Opinions

Corporate America jumps the gun on Christmas, push to buy starts too far in advance

Elise Brown
November 15, 2011

It’s the day after Halloween. You’ve recovered from your candy binge, slowly slid back into your normal routine, and decided to watch some TV. The continent is in the heart of autumn, with turkeys and awkward family reunions rapidly approaching. Naturally, it would be time for the media to acknowledge that Thanksgiving is approaching… right?

Nope. On Nov. 1, TV viewers were treated to the first ads of the Holiday season. T-Mobile, Walmart, car dealerships, Justin Bieber – just about every big business in America has decided that after pumpkins comes mistletoe, that after ghosts and zombies come reindeer and sleigh bells.

Corporate America is, it seems, ignoring the upcoming harvest tradition to tell the public that the Winter Holiday of your choice is coming, so we have to buy, buy, buy! Forget the turkey! There are toys to fight over, people!

Naturally, this immediate shift from Halloween to Christmas confused me as I watched “Dancing with the Stars” with my parents the night of Nov. 1. After seeing the same T-Mobile commercial three times, I asked my father, “Why is Christmas beginning so early?”

The answer was simple, he told me. Most businesses make most of their money for the year during the Christmas season. So, when big business is saying, “Buy your Christmas gifts now!” they are really saying, “Make sure we have good fourth quarter profits!”

I see right through your game, American capitalism. You’re taking the beautiful tradition of Christmas/Winter Solstice Gift-Giving Holiday and using it to milk us dry of our spending money before December has even started. You’re not spreading Christmas cheer – you’re fattening Christmas bonuses. I’m not buying it (so to speak).

We all learn as children that the “true meaning of Christmas” is not gifts. The answers vary depending on your system of beliefs, of course. To some, it’s the birth of a savior. To me, it’s the warm and fuzzy feeling of generosity and togetherness. But to corporate America, it’s the warm and fuzzy feeling of a stuffed wallet.

That’s not what Christmas is all about, and consumers know that. Or at least, they should.

I’m smarter than big business. I’m not preparing for Christmas yet because I don’t need to prepare for Christmas yet. I’m not preparing for Christmas yet because I actually like the transition that Thanksgiving provides. Most importantly, I’m not preparing for Christmas yet because it makes Christmastime feel more special.

It’s the reason there are so many stories about why Christmas can’t be every day: it doesn’t feel special anymore. The same goes for the feeling that Christmas is coming. If we start focusing on it too early, the actual holiday will feel commonplace. The warm and fuzzy feeling feels less extraordinary. Yes, the anticipation is just as much a part of Christmas as the holiday is. However, beginning the anticipation too early almost spoils the fun. Corporate America doesn’t understand that.

Transition is important. Anticipation is important. And yes, to retail employees across the nation, a solid Christmas bonus is important. But there is a time and a place for Christmas hype and we’re not there quite yet. I don’t need to buy my gifts now. I don’t need to hear “White Christmas” while the leaves are still red. Let Thanksgiving take its course – then we can walk in that Winter Wonderland.

Call me a Grinch, but my position remains. I love the holiday season as much as the next guy, but I implore you, corporate America: put away the Christmas lights and snowmen until our turkey is fully digested.

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About the Contributor

Elise Brown, Co Editor-in-Chief

Elise Brown, senior, has always felt comfortable standing up and giving her opinion in front of everyone and for the most part, she enjoys it very much. That is one of the many reasons why she heads the debate team, and also why in June she earned a place in the National Speech and Debate Competition in Indianapolis.

Out of the 250 people entered in the competition, she finished 151st in the country. Before she earned her rightful place in Nationals, however, she needed to prove herself in Districts and State.

Her 10 minute long speech about socialism and its benefits took first and second in Districts and State, respectively.

“In the National competition the judges didn’t appreciate politics or controversy as much as they did in Districts and State,” Brown said. This was confirmed from one of the judges she conversed with in order to find out what she could do better.

Brown’s interest in current events started in the eighth grade. She then did the Amplifier, the high school newspaper to help communicate her ideas about the world with her fellow peers, she also did the debate team to better understand the problems throughout the world and learn how to solve them somewhat.

“Debate involves knowing what is going on in the world,” Brown said.

This year for upcoming competitions, she has a speech in the works that she feels will top her last one. This year’s speech is about interdependence inspired by the “you didn’t build that debate,” caused when President Barack Obama told business people that they did not create their businesses on their own.

Brown’s passion for debate has influenced what college she will go to, what she will study in college, and what she wants to do in her life. Brown’s goal is to graduate high school and then travel to Massachusetts and attend Wellesley College, a very well known and prestigious college, where Brown hopes to study political science.

To achieve this goal she has taken part in a number of rigorous courses and activities such as Speech and Debate, AP Government, AP Economics, Honors Law, AP English and journalism. Once Brown achieves her education goals, her next goal is to become a political commentator.

“I want to change people’s minds,” Brown said. Brown has chosen the path to become a political commentator because she believes political power lies with the media.

Brown has worked very hard throughout high school and continues to work hard through her senior year. She has taken many challenging courses to achieve her goal of going to Wellesley, and will need to continue down the very rigorous path to success to accomplish her goals.