I’m not sure about your household, but I can assure you I will not be taking part in Black Friday.
There are a couple of good reasons for that, the first being it’s doubtful I can possibly find my way to the door today.
I am buried in a monumental myriad of boxes and storage bins stuffed with Christmas decorations.
Yup, the North Pole has relocated into our living room—and we love it.
Once again Tez and I are gleefully astounded at the amount of Christmas decor we have individually and collectively horded during our lifetimes.
And once again, we have foolishly vowed that this year we will not give in and purchase any more trivial yuletide goodies. (I wonder how long that will last and who will be the first to fail?)
I am a Christmasolic.
I suppose with treatment it would be curable; however, I am in no hurry to seek that sort of assistance.
Like other Yulies, I am quite content remaining drenched in Christmas cheer, joyful gatherings of friends and families, non-ending Christmas movies, Christmas carols playing 24/7, the smell of homemade yuletide cookies and treats, and a house stuffed full of lights, tinsels, baubles and bells.
If I had my way Christmas would last at least six weeks. In fact, usually at the Hodge House that’s how long the decorations remain in place.
Oddly enough, this is the latest in the year that we have finally got around to decorating that I can recall.
Seems being a candidate for city council in the recent municipal election took up most of my attention the past two months.
There is, of course, another positive aspect to my lifelong addiction for squeezing as much fun and frivolity out of Christmas as possible.
I have a partner who is quite possibly more wired to the festive yuletide time of year than I am.
I was convinced that was not possible, but thankfully I was wrong.
Who says you need to have children around to enjoy Christmas, particularly if you and your partner happen to have not really grown up to begin with?
But adding kids to the mix is like whipped cream added to hot chocolate—it just makes it sweeter.
When four-year old granddaughter Taylor visits this time of year, she is pleasantly awed and fully amused walking into our winter land home.
She barely bats an eye when stepping in the door and seeing grandpa wearing an elf’s hat or grandma sporting a set of blinking reindeer antlers.
To her, such activity is to be expected in our home.
Poor kid hasn’t got a hope avoiding becoming a Christmasolic and there is no one to blame but Tez and I.
There is another good reason I will not be taking part in Black Friday.
It’s really nothing more than a sad commercial copy cat of the American consumer addiction.
Inflated prices on products suddenly ‘slashed’ for super sales may con in some shop-crazy folks, but, pardon the pun, I’m not buying it.
This year, I am going to take part in a brilliant counter commercialism campaign titled White Friday.
Apparently the creation—and hosted on Facebook by Jodi Harvey-Quibell (and forwarded to me by good friend Lorraine Richmond)— White Friday is about giving to others rather than buying.
So for White Friday, consider buying some food for the food bank box located at the local grocery store, donate online to your favourite cause, go through your closet and donate to a thrift shop, buy gloves or a scarf and give them to a homeless shelter, or perhaps buy pet food and drop it off at your local SPCA.
Pick your passion or cause and just do it.
Somehow, Jodi’s idea makes a lot more sense when it comes to remembering the true spirit of Christmas.
I’m in, and I know Tez will be as well. I can’t wait to tell her, if I can find her, somewhere in all these boxes…
•••
Here is a fabulous community event idea to help you get into the holiday season. Once again Willow Park Church is playing host to their annual Living Nativity event.
This year, the fun family event takes place on Friday, Dec. 5, with shows at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 6 at 4:30, 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.; and finally on Sunday, Dec. 7, 3:30, 4:30, 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Living Nativity is a free four-part interactive event that includes the The Bethlehem Petting Zoo; a fun-filled drama presentation called Improv at Bethlehem; and The Great Hall tour of magical scenes of Christmas past and enjoy some home-baked cookies and hot drinks.
Willow Park Church. is located at 439 Highway 33 W. in Rutland.
Tell them an elf named Charlie sent you.
