Old-Fashioned Holidays a Recession Trend

Sunday, October 04, 2009

Stores are turning back the clock, conjuring images of hearth and home as they stock their holiday merchandise. Retailers hope embracing holiday traditions from cozier times will tempt recession-weary consumers to open their wallets in a season expected to show flat sales at best.

Posted by TaoWarrior at 08:50 PM | 43 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry

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TaoWarrior

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Yes think about your hearth, a tool set, screen or classic looking gas log set.

The switch to wood stoves for heating has not driven business as much as I would hope. Looks like a limited gift christmas at our house too.

#1 | Posted by TaoWarrior at 2009-10-04 01:24 PM | Reply | Flag:

good luck with that. how do I call in a put option on Wall Street against the retailers?

#2 | Posted by AuntieSocial at 2009-10-04 02:11 PM | Reply | Flag:

Its pretty sad that a simple, inexpensive, pared down celebration of Christmas is considered old fashioned... and that it would also be seen as detrimental to our economy.

#3 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine at 2009-10-04 02:32 PM | Reply | Flag:

As a retailer, I'm planning on a soft holiday season, hope I'm wrong....

#4 | Posted by Goose at 2009-10-04 02:58 PM | Reply | Flag:

I think it's going to be more of an old fashioned holiday season this year in that people are going to focus more on what the holidays are about -- love and sharing and being together.

Less money will be spent on big screen TVs and Wiis and more on baking and handmade crafts to give to each other.

I think that would be great.

#5 | Posted by goatman at 2009-10-04 03:07 PM | Reply | Flag:

I wonder if it will be old fashioned enough that retailers will actualliy use the "C" word: "Christmas" instead of the politically correct don't-offend-anyone "Holidays"?

#6 | Posted by goatman at 2009-10-04 03:10 PM | Reply | Flag:

I love everything about Christmas. I have my favorite decorations which I've taken with me no matter where I lived and put them up the day after Thanksgiving.

Caring for my Mom those last few years until she passed away in early 2008, made me realize how little I needed any gifts myself and I found I was actually relieved not to have to run all over the mall looking for gifts for a ton of people as our Christmas celebrations were cut way back from what they had been in other years.

I would still put a few decorations in the living room like the big wreath on the entry way wall and hung stockings over the fireplace mantle, but as my Mom became more of an invalid I just "moved Christmas" to her bedroom.

I'd set up the Nativity set up on one of the bedroom dressers and rigged up a small light so it would shine inside the stable and had a 2 foot Christmas tree all decked out in twinkling lights in front of the bedroom window. I'd tape all the Christmas cards we'd receive to the shutters and it looked so festive. We'd watch the Pope say Midnight Mass on tv and have eggnog. Of course I went overboard in making sure she had lots of little presents to open -- even if she couldn't unwrap them without help.

Those last few years with my Mom taught me a lot about the real meaning of Christmas. Gifts aren't of importance, it's the people around you. Don't even know for sure where I'll be spending Christmas this year but your good memories of prior Christmases are something you can always take with you no matter where you are.

#7 | Posted by CalifChris at 2009-10-04 04:51 PM | Reply | Flag:

if people realized it is CHRIST who put the christ in christman instead of it being a retailer's holiday, i would bet more people would be happier for lengthier periods of time.

my ideal Christmas would be to be snowed in somewhere with my favorite gospel stereo station playing in the background, with my husband out scouting sassafras roots in the morning while i make a big breakfast - put the sassafras on the woodstove in a pot of water and allow it to simmer all day, the aroma permeating every square inch of the cabin - then close to dusk, we'd add a little sugar and a shot or two of beam to it and go outside and have a bonfire you could see from texas...sigh...

we don't exchange gifts, but do give to others - in the form of chores, food or supplying them with wood for their stoves.

#8 | Posted by nanc at 2009-10-04 05:02 PM | Reply | Flag:

I love everything about Christmas.

bah humbug *grin*

The best thing that has happened to Christmas is the internet. I haven't stepped foot in a mall for over 10 years. It's a great feeling. Very liberating

#9 | Posted by goatman at 2009-10-04 05:03 PM | Reply | Flag:

"christmas", not "christman"...geesh...

#10 | Posted by nanc at 2009-10-04 05:03 PM | Reply | Flag:

if people realized it is CHRIST who put the christ in christman

LoL!

I think the church did this.

#11 | Posted by moneywar at 2009-10-04 05:06 PM | Reply | Flag:

Goatman,

For the most part I agree with you.

I however plan to spend a little more time shopping out in the stores, observe the people is fun too.

