December 18, 2003Holiday Proposal(As in years past, here is my annual holiday-season post to encourage people to exchange gifts on New Year's Eve) Let's make New Year's Eve the big night for exchanging gifts. Before you dismiss this idea out of hand, consider several factors: (1) it is accepted as a "holiday" by more people (or at least acknowledged as such, via the changing of the calendar by everyone) than christmas, hannukah, kwanzaa, or any other December holidays; (2) everybody is festive and cheerful, and there is no unearned guilt over the "secret shame" of actually feeling GOOD about receiving gifts; (3) none of that lying-to-kids-about-Santa Claus (which I did for a few years with my kids, but never felt good about it); (4) what better way to start the new year than by surprising each other with wonderful gifts? IMPLEMENTATION: Easy. You still use a tree (pretty symbol of new growth, life, etc) as the centerpiece of your holiday decorating, but instead of red & green, I think that white & blue seem to be better suited for a New Year holiday - but that's just my preference. Heck, you can even put up a Festivus pole (with the requisite "feats of strength" and "airing of grievances," natch). Of course, everyone is free to decorate (or not) as they see fit, but a move away from traditional green-n-red would help spur the nascent holiday. The kicker, of course, is that instead of opening presents on xmas morning, you open them at midnight on New Year's Eve --what a great way to start the new year! And as I mentioned -- instead of worrying about whether your intended receipients celebrate xmas, hannukah, kwanzaa, or some other holiday (and if they do, does it mean the same to them as it does to you?), you can purchase, give, and receive gifts comfortable in the knowledge that everyone -- with very few exceptions in America, anyway -- celebrates the New Year at the same time, on the same day, for the same reason: to ring in a new year with good cheer & goodwill." Posted by davidmsc at December 18, 2003 10:31 PM | TrackBackComments
No, don't agree with you on this one. For some of us we celebrate Christmas for a reason other than exchanging gifts..... Now, if we want to exchange gifts on New Years eve, oh heck yes, anytime to get more gifts will be appreciated. Dave, from our house to yours happy holidays! May the new year bring you much joy and happiness. Posted by: Tom at December 19, 2003 06:06 AMThis is not a bad idea. It would bring the real meaning back into Christmas - a more focused celebration (for those of us who acknowledge). Then the gift giving could take place on New's Years. We could really fool the merchants and all take advantage of those after Christmas sales! Posted by: Babs at December 20, 2003 11:48 AMI've been pushing this idea for many years, mainly to remove at least some commercialization from Christmas Day, so we can remember the real meaning; but also to take advantage of after Christmas sales, as Babs mentioned. Incidentally, I worked for DuPont (which had the "Better Living through Chemistry" slogan for many years) for 25 years. Enjoy your blog. David Posted by: David D at December 20, 2003 12:21 PMPost a comment
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