Amishway Homesteaders Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 The other day while in Walmarts (had to take Amish there -or we would NOT be there!) and they had Christmas Music playing ALREADY! Bad enought that they had Christmas Stuff on slelves next to the Halloween stuff since September! but this is to much! wamarts - - > < - - Me Link to comment
Midnightmom Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Tell me about it! My Wmart was playing Christmas music before the Halloween candy was even marked down!!! Link to comment
windmorn Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 I love Christmas music, but I agree they make it too early. We heard some at Academy (sporting goods store) about 3 weeks ago. :/ At least they could've waited until the Halloween decorations were on clearance. Link to comment
ROBIE Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 I was at Barns & Nobles last night and they had christmas stuff up as well. To make matters worse, they rearanged the whole store so now its taking me forever to find what I want. I can understand why stores are putting up christmas stuff so early, they need to make money. Not want to, need to make more money. For the last several years sales have not been what they used to be for many stores and christmas is there biggest time of the year. Do I like it? no... feels like Im being rushed into something. Will I get used to it? yeah... but I'll be glad when its over too.. Robie Link to comment
S.K. Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 I like Christmas but it really bothers me that they start the Christmas holiday before Thanksgiving. Why can't they at least play the music after Thanksgiving. just my opinion Link to comment
Cat Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Yup... I wanted to hear some uplifting Christian music today on my favorite local Christian radio station as I drove to & from Mom's house and all the *mess* it entails today. I was thoroughly crushed to hear ONLY Christmas music. I DON'T want to be reminded that I have very little money this year for Christmas presents, as I've had to use up SO much more dealing with first Mom's hospital stay, then the funeral, and now the aftermath. Gas is expensive, and there have been too many things I've had to do and pay for. The Christmas budget is pretty well *shot*. I know it's a full-court crush to get people to start spending money. I've heard that there will be more sales before even "Black Friday" this year. *Everybody* is hoping we all spend money. Link to comment
sassenach Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Same here Cat. I think I will reserve any music listening for much later. I won't be going to TX, especially with the social difficulties going on and even though its not much I will just be doing kitchen knits for a few friends and family or other easy stuff I know I can make if I have the time. It feels more like batten down the hatches time, anyhow, and will just try and participate with a few sanctioned mha activities regarding the holidays, and think of the real reason for the season. Besides maybe we will be seeing Him sooner than we think..... so I would rather just celebrate in my own personal way this year. Link to comment
Momo Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Alot of our stores already have big trees up and decorated. Gee whiz. We won't be buying much again. Since Dh retired things have gotten tighter every year. I really don't see things improving financially(for us anyway) for quite a while..if ever. I will be making gifts for the Princesses. Link to comment
gofish Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Cat I know the radio station. They did the same thing last year. 2 months of Christmas music. I'm thinking about finding a part time job. Money is not going very far right now. I'm just not sure how I can work fulll time , part time and still care for my family. Link to comment
Jeepers Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 I heard my first commercial for Christmas the day before Halloween. I really don't get into Christmas anymore. Retail has ruined it for a lot of people. By the time it finally gets here I'm already burned out. I hate to see people I love struggle to buy gifts they can't afford. And disappointed children because of peer pressure and stupid commercials telling them they have to have the latest...whatever they are selling. I love to buy gifts but I don't like feeling obligated to have to buy them by Dec. 25th. I don't need anything nor do I want anything but it makes my son feel bad if he doesn't give me something. I give him a lot throughout the year and so he feels bad about taking something from me just because it's Christmas. Every year we say, "No gifts!" Then we feel bad if we don't exchange gifts. Or we wonder if the other one really bought something and the other one didn't. I'd like to just sleep through it. This is what happens to me when they start too early. Maybe I'll get de-humbugged by Christmas Eve. Or just maybe Jesus really is the reason for the season! Link to comment
Amishway Homesteaders Posted November 6, 2011 Author Share Posted November 6, 2011 I was at Barns & Nobles last night and they had christmas stuff up as well. To make matters worse, they rearanged the whole store so now its taking me forever to find what I want. Robie SORRY to hear you were having trouble finding things............................. Maybe I can help? Were you looking for a Barns or a Nobles? Link to comment
