There's A Reason for the Season

Beautiful snow covered Beacon Hill

I'm not sure what is going this year, but it seems Mother Earth has made the decision to jump from summer straight into winter. I have never been a huge fan of fall- please just give me snow, Starbucks holiday cups, and festive cheer- forget about the changing of the leaves and apple picking. Unfortunately what comes with psychotic Boston weather is the onslaught of holiday marketing and advertising. Every year it feels like stores, both big and small, feel the need to put up their holiday displays earlier and earlier. The onslaught begins with Halloween and ends with New Years. Before we know it we'll be buying Halloween costumes mid-July and purchasing Christmas gifts and baking Christmas cookies dressed in tank tops and shorts.

Now usually I am in agreement with most of the universe in believing that stores are celebrating these holidays way too far in advance, but this year I find myself listening to Christmas tunes before the leaves have barely started to change. I am eagerly awaiting this years Starbucks holiday cup and cannot wait for Halloween to be over so that stores put up there Christmas trees and start playing Christmas carols. Even as I write this, I find myself listening to Mariah Carey's single Oh Santa.

Perhaps I am experiencing this sudden turn in feelings cause I feel the distressed and depressed world pressing down around me and hope some Christmas cheer will plaster a smile on your face. Even if its a fake cheery atmosphere, I love the holidays. Some people find the overall cheeriness depressive. I on the other hand, can't wait to wish random people on the street "Merry Christmas and Happy Holdiays!" It is the season of giving after all. During the two or so months of infectious cheer, the world is in a generally happier mood. It isn't until the realization that another year has passed and New Years resolutions start breaking, that world sets back into an overall gloomy atmosphere.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

All I'm saying is that the world deserves a much needed break from incessantly worrying about the economy, job market, and general life craziness. This is what the holidays are all about. This is why I'm beginning to realize that it doesn't matter if your local Macys decides to put up their Christmas displays on November 1. In the end, I believe, this is all about spreading cheer.