Commentary - pcgazette.com

Commentary
pcgazette.com

Christmastime has become too commercial

By JIM SCHUH
of The Gazette
I'm one of those curmudgeons who grumbles about how commercial Christmas has become. I don't like it that merchants set out all their Christmas merchandise long before Halloween arrives. And speaking of Halloween, I can't believe what a huge event this pagan feast has become in recent years. Grown-ups are conditioning their kids to make a big deal out of something that should occupy about as much space in their lives as a small pumpkin.

But back to the Christmas thing. I must have missed something - as I survey the neighborhood, it looks as if Christmas has been moved to late October.

There are some people who put out their Christmas decorations right after Halloween. I think they're nuts! I know the weather was nice, and that made it much easier to set up all the stuff on the front lawn than trying to do it in a blinding snowstorm. But this year especially, we had warm weather into this month, and it looks odd to see Christmas lights, as well as likenesses of carolers, reindeer, Santa Claus, elves, holly and yes, Jesus in October. And November.

What particularly annoys me is the fact that so many who've set up manger scenes early have no clue about what they're doing. They put up mangers with angels, shepherds and animals surrounding the Holy Family, as if Christ's coming had already taken place. If these people want to set up their displays months before the day on which we celebrate the birth of Jesus, at the very least they could keep the statues of Joseph, Mary and the Christ child in the garage until Dec. 24. If they check the churches that just recently erected their crib scenes, they'll see the Holy Family really has not yet arrived.

Another irritation: If some of these people place any real significance on the religious aspects of Christmas, why have they relegated the manger scenes to an out-of-the way spot on their property - somewhere off to the side of the driveway? I guess it's to make room for all the kitsch. I said I was a curmudgeon, so don't bother to write to complain to me.

Last year, or maybe the year before - I'm too lazy to look it up - I wrote about stupid Christmas gifts. One of them was a compact disc player for use in the shower. It cost about $200, and allowed the user to sing along with a CD, and take advantage of the neat acoustics that tiled enclosures provide.

A man out east saw my column on the Gazette's Web page, and bought one of the gizmos for his college-age son for Christmas. The boy questioned his dad's sanity, and quickly relegated the unit to a bottom dresser drawer. Turns out the son showered communally in the dorm, and couldn't imagine using the gift among his naked peers. As I recall, the son told dad that he tried to spend as little time as possible in the shower.

If you disagree that a shower-proof CD player is an idiotic gift, I have proof that I'm right! The people at Sharper Image misread the potential demand for the item, bought too many of them, and worked to unload their remaining hoard this fall. An ad in The Wall Street Journal offered the CD Shower Companion for half-price - $94.48. The sale ended a while back, but I bet they still have a few on the bottom shelf if you want to call. To save you time, the number is (800) 344-4444.

Now that those things are off my chest, here's an idea if you haven't yet mailed out your Christmas cards: Have them postmarked at towns with Christmas-like names. Rudolph is a good example. It'll cost you a few extra dollars in postage, and you need to get the cards to the spot you want to show up as your postmark quickly.

Linn's Stamp News advises sending your cards, all stamped and ready to go in a package to the postmaster of the desired town. Add the suffix "9998" to the Zip code on your package - that's the postmaster's address. Enclose a note asking for the post office's "four-bar handstamp."

Here are some spots you might wish to consider for cancellation, and their Zip codes: Rudolph, WI 54475; Rudolph, OH 43462; Advent, WV 25231; Bethlehem, PA 18016 (there are eight other Bethlehems in the U.S.); Christmas, FL 32709 or Christmas Valley, OR 97641; Mistletoe, KY 41351; Nazareth, KY 40048 (there are three others in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas); North Pole, AK 99705; Santa Claus, IN 47579; St. Joseph MO 64501 (there are six others, including St. Joseph, WI 54082); St. Mary, KY 40063; and Wiseman AR 72587.

Having those postmarks adds a nice touch to a holiday greeting. If you use Christmas postage stamps, you can paste the Santa stamps on envelopes from secular-named towns, such as Rudolph and Mistletoe, and the Madonna and child stamps on cards from places with religious names, like Nazareth or St. Mary.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

You may reach Jim Schuh at The Gazette, or by e-mail at jpschuh@yahoo.com.



