Friday, November 25, 2005
At Least the Fruitcake Is On It's Way Out!
Here in America we have many old traditions for Christmas that have been pass
ed down through the ages, transported on the Mayflower and adopted from other cultures, not to mention a few old traditions that we've created all on our own. However, in the last century, Christmas has really taken off with new traditions, probably owing to the influx of commercialism. A few of those modern American traditions are here to stay and I, personally, wouldn't have Christmas without them. Let me compile a list for you:
1. The Santa Claus at the mall that lets you sit on his lap and tell him what you want for Christmas--I DON'T do this anymore, but I still love the idea.
2. Bing Crosby--'nuff said.
3. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer--He was a major marketing tool back a few decades when a promotional book was written for a major department store (I think that's how the story goes). The kids really liked him, and he's been leading the sleigh ever since.
4. The Grinch. Not Jim Carey's version. The only REAL grinch was Boris Karloff in that sleazy, eloquent British tongue, pooh-poohing the Whos down in Whoville. We never really grow out of Dr. Suess.
5. "A Christmas Story"(the movie)--proof that the World War II era was a major turning point in Modern American Christmasism.
6. Canned egg-nog--Don't leave Walmart without it. By the way, it's very good with rum. (I'm going to h***.)
7. Strings of Christmas lights strung all over everything, including the family cat--What other country would have not only the finances but the bad sense to pay for all that electrical usage? You KNOW it was the Electric companies that first came out with electric lights!
8. Fudge--chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. Are you going to eat that?
9. Boxes and Boxes of presents underneath the tree--even if there's nuttin' in 'em, they sure are pretty under there.
10. Only 29 more shopping days till Christmas--I'll bet Walmart came up with that one!
If you can think of any more, let me know!
ed down through the ages, transported on the Mayflower and adopted from other cultures, not to mention a few old traditions that we've created all on our own. However, in the last century, Christmas has really taken off with new traditions, probably owing to the influx of commercialism. A few of those modern American traditions are here to stay and I, personally, wouldn't have Christmas without them. Let me compile a list for you:1. The Santa Claus at the mall that lets you sit on his lap and tell him what you want for Christmas--I DON'T do this anymore, but I still love the idea.
2. Bing Crosby--'nuff said.
3. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer--He was a major marketing tool back a few decades when a promotional book was written for a major department store (I think that's how the story goes). The kids really liked him, and he's been leading the sleigh ever since.
4. The Grinch. Not Jim Carey's version. The only REAL grinch was Boris Karloff in that sleazy, eloquent British tongue, pooh-poohing the Whos down in Whoville. We never really grow out of Dr. Suess.
5. "A Christmas Story"(the movie)--proof that the World War II era was a major turning point in Modern American Christmasism.
6. Canned egg-nog--Don't leave Walmart without it. By the way, it's very good with rum. (I'm going to h***.)
7. Strings of Christmas lights strung all over everything, including the family cat--What other country would have not only the finances but the bad sense to pay for all that electrical usage? You KNOW it was the Electric companies that first came out with electric lights!
8. Fudge--chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. Are you going to eat that?
9. Boxes and Boxes of presents underneath the tree--even if there's nuttin' in 'em, they sure are pretty under there.
10. Only 29 more shopping days till Christmas--I'll bet Walmart came up with that one!
If you can think of any more, let me know!
