Consumerist Christmas
November 10, 2004
There's been a lot of talk in the media this week about how awfully consumerist Christmas has become in our little country. I have to say, I agree.
Newspapers are reporting how tough it is on parents who are only just over the expense of Hallowe'en and now the poor little children of Ireland are being exposed to 8 weeks of waiting for Santa.
On this, I'm a little sceptical. Hallowe'en doesn't have to be a big expense. Whatever happened to making a costume with bits and pieces around the house and buying a few apples and nuts for games? (Am I totally out of touch with things here, as a non-parent?).
But I agree that the run-up to Christmas is getting longer every year. I feel a little guilty that I'm a part of this - being exceptionally busy on Christmas gift campaigns that went live last week, the first week in November.
I'm getting away this year to Australia, and I must say, it's much less consumerist down there. The pressure to have new Christmas clothes, go out and get drunk every night for 30 days, to buy everyone who you've ever remotely had contact with a large present, and to eat yourself sick on Christmas Day just isn't there.
Instead it'll be shrimp on the barbie. The agonising choice of what bikini and sarong to wear. And plenty of swims on the day.