Looking at my calendar, I am struck by the fact there are 4 weeks until Christmas. You’d think I’d’ve noticed before, what with the advertising and the ‘special offers’ and tawdry tinsel everywhere. But for once, I have managed to stay pretty much Holidays-free so far. This is very good news for my patience. If I could make one global rule it would be to ban all xmas advertising, decorations and music until December 1st. Because it’s all so overblown these days. I’m not religious, I’m not arguing for the Christian message to be the focus of the season, and yes, it is a nice – if somewhat misplaced – idea to have a time of year when we’re reminded to be grateful for what we have and pleasant to our fellow humans, but I don’t see why a celebration of returning hope in the depths of winter has become a consumerist orgy starting in August and running through until (with all the post-xmas sales) about March.
I’m not proposing the radical No Buying approach of Leo Babauta, just that we don’t go overbarod, into debt and generally insane about it.
I’ve been invited to join 7 Secret Santa schemes so far. I don’t see what purpose could possibly be served by me spending money on something generic for someone I don’t even know – because I know from receiving such gifts that it’ll probably just gather dust in a cupboard or be instantly re-gifted. So far, I’ve declined all invitations, and if that makes me a Scrooge, so be it. I’d rather keep a sense of perspective as to what the holiday season should really be about – gratitude, tolerance, peace and goodwill – than try to score social points by conspicuous splurging. 
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