I still remember watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as a small child. One year, I asked my mother why the parade closed with Santa Claus—after all, Santa Claus was not part of Thanksgiving! The mixing of holidays seemed almost criminal to me.
My mother gently explained that Thanksgiving was the start of the holiday season, the countdown to Christmas and Hanukkah. I didn’t realize it then, but that “countdown” comes with a kind of implied menace: get everybody great presents before your holiday of choice rolls around…or else (and if you celebrate Hanukkah start your engines, because you have about five minutes.) For better and for worse, I’ve never had a huge number of people to buy for this time of year, but even I feel the pressure.
My family has decided to go light on the presents this year and focus on just giving to the small children, the ones for whom the presents can create lifetime memories. Whether you’re in a similar position and plan to bring in a smaller holiday haul this time around, or if you’ve got a “to buy” list three miles long, I wish you a happy and healthy holiday season.
Also, no matter how many or how few presents you’re buying, don’t feel like you have to skimp on the hot cocoa; I know I won’t.
-KG
