Commercialized Christmas

Me, the elf, and my fellow promoter at the last location

Just another day in paradise. I woke up early this morning to run a few miles (always so motivated on mornings after The Biggest Loser airs) before heading to my "Find the Elf" promotion. Yes, folks, today was the day I donned a T-Mobile Santa hat and decorated T-Mobile stores around the City while people followed a holiday elf's whereabouts on Twitter. The elf randomly appeared at stores after giving clues regarding his location, and the first person to find him at each location won $1000 and a new smart phone. Not a shabby prize. People went all out for this thing- frantically running through the rain (thank you, New York weather) to find our candy cane legging- clad elf. It takes a real man to prance around in those things. I was proud to call him a fellow promoter.

Getting in the holiday spirit is not hard when you live in New York, and you don't have to be a T-mobile elf-handler to do so. The courtyard I walk through almost every day in downtown Brooklyn is highly decorated with garland and twinkling ornaments. We even have our own giant Christmas tree, free from the crowds in Rockefeller Plaza. Most of the buildings in the City have Christmas lights and wreaths on their entrances (not that this town needs any more lights) and holiday tunes float from every Starbucks door that opens...which pretty much creates a constant stream of music since there is a Starbucks on every block. In NYC, you couldn't escape Christmas if you tried.

Many people disapprove of the commercialized version of Christmas, but I don't. I understand that this is supposed to be a holiday surrounding Jesus' birth and the beginning of New Testament Christianity, and for people like myself who believe in the Bible, remembering the "true meaning" of Christmas is important. But is it really so wrong to suck on candy canes and meet Santa at the mall? I mean, we have enough negativity in this world. Why get uppity about a holiday that is defined by cheer? Celebrating with stocking stuffers and N*SYNC's Christmas album (still my favorite Christmas C.D. ever...don't judge) does not have to take away from appreciating that Jesus came to this earth. This isn't meant to sound insensitive..but can't we celebrate Jesus and Santa? When it comes down to it, Christians should be celebrating Jesus every day of the year- not just on Christmas. Santa only gets remembered once a year. Let's throw the old, fat guy a bone and leave him some cookies, okay?

Hope you had a jolly day!