Yep, Adbusters promotes the day after Thanksgiving as Buy Nothing Day. In this, the biggest day of conspicuous consumption, a small band tries to get us to stop and think about our overconsuming lifestyles on a day when consumers go off the deep end.I have not really celebrated a traditional Christmas in a long time. My family treats it the same way as the rest of the year: if we see something that inspires a gift to be given, great. If not, no big deal. As a result, there are not always presents given on Christmas but you might get something randomly on June 18th if I happen to see something that makes me think of a person on that day. What about Christmas? Well, we know we love each other and show it all year long so we just don't worry about stressing ourselves out during an arbitrarily selected season.
Now I don't expect large numbers of people to suddenly skip Christmas shopping due to this campaign...but if it can get some people to think about our lifestyles and/or how we celebrate that season, more power to 'em!
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The day after Thanksgiving has always been "buy nothing day" for me because I hate crowds and would not shop on that day. In the far past, I did shop on Christmas Eve on more than one occasion.
In my family, Christmas is for the kids and they get the gifts.
I find the pressure of gift giving and finding the "perfect" gift really ruins the season for me. I cringe at the "greed" commercials and how they start earlier and earlier each year.
I can see why Americans are hated for their capitalism. I stress over owning far too much stuff for one person. The overabundance pushed at us really bothers me.
I have noticed a huge difference in attitudes in Christmas here. Most kids although not all will get one smaller gift from Jul Tomten (Santa) and then they will spend the day on Christmas Eve slowly one by one hand out a present to the rest of the family. They write little rhymes to every present and read it out loud before it is given to the person. We all watch and appreciate the gift they were given. Gift giving happens at the end of the evening, first you have your meal, then you watch Donald Duck on TV, you read The Christmas Story out of the bible and might sing a Christmas Carol or two and then at the end of it all open your gifts. Santa comes for a visit at some point in the evening and hands out the gifts to all the "snälla barnen" (well behaved children).
There is a definite difference in the way we consume here compared to there, but that may be because things cost so much more here as well. You really do have to consider every purchase you make.
Well said Hale!
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