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Christmas lights and decorations already up

category dublin | miscellaneous | news report author Wednesday October 06, 2004 14:38author by Paul Kinsella - Variousauthor email paulkinsella53 at yahoo dot comauthor address 53 Lorcan Grove, Santry, Dublin 9, Eireauthor phone 085 - 1478100

I couldn't believe my eyes this morning. When I was coming down Henry Street in Dublin they were putting up the street Christmas lights and decorations. Yes you're not seeing things! The Christmas lights and decoration; and it is only the 6TH October; more than 2 1/2 months to Christmas! Far too soon. This is a sign of the growing commercialisation of Christmas. I wonder is this is just an isolated incident; or is this occuring nationwide? Perhaps some other IndyMedia readers might enlighten us?

Comments (5 of 5)

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Christmas... it was commercial long before JC
author by Davepublication date Wed Oct 06, 2004 16:01author address author phone

Every culture in history has had an annual feast celebrating the harvest / crop / end of winter etc. Many of these festivals have historically fallen around the end of December (longest day of the year).

Usually the motivation for this was to have one big bash to use up any surplus (unhoardable) food / resources in one go (over a day / week or even longer).

Preparation for this often lasts months, be it costume making, cleaning up the town, building a maypole, organising events.

This is what Christmas was about in most cultures long before JC came along c. 2000 years ago. A time of celebration, a time of consumption, a time of revelling in whatever bounty there may be.

That's the true meaning of the midwinter festival. JC's birthday was tacked on as an afterthought about 550 a.d. by a European council of bishops.

Roll on the party! It's good to be alive.

Dave
author by Paul Kinsella - Variouspublication date Wed Oct 06, 2004 16:30author email paulkinsella53 at yahoo dot comauthor address 53 Lorcan Grove, Santry, Dublin 9, Eireauthor phone 085 - 1478100

Spend! Spend! Spend! If you have the money; and to hell with you if you don't have the money. That seems to be the gist of what you are saying Dave. What ever happened to the spirit of giving and sharing at Christmas? Btw. I'm not religious in case you're wondering. The old pagan Pre-Christian festivals at Christmas were times of genuine festivity and enjoyment and everybody participated. It certainly wasn't commercial in the modern meaning of commercial.

News?
author by TTpublication date Wed Oct 06, 2004 16:38author address author phone

So this is what you regard as news, Paul? You should have done a longer article on materialism and posted it as analysis/opinion. There is certainly scope for discussion on materialism.

Dloody Scrooges
author by Ho Hopublication date Wed Oct 06, 2004 16:40author address author phone

Exactly, roll on the party, you've almost made it through another year!! Happy days.

Ahem, cough cough.
author by Dept of Communicationspublication date Wed Oct 06, 2004 17:06author address author phone

Stop dossing, Paul, and get back to work, or no Xmas Bonus for YOU this year.

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/66898

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