Amishway Homesteaders Posted November 6, 2011 Author Share Posted November 6, 2011 Glad to know it was not only me! Sounds like they are pushing more people away from enjoying things right now instead of making us all wish it was Christmas time ? Link to comment
mommafitz Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Well folks.......the way I see it.....the music is what makes my heart fill with joy. I can enjoy the music, lights, decorations, etc at no cost. We have been in a serious financial slump for a long time now. We just can't seem to catch a break. So I understand about dealing with no money to do things for your family like you want to. I'm dealing with that too. (I don't wanna post a pity party so I won't go there.) Enjoy all the free pretties the Lord has provided while enjoying the Reason for the Season. It's all about attitude. The season is what you make of it. Have a fantabulous day! mommafitz Link to comment
Mother Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 This is only my opinion so please, no one take it as a slur or anything. Christmas is my favorite time of year. I actually changed my Mrs. S look some time back already. I USED to get down because of all the commercialism but then I realized that I was LETTING it get me down. I am an empath. That is, I pick up very quickly on people's feelings and Christmas in a store is the PITS. Everyone is ALLOWING themselves to be pressured by society to "meet expectations", not of family, but of the sellers. They actually believe that if they don't buy the kids this particular peer pressure object or that doo dad that Christmas will be ruined. That CAN be changed. You do not have to allow yourself to be sucked in and you CAN do something about your families expectations by getting together and setting some realistic and even FUN goals. My Mom did something wonderfully different each Christmas and it continues into our adult years. (she will be 90 in two weeks and I 65 in a month) Some years she asked us all to make our gifts to each other and she set a price limit. When we were little she went out of her way to help each of us come up with something. It could have been as simple as a box of home made cookies or in my case, a desk my brother made me. (we were drawing names by that time) One year we pooled what money we would have spent on gifts for each other and bought gifts for a single mom with five kids who had no funds. That year we also cooked and baked everything we would be making for our family gathering and took the gifts AND the meal to that Mom the day before Christmas. Then we all went to a piece of timber land and had a big bonfire, roasted hot dogs, went sledding, and had hot chocolate by the fire while singing Christmas carols. One year it was a backwards Christmas where everything had to be thought about backwards, clothing, gifts, (I put the wrapping paper inside a pair of socks), even the meal. One year it was a foriegn Christmas where we explored Christmas in various countries, sometimes everyone had to have a joke or a skit or a song to entertain us all with. Through it all, there was Jesus Christ and his love for us all. And the music, I love the Christmas music in the stores but I'm conscience of the fact that they are doing a subliminal number on my mind. I do not let it happen. I fight it in various ways. I am not afraid of singing in front of people and many times I have begun singing along with the Christmas music and had dozens of people singing along with me and smiling. We were not intrusive but were enjoying the season. All year, whether we know it or not the stores are badgering us to buy in one way or another and it is a proven fact that music and visuals are a big part of those sales. There are whole seminars for managers to attend to learn about them. (I've attended them, I know) Do they get earlier each year with the Christmas displays and music. Maybe! But is the celebration of the birth of our Lord so insignificant that we need to confine it to just a month or two? You may think so but I do not. I say, LET THEM PLAY THAT MUSIC ALL YEAR LONG. Actually, if they did, I might shop more. LOL Let me be the first to wish you all, Merry Christmas! Link to comment
ROBIE Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Mike, while trying to find my way around the bookstore, I did find an interesting book: "Money Secrets of the Amish" by Lorilee Cracker. Interesting read... for the few chapters that I did get to read. And Mother, I already changed the backround thiem of my forum view to the christmas theim... looks great! helps get me into the spirit. Robie Link to comment
snapshotmiki Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Thanks Mother! I feel like you do. I like the music and the season even though I personally do very little to actually celebrate moneywise. The stores certainly can't get me to spend money I don't have!LOL Now I'm changing my background also! Link to comment
Amishway Homesteaders Posted November 7, 2011 Author Share Posted November 7, 2011 OK people - I guess some of you are NOT getting my drift! I also LOVE christmas and all that goes with it - but NOT NOW! I want to enjoy other things , like Thanksgiving, before all the great things that happen around the Christmas Holiday. IF I start now by the time it gets here all I want to do it end it and get on with the new year. Like some people that put up trees right after Thanksgiving - that has to get old by the time Christmas gets here. Waiting just makes it more special. AND yes there are times around here we Play the Christmas music in the summer or spring (some songs are so good). stepping down now - Link to comment
