Over the course of Econofest, I’ve tried to avoid venting my frustrations, but I feel the time has come to blow off a little steam. As I see the premature Christmas decorations and over-advertised sales, it occurs to me that perhaps we need to adjust our methods of celebrating the holidays. So, on that note, I give you:
Jenn’s Holiday Season Manifesto:
Let’s be honest, the current state of affairs is not once conducive to festivities and holiday cheer. In this uncertain economy, many people are approaching the holiday season with trepidation and fear. At a time normally marked with lavish spending and (dare I say) gluttony, people are facing budget crisis and tenuous resources.
This paradox is likely to result in more stress than usual in the coming weeks, as “news” pundits throw out words and phrases no one wants to hear: global recession, Great Depression, economic crisis, credit collapse, bankruptcy, plummeting stocks, downsizing, job losses, bailouts, selloffs, and more.
While one could argue this could be a welcome diversion to the normal over commercialization and waste that is the holiday season, most others will see it as a deprivation of the joy and merriment reserved for this time of year. In times of crisis, I often turn to the wise words of my friend Molli: When in doubt, food is the answer. Yes, food! Food is a source of comfort, a product of love, and a means of sustenance. Food is nourishing, soothing, and satisfying. Food is indeed the answer, found in the nostalgic smell of baking cookies, the warming taste of hot cocoa, and the contentment of soup on a cold day.
Rather than breaking the bank by purchasing a truckload of gifts, instead I encourage you to celebrate the holiday season by sharing the ultimate gift with your loved ones: comfort food from the heart.
December 15th, 2008 at 5:06 am
[...] so in the meantime I have launched a new category “Gift of Food,” to piggyback on my Holiday Manifesto. Some of my recent posts have featured ideas on giving food as gifts from sites such as MyRecipes [...]
November 9th, 2009 at 5:11 am
[...] year, I wrote a Holiday Manifesto to vent my frustrations about the premature holiday advertising and shopping. At the time, the [...]