christmas
I thought you would be interested in a survey we (American Family Association) did. We gathered advertising inserts from 11 different companies placed in two papers on Nov. 27 (Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal & Memphis Commercial Appeal.) Combined, the inserts totaled 280 pages.
Of the 11 companies, only one—McRae's/Belks—had a reference to "Christmas." They mentioned "Christmas" only two times. The other 10 companies did not mention "Christmas" a single time! While refusing to use "Christmas," they used the term "holiday" a total of 59 times in their 10 inserts.
The companies which refused to mention Christmas a single time in their 260 pages of insert promotions were Target, Kroger, Office Max, Walgreens, Sears, Staples, Lowe's, J.C. Penney, Dell and Best Buy.
Ask these companies why they banned "Christmas" in their in-store promotions and retail advertising and they will tell you they didn't want to offend anyone. They mean, of course, anyone except Christians.
These retailers are willing to use Christmas to secure about 20% of their yearly sales, but they absolutely refuse to mention the Reason for the season.
(Take action @ www.afa.net/Petitions/SignPetition.asp?id=1480)
Kevin, you are right in your thinking that Christmas is not all about snowmen, reindeer, and Mommy kissing Santa Claus. Perhaps this controversy can inspire us spread Good Cheer about our Lord & Savior to our unbelieving peers. Maybe we can hum Christian Christmas tunes in our heads as we walk through our confused civilian streets. Speaking of confusion (new rabbit), yesterday in my neighborhood I saw that someone had displayed Joseph & Mary with Baby Jesus "surrounded" by Frosty the Snowman & Santa Claus!!! It was like they were one big family!!
Cheers,
Stephanie
That is an interesting poll result. Obviously my resoning behind not liking the music is a bit different :). Maybe it will get to a point where the music will stop in the stores...but honestly, I spend so little time actually in stores around Christmas (never the day after Thanksgiving). I try to buy some stuff online, and what I cant get online I usually spend one Saturday afternoon doing it all...I dont really have too many people to buy stuff for.
So I guess they are saying that Frosty and Santa were there at the manger too :)...I wonder if they brought gifts to go along with the wise men's gifts.
i personally like christmas music. i guess i've never been around enough of it to do the "overkill" thing. there are a few songs that i don't like...but for the most part it brings up memories for me. we always listen to christmas music in the car on christmas day while driving to grandma's...and we almost always have the music playing through the house while we trim the tree. i have happy things to go back to in my head instead of being stuck at work. :)
The place where I worked last year had a radio going the whole day, and since the public came in and out a lot we chose a light Pop station. This station played Christmas music non-stop throughout the holidays. Last year was the only time I got really sick of it - after 8 hours a day, everyday, from Thanksgiving on. :)
I love Christmas music - and the funny thing is my Dad will break out into Silver Bells year round! I grew up with Frosty, Rudolph, and Santa...I don't find them threatening to the True meaning of Christmas, but then again, I was raised in a fmily that taught me the difference, and what was most important. Sadly, many children aren't as fortunate.
Erin,
I could see some good memories...and honestly until the last few years I didnt mind it much...even enjoyed some songs. But now...after dealing with the mall shoppers, and the irritation of serving in a restaurant for so many years, and how much I had grown to hate that before I left the restaurant world...it just brings back those memories instead.
I would actually work a lot of doubles during the hollidays (good money), and be at work for 12-13 hours at a time...some days I would hear the same annoying song 3-4 times.
Rose,
I think what you hit on is part of the problem I have...since some families do not differentiate, you get manger scenes with Santa and Frosty welcoming in the birth of Jesus.
I'm Jewish so the "Holidays" are a weird timie for me. It's a great time to get together with family, reflect, and relax. But it's been soooo commercialized...that makes me kind of jaded. I find Christmas music particularly annoying for that reason. The songs themselves are great. However, I feel like subliminally they are all saying, "Buy, buy, buy." Just my personal, weird take on it.
Hey Kev. I personally love Christmas music, but I know about having to hear it a ton when working somewhere in retail! I hate that. But luckily this year I'm working somewhere that still just plays regular music during Christmas time. So, when I put a CD in the car or hear it on the radio I can actually enjoy it. By the way, you need to update :).
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