Hope is Absolutely Why We See Holiday Displays So Early
By Sarah Seweryniak
It happens every year. When we should be enjoying the final days of summer, Christmas decorations seem to be exploding out of aisles in retail stores.
I was on the phone with my friend talking about how it seems each year the displays come out earlier and earlier. When COVID-19 hit, we were starting to take bets on if it would happen sooner. The truth is, when I hear people complain about it, a piece of me giggles inside, probably because I’ve been planning my winter display since July.
While it’s clear corporations are trying to capitalize on the season of giving, I do not think that’s the answer to why we see the Christmas decor so early. I think the market is taking advantage of something greater. It’s our need to fulfill ourselves with the magic of the season. It’s the one time of year where there are feelings of enthusiasm and excitement. As one year gets ready to close, another is about to start. There are feelings of promise and optimism during this enchanting time.
As summer slips away, we start noticing the days are getting shorter. Night falls upon us earlier and earlier. Everything is starting to go dormant. It’ll start to get colder.
It makes sense to want to add warmth to our long winter days and nights. A strand of illuminated lights offers a glow, and the added sparkle creates a beautiful and magical winter wonderland. It is making a season of light and hope when otherwise, it would be a season of darkness.
As we age, we tend to lose that childhood wonder we once had with the year’s most magical time. When we start seeing decorations pop up, our inner child is trying to break out somewhere deep inside us—trying to find the hope and wonder of yesterday. As we age, don’t we wish for the simplicity of our youth?
I know I’ve have often found myself slipping away to memories of simpler times. Inspiration is needed now more than ever as we are in the middle of a global pandemic with COVID-19. Our essential workers have worked tirelessly. Families have had to cope with a new normal. Whether it’s dealing with the illness first-hand or adjusting your lifestyle with children remote learning. We’ve also seen the country in unrest. We’re in a time where kindness is needed.
Each time our communities face tragedy, we often see house light bulbs replaced with a specific color to either honor someone or a cause. Countless times we’ve seen family and friends support loved ones who are elderly, immunocompromised or were stricken with COVID-19 by buying food and supplies. The impact of a simple act of kindness is significantly felt in a community. When the effects of COVID-19 were first felt in the United States, many people started to place Christmas displays in their yard to inspire hope and kindness, because we are all in this together.
If there is one thing that I have learned in my life, we all have a purpose and a reason for being here. Whether it’s volunteering with an organization you believe in, or just putting a smile on someone’s face – your life is an opportunity where you can make a difference.
We are not the same people we were at the start of the year. A world that moved very fast has started slowing down. Proof that even in trying times, there is good. Next time you see a Christmas display before its season, look at it a little differently. Instead of cringing, let it fill you with warmth, optimism and inspiration.
About the Author:
Sarah Seweryniak was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. She received her bachelor’s degree in Communication Media Arts from Hilbert College. Sarah’s writing career has spanned over a decade, writing for local newspapers and online publications. She loves writing pieces that connect, inform, and inspire. In her downtime, she loves spending time with her husband and daughter. Read more of her work at www.sarahseweryniak.com
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