UNPLUGGING THE HOLIDAY MACHINE

What are the first three words that come into your mind when you think about the upcoming holiday season?

A Relaxed Mind

A Peaceful Soul

A Joyful Spirit

A Generous Heart

Over 90% of American families feel stress about at least one thing over the holiday season.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or some other holiday, this can be a really challenging season. Not only are you expected to manage multiple extra projects (house decorating, present giving, and family visiting), but you're also supposed to feel happier than ever (as the expectation is it's the most wonderful time of the year). Talk about difficult!

BE KIND TO YOURSELF AND TAKE TIME TO REFLECT

The Holidays are embedded in our psyches. We might have an unattainable image for them due to lack of energy and/or resources. We may have memories that are not necessarily pleasant. We may have family members who challenge us and your values. One thing is for certain; the holidays will push your buttons if you are out of balance. Be kind to yourself. Take time to reflect and clarify your values. You do not need to buy into the holiday machine.

Short history lesson on the Holiday Machine

In the 1800’s there is little evidence of the Holiday Machine. The ads, though few, were directed at children’s toys. Ads directed to adults were entitled, “Holiday Notions”. If gifts were exchanged, it was on the order to pipe tobacco, books, and a packet of pins or embroidered handkerchiefs.

A simpler less commercial Christmas was reflected in , The Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens in 1843. The only thing missing from the story was gift giving. The fact that gift giving was of minor importance for adults in the 19th century had a profound effect on the holiday.

CELEBRATING IN HARMONY WITH THE SEASONSThe absence of gift giving allowed families to stay anchored in its appropriate season. Our ancestors did not have to steel themselves against the barrage of premature holiday advertising which allowed them to glory in the gold’s and browns of fall. When they began to prepare themselves for the holiday, around mid December, their actions felt in harmony with the seasons.

The morning of 12/25 heralded a beginning of the celebration not the end. Once the children had emptied their stockings, adults exclaimed over their notions, everyone could look forward to church service followed by days of visiting, family games and joyous dances. Hence the Twelve Days of Christmas.

CELEBRATING WITHIN COMMUNITY

THE ILLUSION OF GENEROSITY

Beginning in the early 1900’s the retail industry intentionally developed a strategy to embed generosity into the holiday season. This marked a general trend in the US toward consumer economy. Mass production was making goods readily available and the population as a whole was becoming more affluent. An upsurge in holiday advertising began in newspapers and ads were appearing a full month before Christmas and they were more aggressive.

It is no accident that this militant holiday advertising coincided with World War1. There were fears that the economic boom times of WW1 were going to be followed by a stagnant economy. To make up for dwindling war contracts advertisers developed a science of persuasion to stimulate consumer spending.

WAR AND CHRISTMAS

Christmas gift giving was a prime target, the idea of generosity was already embedded in our culture all the advertiser had to do it capitalize on it. By 1923, the amount of money that American consumers were spending on surplus consumption equaled the money that had been coming into the nation during the last years of World War 1. Sadly, there appears to be some truth that the American economy was fueled by War and Christmas.

ENGINEERING THE HOLIDAY MACHINE

The engineers of the Holiday Machine found a willing audience to buy more and spend more. For the most part people were delighted to give gifts that are more opulent. It seemed a step in the right direction to give their children bicycles and electric trains instead of doughnuts and rag dolls. People had no way of knowing how commercialization would impoverish the holiday; they had no reason to resist.

THE INTRODUCTION OF CREDIT

From that point on the Holiday Machine lurched into high gear. Stores began offering “Special Liberal Credit” for shoppers whose enthusiasm outstripped their cash. Banks started offering Christmas savings account.

Advertisers discovered that the length of advertising influenced the amount of money spent so promotions began earlier and earlier. From the first pre holiday sale in October to the post holiday clearance in January people were deluged with advertising. Soon we were spending billions of dollars a year to wish each other a “Merry Little Holiday”.

MESSAGING IS EVERYTHING

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TODAY LITTLE HAS CHANGED EXCEPT THE HOLIDAY MACHINE HAS BECOME MORE ELEGANT AND REFINED. TODAY’S SOPHISTICATED AUDIENCE DEMANDS A MORE GENTEEL APPROACH.

INVITING YOU BACK IN TIME TO A CHRISTMAS CAROL

When there was no holiday gift giving……………?

Inviting you into buying more because you are saving more.

All sales are carefully engineered by the retail market and always in favor of the retail market.

………AND FOR YOUR SHOPPING PLEASURE STORES ARE OPEN ON THANKSGIVING………

REMEMBER WHAT YOU VALUE ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS AND WHAT BRINGS YOU PEACE AND JOY……..

See through a child’s eyes, all the magic

and wonder that is alive!

OUR CHILDREN WANT FOUR THINGS FROM US DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON ARE……..

A relaxed and

loving time with

family……

REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS ABOUT GIFTS

AN EVENLY PACED HOLIDAY SEASON

RELIABLE FAMILY TRADITIONS

THREE COMMON MISTAKESWe do not take the time to identify our values as they pertain to the holiday season.

We don’t practice what we believe in.

We don’t choose among competing values.

When people do not choose between competing values they try to do too much and everything is diminished by frantic activity.

Wishing all of you……

Relaxed Mind

Peaceful Soul

Joyful Spirit

Generous Heart