Why are Retailers Embarrassed About Christmas?

11.20.02 | mlmr

[carton253]

There was a Hills Department Store commercial that comes on this time of year.

It is the picture of a desert, with huge dunes (almost hills)... the camera pans down to a man, leading a woman on a donkey...

The voice over says... Before there was this... (all has to do with the holiday stuff)... Before there was that... (again that has to do with the holiday hustle and bustle), there was a silent night.

Then the star appears in the sky.

Merry Christmas from all of us at Hills.

Great Commercial!

[mlmr]

They got what they wanted too.

How sad. The tyranny of the minority.

[mlmr]

Can you say IRONY?

Yes, and moreso I can say "Sad."

[Dick Bachert]

Gee, this could explain much of what's going on here in the former "land of the free and home of the brave."

“When the religion of a people is destroyed, doubt gets hold of the higher powers of the intellect, and half paralyzes all the others. Every man accustoms himself to have only confused and changing notions on the subjects most interesting to his fellow-creatures and himself. His opinions are ill-defined and easily abandoned; and, in despair of ever solving by himself the hard problems respecting the destiny of man, he ignobly submits to think no more about them. Such a condition cannot but enervate the soul, relax the springs of the will, and prepare the people for servitude. Not only does this happen, in such a case, that they allow their freedom to be taken from them; they themselves frequently surrender it.” ---Alexis de Tocqueville, “Democracy in America” (1840)

[mlmr]

Then the star appears in the sky.

It sounds so beautiful your description brought tears to my eyes. I think I am reacting so viscerally because we don't see this sort of thing any more in the public square. It is hidden in Churches and homes. How powerful!

[mlmr]

prepare the people for servitude

It could. I am not letting go of my faith and I am going to demand that it has a role in the culture.

[glory]

This has some truth to it. I have difficulty finding nativity things in many stores. Even Hallmark, while they have a couple of ornaments, don't even have a display of the nativity. I don't even remember seeing advent calenders there this year and I know they carried them for years--we used to open them as kids! I've found quite a number of things at Walmart...I mean everything from tradition nativities you would set up in the home in a variety of sizes to light up nativities to ornaments and many and much more variety of boxed cards that center on the true meaning of Christmas.
I appreciate this post. Even if we arent' looking in retail stores, this is a head's up while we are decorating to be sure we include lot's of the true meaning of Christmas. I can already see my 4 yr old getting giddy about Santa with a passing glance at where she should really be focused. I'm thinking it might be time to burst the Santa bubble--any opinions? I am really worried about her getting too focused on Santa and it's starting to happen.

[glory]

Agreed, I'm in central Ohio and we have quite a bit of nativity themed items. In fact, many are sold out that they have displayed so perhaps they don't carry enough? I know I'm one looking for something in particular.

[mlmr]

Perhaps we should email the above essay to local stores and newspapers...

[glory]

Not true here, in fact Walmart is the least offensive in this regard in our area. Plenty of nativity oriented stuff.

[HIDEK6]

Since December 25th is no more an accurate date of Jesus' birth as, say, October 12th, why not just find a new date for Christians to celebrate the date for what it represents without all the public clutter?

You make a very good point!

If the secularists want Christmas all to themselves, why don't the churches get together and redefine the date that Christ was born. With today's scholarship, you'd think they could pin that down retty close.

Then, the secularist Christmas would OFFICIALLY be the winter holidays and Christmas would be Christmas.

I wonder what kind of screaming would go on if we took Christmas away from them. I mean, what could they say? They themselves denied that it was Christmas anyway.

Know what I'm sayin'?

[mlmr]

We celebrate Santa but the theme is Christ centered. Santa is the embodiment of the happiness of the world with the coming of the Infant Jesus. It made the people so happy the happiness created this old Saint who brings us some gifts to remind us of the gifts the Lord has given to us. There are From Santa gifts under the tree. There are also an greater number of from Mom and Dad and most importantly... a big from Jesus gift. We practice bouniful Christmases following the Advent calender. We have no tv and that helps a lot.

[carton253]

It brought chills to me as I wrote it. The truth of Christmas/Easter... the truth of Christ is the greatest story ever told. I can never hear it enough.

[glory]

You know, while not fully given it over to secularists, for the reasons you mentioned, we have bought any gifts and supplies(decorating) we need early. I generally put the kids things on layaway in sept or oct and get them out well before thanksgiving, that way we don't have to step foot in a store after thanksgiving and the kids don't get distracted. If the kids watch tv, I generally put tapes on instead so they aren't bombarded by Christmas advertising. Instead we can spend our time home with family, concentrating on the true meaning of Christmas, and attending the many church events and participating in them that come about during advent.

[jjm2111]

The corporate world seems to be obsessed with the "holiday" spirit if you will. I make it a point to say Merry Christmas at work, at the "holiday" party which I call the Christmas party.

Even in NYC the majority of people are Christian.

[HamiltonJay]

Go to a Christian Book Store, support people who aren't ashamed of their faith. I guarantee they will have what you need.

[glory]

Has to be the area friend. The walmart by my home(central Ohio) has a number of nativity related items(some even sold out--display still there, items gone). Wrapping, ornaments, tree toppers, decorations(in and out), well you get the picture. I'm going to be out shopping today at a number of stores, I will have to get back on this thread and let you know if they are comparable.
I've been in Hallmark--their selection is more and more secularized.

[texson66]

Try a Christian book or supply store, and dont shop at stores that fail to sell religious items. You are not going to bully them into doing what you want... let the Almight Dollar speak for you.

Sadly, Christmas has become Americanized.

Not "Americanized", but Panganized!

[glory]

I don't think you are crazy, we happen to extend the Christmas season into January. However we celebrate advent so there is much to celebrate prior to Christmas as well as the day and after.

[glory]

Dept store--they own Target nationally and Mervyn's out west.