#12 | Posted by moneywar at 2009-10-04 05:07 PM | Reply | Flag:

Goatman, how do you feel about the uberchristians who forbid the kids to celebrate Haloween and demand that it be called "Fall Festival"?

#13 | Posted by oldwhiskeysour at 2009-10-04 05:08 PM | Reply | Flag:

Goatman, how do you feel about the uberchristians who forbid the kids to celebrate Haloween and demand that it be called "Fall Festival"?

I think it's stupid as hell

Why do you ask?

#14 | Posted by goatman at 2009-10-04 05:13 PM | Reply | Flag:

i hate shopping. many people will be getting buku homecanned goods from us - which is one thing i do love receiving from others.

#15 | Posted by nanc at 2009-10-04 05:14 PM | Reply | Flag:

That is lovely Chris.

I love everything about Christams too!

We also decorate the day after Thanksgiving. I have a lot of country and home made decorations that mean the world to me.

I don't think any future Christams will beat last years. We got married Christmas Eve morning, in a beautiful red and silver decorated little country church. The ceramony was everything we wanted it to be, written just for the two of us.

Christmas day, we went to help serve the homeless their Christmas meal.

The true meaning of Christmas was radiating through the smiles on their faces, the thankfulness of their embraces and the warmth in our hearts when seeing those people happy with the little they have.

I'll never forget that Christmas.

#16 | Posted by Lisa at 2009-10-04 05:14 PM | Reply | Flag:

...observe the people is fun too.

This is true. Every three weeks I have a 2 hour layover at IAH, a very busy hub. Great place for people watching

#17 | Posted by goatman at 2009-10-04 05:14 PM | Reply | Flag:

bah humbug *grin*

In December I'll tell Santa to sneak a few dozen elves over to your house while you're still out workin' on the rig. Then when you get back home and unlock the front door your place will be all decorated for Christmas -- including a Christmas tree -- but it'll be too late for you to complain or do anything about it.

Merry Christmas to all!

#18 | Posted by CalifChris at 2009-10-04 06:04 PM | Reply | Flag:

...We got married Christmas Eve morning, in a beautiful red and silver decorated little country church...

I'll never forget that Christmas.

#16 | Posted by Lisa at 2009-10-04 05:14 PM | Reply

A little country church with red and silver decorations -- it must have looked like a picture postcard. And if there was a little snow on the ground -- what a perfect touch! It must have been lovely, Lisa.

#19 | Posted by CalifChris at 2009-10-04 06:04 PM | Reply | Flag:

I however plan to spend a little more time shopping out in the stores, observe the people is fun too.

#12 | Posted by moneywar

The festive feeling can be catching. And it is fun to just sit back sipping on a hot toddy and watch all the hustle and bustle.

#20 | Posted by CalifChris at 2009-10-04 06:07 PM | Reply | Flag:

Hopefully it's old-fashioned in the respect that consumers will pay with money on hand, instead of ringing up credit card debt. It would be bad for retailers, but better in the end for everyone.

#21 | Posted by rightisright at 2009-10-04 07:22 PM | Reply | Flag:

Chris:

We had an ice storm the night before and the morning of Christmas Eve.

Everything looked like it was decorated with crystal.

We had a little snow as we left the church.

The next day, Christmas Day, we woke up to a double rainbow...no rain!

It was the coolest thing!

I took lots of pictures!!

#22 | Posted by Lisa at 2009-10-04 08:09 PM | Reply | Flag:

Those last few years with my Mom taught me a lot about the real meaning of Christmas. Gifts aren't of importance, it's the people around you.

Last year was the first Christmas my wife and I had as a married couple and we stayed home, opened some wine and did absolutely nothing. Best Christmas I've ever had.

The hard part is trying to stave off the parents and in-laws to make it happen again this year.

#23 | Posted by jpw at 2009-10-04 08:18 PM | Reply | Flag:

JPW

Soon enough you'll have to practice going "Oh, I LOVE it" when your in-laws give you that present you'll 'regift' as soon as they leave LOL.

#24 | Posted by Timex at 2009-10-04 08:20 PM | Reply | Flag:

#22 | Posted by Lisa - thunder snow is the best - if you live on the east coast, you're more than likely to have some - the farmer's almanac is pretty sure we're all going to have an unusual winter.

#25 | Posted by nanc at 2009-10-04 08:48 PM | Reply | Flag:

I think you're right Nanc.

I'm looking forward to it!!

Lol

#26 | Posted by Lisa at 2009-10-04 08:58 PM | Reply | Flag:

I miss the decorating of the Christmas tree and lighting the outside of the house with lots of lights and what not. My Mom used to write merry christmas on our picture window with that can of "Snow". I wished we had a log home here then it would feel even more "Christmasy" A Fireplace would also be nice but since insurance rates would be sky high for a Fireplace that is out. Maybe someday I'll have a mate and then we can do Christmas the correct way.

