It's that...(sigh)...time of year again. That CHRISTMAS time of year.

Well, actually, it's not technically Christmastime yet. It's not even December yet. It's just that every retailer, mall, radio station, and tacky decoration would have me think that it's Christmas Eve already and that I have to get my shopping in RIGHT this second.
Thankfully, nobody got TRAMPLED at Black Friday this year like that guy did last year. At least, not that I've heard of.

But the shift to Christmas mode and shopaholic frenzies was, as always, flawlessly subtle. And for the most part, you know what I say?

Almost anyone can appreciate the initial concept of Christmas, Christian or not. Or at least, anyone who's ever seen A Charlie Brown Christmas can.

Boy, I wish I could dance like that.
But that's beside the point.
Yes, it is a religious day, commemorating the birth of Jesus. Or at least, the commonly accepted date for the birth of Jesus. But in it's own way, Christmas is also about giving and sharing and spending time with family. It's about peace and goodwill towards men.
At least supposedly.
I tend to find that it's less about faith in God and more about worship of the almighty dollar.
At this point, it has become sort of cliche to say that Christmas is too commercialistic. Everybody's heard that old, tired argument before. But when I see houses that look like this...

and stores with THIS sort of ethos...

and dolphins that look like THIS...

then, yeah, it's a bit hard for me not to be concerned.
Let's be really, really honest with ourselves for one minute. If the Grinch really did steal Christmas from us, we wouldn't be joining hands and standing in a circle singing. Oh no. We'd be siccing Rudolf on his sorry ass.
Because when it comes down to it, yes, it is all about the presents. The companies that sell the gifts you feel pressured to buy don't really care if your friends and families have a holly, jolly Christmas or not. Although they will be happy to take every penny that you give them for those presents in a flash.

Though in the end, what ARE we going to do about it? I suppose it is good for the economy, if nothing else. And some people really can get into the whole Christmas spirit without feeling like phonies.
Good for them, I suppose.