Santa Claus is coming to town … on crutches. And what caused this? Santa tripped over a pumpkin.
I am so old, I remember people being upset when Christmas decorations went up before Thanksgiving! As a child I looked forward to it. It meant the toys and the decorations and the songs were all around for me to see and hear. I find Christmas decorations and such going up before Thanksgiving a bit of a rush for the largest holiday we celebrate in America. I know the cry about remembering what Christmas is all about. But, I also know that Jesus was not born on December 25 or anywhere near that date. It was, like so much of the early church, a date that was borrowed from pagan celebrations. In hard times, Christmas is even more important than it would be ordinarily because of the impact of buyers. For many stores in the retail area it is the month that often makes the difference between profit and loss. So you can understand the rush to celebrate. It is also a time of good cheer, celebration, family and friends, and all of these things that make you feel better. By the time this election gets over, we will have been avalanched by commercials for more than two years. It’s enough to wear us out.
Santa, be careful … look out for ghosts and goblins, spidermen, and the obvious witch or two. I think this year you will be more than welcome. Maybe we can say “Merry Christmas” without it being somehow political.
If I remember correctly, Santa visits as many people as he possibly can around the world. He visits little Dutch boys and girls, the Fins, the Russians, and our cousins in England who celebrate this holiday without politics entering into it. I hope Christmas can be without rancor and politics this year as well.
So, as we get out the tree and look forward to friends and family, Christmas carols and songs, and in general some merriment, we hope Santa’s early arrival hasn’t dimmed this largest of all sacred and secular holidays.
Ronn Mott, a longtime radio personality in Terre Haute, writes commentaries for the Tribune-Star. His pieces are published online Tuesday and Thursday on Tribstar.com, and in the print and online editions on Saturday.
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RONN MOTT: Is Santa tripping?
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