Topic: Traditions

Shape-shifting the holidays in changing lives

December 21, 2008 |

As a child, I would awake on Christmas morning, scurrying out of bed to see what treasures Santa had left under the tree. With a flurry of gift-wrapping shredded and ribbons uncurled, I opened boxes that contained clothes, puzzles, games, a slinky one year, a large raggedy doll another. Sleds, those flexible fliers with the metal runners, the crossbar and its rope “handle” that allowed the illusion of steering on the way to the bottom of a snow-covered hill.

Several years after my father left, one of my our family friends and his sons brought us a tree — a frothy thing with tiny pine cones and a strong scent of pine. It was a wonderful tree.

And in the first year I met my stepfather, we shared dinner; by morning the previous night’s storm had become a Christmas Day blizzard. I raced into the living room to see a hefty man with the stubble of a white beard, sleeping on our couch. I knew it couldn’t be Santa, but for a moment… «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, Opinion | No Comments

Black Friday: Consumed by consumerism

November 19, 2007 |

“Black Friday” has traditionally been the start of the holiday retail season, a ghastly exercise in consumerism that has reached epic proportions, taking the focus off the Thanksgiving holiday and instead thrusting the spear of hefty ads sections to be perused during the Turkey day half-time shows.

All week I have been reading about stores launching pre-Thanksgiving Day sales, and “news” stories of 4 a.m. openings and expected lines of customers, steaming coffee in hand, snaking around buildings in long lines, queued up to vie for the best of the best bargains ASAP.

Sorry, folks. I don’t buy it. Or I should say, I already bought it, back in January, when the end of season sales happened. I shopped heartily and at my leisure, picking up great deals for as much as 80% off the lowest ticket price. I keep a covered bin handy in the back of my closet for such purchases; I find, buy, fold or package carefully and store. Comes in handy for occasional birthdays, “just because” gifts, extras for the grandchildren, and of course, Christmas giving. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Business, Opinion | No Comments

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