	Christmastime has become too commercial By JIM SCHUH of The Gazette I'm one of those curmudgeons who grumbles about how commercial Christmas has become. I don't like it that merchants set out all their Christmas merchandise long before Halloween arrives. And speaking of Halloween, I can't believe what a huge event this pagan feast has become in recent years. Grown-ups are conditioning their kids to make a big deal out of something that should occupy about as much space in their lives as a small pumpkin. But back to the Christmas thing. I must have missed something - as I survey the neighborhood, it looks as if Christmas has been moved to late October. There are some people who put out their Christmas decorations right after Halloween. I think they're nuts! I know the weather was nice, and that made it much easier to set up all the stuff on the front lawn than trying to do it in a blinding snowstorm. But this year especially, we had warm weather into this month, and it looks odd to see Christmas lights, as well as likenesses of carolers, reindeer, Santa Claus, elves, holly and yes, Jesus in October. And November. What particularly annoys me is the fact that so many who've set up manger scenes early have no clue about what they're doing. They put up mangers with angels, shepherds and animals surrounding the Holy Family, as if Christ's coming had already taken place. If these people want to set up their displays months before the day on which we celebrate the birth of Jesus, at the very least they could keep the statues of Joseph, Mary and the Christ child in the garage until Dec. 24. If they check the churches that just recently erected their crib scenes, they'll see the Holy Family really has not yet arrived. Another irritation: If some of these people place any real significance on the religious aspects of Christmas, why have they relegated the manger scenes to an out-of-the way spot on their property - somewhere off to the side of the driveway? I guess it's to make room for all the kitsch. I said I was a curmudgeon, so don't bother to write to complain to me. Last year, or maybe the year before - I'm too lazy to look it up - I wrote about stupid Christmas gifts. One of them was a compact disc player for use in the shower. It cost about $200, and allowed the user to sing along with a CD, and take advantage of the neat acoustics that tiled enclosures provide. A man out east saw my column on the Gazette's Web page, and bought one of the gizmos for his college-age son for Christmas. The boy questioned his dad's sanity, and quickly relegated the unit to a bottom dresser drawer. Turns out the son showered communally in the dorm, and couldn't imagine using the gift among his naked peers. As I recall, the son told dad that he tried to spend as little time as possible in the shower. If you disagree that a shower-proof CD player is an idiotic gift, I have proof that I'm right! The people at Sharper Image misread the potential demand for the item, bought too many of them, and worked to unload their remaining hoard this fall. An ad in The Wall Street Journal offered the CD Shower Companion for half-price - $94.48. The sale ended a while back, but I bet they still have a few on the bottom shelf if you want to call. To save you time, the number is (800) 344-4444. Now that those things are off my chest, here's an idea if you haven't yet mailed out your Christmas cards: Have them postmarked at towns with Christmas-like names. Rudolph is a good example. It'll cost you a few extra dollars in postage, and you need to get the cards to the spot you want to show up as your postmark quickly. Linn's Stamp News advises sending your cards, all stamped and ready to go in a package to the postmaster of the desired town. Add the suffix "9998" to the Zip code on your package - that's the postmaster's address. Enclose a note asking for the post office's "four-bar handstamp." Here are some spots you might wish to consider for cancellation, and their Zip codes: Rudolph, WI 54475; Rudolph, OH 43462; Advent, WV 25231; Bethlehem, PA 18016 (there are eight other Bethlehems in the U.S.); Christmas, FL 32709 or Christmas Valley, OR 97641; Mistletoe, KY 41351; Nazareth, KY 40048 (there are three others in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas); North Pole, AK 99705; Santa Claus, IN 47579; St. Joseph MO 64501 (there are six others, including St. Joseph, WI 54082); St. Mary, KY 40063; and Wiseman AR 72587. Having those postmarks adds a nice touch to a holiday greeting. If you use Christmas postage stamps, you can paste the Santa stamps on envelopes from secular-named towns, such as Rudolph and Mistletoe, and the Madonna and child stamps on cards from places with religious names, like Nazareth or St. Mary. Ho! Ho! Ho! You may reach Jim Schuh at The Gazette, or by e-mail at jpschuh@yahoo.com.