Amishway Homesteaders Posted November 7, 2011 Author Share Posted November 7, 2011 For the people that say money is so tight that they can't 'do Christmas' and say it over and over to the point they can't even enjoy the holiday! What we tell friends like that is YES you can have a Merry Christmas! but scale down - You don't HAVE TO out do the Jones. So you can't spend $$$$ on a big meal, so just buy a turkey breast and fix basic things to go with it. 1 pie not 4, 1 side or 2 not 12, forget all the nuts and snacks (or make some home-made), light some candles, pull out the good dishes, set out a nice table and enjoy your Christmas Meal. As to all the gifts eveyone buys that people don't NEED or even use, Just do like we do- Stockings only! by opening little things that fit in stockings you save money on big ticket items, enjoy opening the gifts (and laughing at some of the thing you got) and sharing in the joy of giving . . . .and feel good about the Holiday and NOT when the bills will start coming in t pay for it all. *** Also this is the best time to hit the dollar stores as you can get some great gifts for ONLY 1 DOLLAR each! Link to comment
Annarchy Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Like you, AH, my DH does not like the idea that Christmas stuff is out before Thanksgiving. He said, "It's all about the money." Link to comment
themartianchick Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 For the people that say money is so tight that they can't 'do Christmas' and say it over and over to the point they can't even enjoy the holiday! What we tell friends like that is YES you can have a Merry Christmas! but scale down - You don't HAVE TO out do the Jones. *** Also this is the best time to hit the dollar stores as you can get some great gifts for ONLY 1 DOLLAR each! Preach on, Brother Michael! I am in complete agreement with your original post and with the one that I partially quoted above. It is a shame when you allow the retailers to rush a portion of your life. Each day is a precious gift and shouldn't be spent getting ready for the next holiday...or the holiday after the next one, for that matter! Christmas shouldn't be about things and stuff. It isn't about a fancy meal or about indulging in mass commercialism to make others envious. It is a time of joy and wonder when we gather our families together or remember those that aren't with us. It doesn't matter if there is nothing on the table but biscuits and jam. The people that the meal is shared with are what makes it special. Don't allow anyone else to speed up the passing of the days...Life is to be savored. It is good to stop and smell the roses along the way! Mother's mother (Would that make her Grandmother?) has the right idea. Americans are so caught up in the commercialism that we don't seem to know how to stop the crazy train. Don't get me wrong... I've fallen prey to it, too! I think that we should all endeavor to get back to basics, little by little, each year. In many ways, we have lost the reason for the season and have allowed it to become a source of stress. Link to comment
Mother Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 For the people that say money is so tight that they can't 'do Christmas' and say it over and over to the point they can't even enjoy the holiday! What we tell friends like that is YES you can have a Merry Christmas! but scale down - You don't HAVE TO out do the Jones. AMEN Michael, AMEN to the whole post. Link to comment
Mother Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Mother's mother (Would that make her Grandmother?) has the right idea. It sure would. Like me, she is Grandmother to hundreds. She even gets mail addressed to Gramma Smith at her address so even the post office knows she's Gramma!! She is a very special lady who continues to teach us all about enjoying life. Link to comment
Amishway Homesteaders Posted November 7, 2011 Author Share Posted November 7, 2011 By the way............................. IF they are selling "all things Christmas" to get us 'in the spirit' WHY are they NOT selling BIRTHDAY CAKES now! You know the REAL 'reason for the season! stepping down now. Link to comment
Cat Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 I love Christmas. I love the planning, baking, the surprises I try to create for the ones I love. I love the music. But I really NEEDED to just have uplifting Christian music to try and keep my head on straight that day. I wanted comfort and reflection and glorious praise for my Savior. God knows that everything I'm trying to deal with is breaking my heart. I have cried more over these past few months than for many, many years. It isn't missing my Mom, it isn't feeling sorry for myself... it's being so frustrated with the conditions of trying to carry out her stupid "last wishes"... letting my sister crush everyone she has nothing but disdain for... trying to hold those two up as loved and cared for... wishing and praying for a way to just *FIX* things... and knowing that there is absolutely NOTHING I can do about any of it. I just didn't want Christmas music. Link to comment
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