Larry

#27 | Posted by LarryMohr at 2009-10-04 09:07 PM | Reply | Flag:

Fuck xmas. Nothing but bad memories in my house. Old man used to get liquored up and beat the hell out of us. I wish we would just skip it.

#28 | Posted by jackass at 2009-10-04 09:16 PM | Reply | Flag:

This will be the worst christmas for retailers since the great depression.

#29 | Posted by Shawn at 2009-10-04 10:32 PM | Reply | Flag:

#28 | Posted by jackass - i'm extremely saddened you have no good memories. one of my best memories around christmastime was when i "ran away" and ended up in a tree in the front yard - it was rather heartening to see my mom and stepfather wandering about looking for and calling for me like they really cared. yeah, i stayed up there for a good long time and got an arsewhuppin' when i decided to go back in the house. it was worth it.

#30 | Posted by nanc at 2009-10-04 10:38 PM | Reply | Flag:

Nanc I'm not sad but thankful in a way. I could be lonely and depressed but now all I feel is hatred.

#31 | Posted by jackass at 2009-10-04 11:09 PM | Reply | Flag:

hatred is meant to kill the hater. you're better off drinking a cup of drano in hopes the other person dies.

#32 | Posted by nanc at 2009-10-04 11:17 PM | Reply | Flag:

p.s. does the hatred kill the loneliness and depression?

#33 | Posted by nanc at 2009-10-04 11:18 PM | Reply | Flag:

RASTA

It's a damn shame that hatred as intense as your own has had such a neagative affect on your life as an adult.

I, personally, would never give someone I hated that much power over me.

Somewhere along the line you have to tell your bad memories to fuck off and take back control over your life.

#34 | Posted by Twinpac at 2009-10-05 12:56 AM | Reply | Flag:

Wow.

All these christians celebrating a pagan holiday with pagan traditions.

Christmas...it reminds me of why I have zero faith and question everything about religion.

#35 | Posted by Axiom at 2009-10-05 05:20 AM | Reply | Flag:

It is amusing that people who supposedly are anti-pagan are essentially worshiping a fat man and a bunch of goats, but of course the real deal is about fascism. BUY SHIT!

#36 | Posted by Shawn at 2009-10-05 06:14 AM | Reply | Flag:

it's not amusing. it's fucking sad.

when i was a kid, i used to love getting shit for christmas. i didn't know what the presents and the decorations had to do with jesus' birth, and I didn't fucking care. I just wanted brightly wrapped, expensive junk.

now that I'm an adult, all I see is commercialism and exploitation. People don't even become a little bit more friendly anymore. We've got people getting shot, beaten and trampled for a fucking play station.

When I tell people that I don't shop for gifts for my family and friends, they can't believe it. One of them suggested I get therapy to help me be a good consumer like there's something wrong with ME because I (for the most part) opt out of a system of constant debt.

#37 | Posted by Axiom at 2009-10-05 06:27 AM | Reply | Flag:

p.s. does the hatred kill the loneliness and depression?

#33 | Posted by nanc

Yes It's my constant companion. All I think about these days is how much I hate republicans.

#38 | Posted by jackass at 2009-10-05 06:30 AM | Reply | Flag:

jackass is half right. Both parties are nothing more than whores for fascist interests. Both belong in jail at the very least.

#39 | Posted by Shawn at 2009-10-05 08:06 AM | Reply | Flag:

#38 | Posted by jackass - then you don't hate me as i'm an independent.

#40 | Posted by nanc at 2009-10-05 08:48 AM | Reply | Flag:

Yes It's my constant companion. All I think about these days is how much I hate republicans.

So negative. Try the A.d.i.d.a.s. mind thought. Much more positive and fun.

www.youtube.com

#41 | Posted by TaoWarrior at 2009-10-05 10:53 AM | Reply | Flag:

Christmas...it reminds me of why I have zero faith and question everything about religion.

#35 | Posted by Axiom at 2009-10-05 05:20 AM

LOL Sounds like a real fun guy to be around.

#42 | Posted by LIVE_OR_DIE at 2009-10-05 06:04 PM | Reply | Flag:

And "buying shit" is what puts food on the table. Yeah, a bunch of corporate fat cats will get their cut, but a bunch of little people will get theirs as well.

I just wish the "shit" we were buying was proportionally more American and less from asian countries.

#43 | Posted by LIVE_OR_DIE at 2009-10-05 06:06 PM | Reply | Flag: