Rescuing Christmas from the Mall
By the Rev. Timothy E. Schenck
I have nothing against mall Santas. Out of uniform, they’re some of the jolliest people I know. So why can’t I stand going to the mall at Christmas time? It may be the endless Bing Crosby soundtrack, the tinseled decorations on steroids or the forced joy that pervades each level. Obviously the hyper-consumerism is a turn-off, but I think ultimately it’s just the lack of Jesus. He is nowhere to be found. And “Jesus Is the Reason for the Season” bumper stickers aren’t helpful.
But rather than bemoan the fact that the American Christmas experience has precious little to do with Christ the Savior’s birth, I offer several practical steps to undermine the mall Christmas virus. And I won’t even suggest that you get your shopping done throughout the year. Unless you’re my wife, it’s impossible.
Illustration by the REV. CANON ANDY DIETSCHE
• Forget about the “true spirit of Christmas.” Despite the barrage of catalogues, we’re not there yet. Focus instead on the true spirit of Advent. If we acknowledge and recapture the meaning of Advent in the midst of our seasonal preparations, we leave room in our hearts and minds to prepare for the coming of Christ.
• Arm yourself with some good Advent and Christmas CDs. If shopping at the mall during the last weeks before Christmas is inevitable, take a walkman. I’m not joking. Walking around the mall with the boys’ choir from King’s College, Cambridge, transforms the whole experience. No “Rudolph,” no “Here comes Santa Claus,” no “12 Days of Christmas,” (which I’m convinced is the Yuletide equivalent of “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall”). These same CDs also make driving to the mall and the endless search for a parking space almost bearable.
• Spend time in church. This sounds obvious. Actually, coming from a parish priest it may even seem self-serving. But spending time with the season of Advent is the best antidote to holiday consumerism. Here’s a reality test: during December, do you spend more time shopping or praying? Try to at least even out the balance this year.
• Celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. In our house we’ve tried to reclaim Christmas by giving gifts to one another on January 6. With 3- and 4-year-old boys bounding down the stairs on Christmas Day, Santa still visits. But we’ve exchanged family gifts on Epiphany the last several years. The kids look forward to it, Santa doesn’t get all the credit for his generosity and you can take great advantage of post-Christmas sales to boot.
• Let the Grinch guide you through the season. This may sound odd, but reading the classic story by Dr. Seuss is a wonderful way to expose holiday consumerism and move towards the deeper meaning. In response to the Grinch’s rumination that “maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store,” we can answer with a resounding, “Amen!”
I should admit to a recurring mall fantasy. I’d like to go to, say The Westchester in White Plains, and find the back room that contains the sound system. Then I’d take it over for an hour or two. I’d replace “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” with “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,” and I’d substitute “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” with “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” And then I’d just stroll around poking into The Gap and Starbucks and FAO Schwarz to see people’s expressions. Maybe it wouldn’t affect anyone. But maybe it would change the focus, if only for a moment. Maybe people would recognize the true gift of the season: God’s love for us in sending his only Son to live and walk among us. May the coming season fill you with anticipation and joy. And may you be overextended in praise and thanksgiving rather than credit card debt.