By Peyton Voorheis
Staff Writer
The American people must make a choice in November. They must ask themselves what they believe in, what America stands for and what they think our country ought to focus its attention on. Which of our country’s values is more important? Can we truly pit them against each other?
Which great American tradition will they engage in — a historical celebration of gratitude, or giving into corporate greed?
When to begin listening to Christmas music is an unceasing debate — and one that Catholics are often keen to take to the next level. The rigorous liturgists will suggest it ought to be first played on Dec. 25, and continue during the following 12 days. The salesmen will suggest it be played once the Christmas displays are put up — which has somehow become Nov. 1.
Despite being the oldest tradition a country as young as ours could have, and regardless of the values ingrained in the holiday, Thanksgiving gets very little recognition. No decorations, no gifts to be bought, no music.
Music is an unsung tool of marketing. It has a way of infiltrating one’s thoughts, worming its way into the public’s brain. Which is why it’s so effective — be it individual jingles or the large-scale corporate push to lengthen the Christmas season.
Even for those who are not concerned with the economic sphere and simply want to celebrate Christmas early, it’s important to think about which version of Christmas they actually celebrate by listening to secular Christmas music.
Both the shallow messages modern Christmas music offers and the increasingly early dates at which it begins to be played are indicative of a false, secularized perception of the holiday.
Very few radio stations, and almost no department stores, are playing hymns these days. The world’s secular Christmas music is not aligned with what Catholics believe Christmas commemorates.
At its worst, it’s an attempt by artists, or the music industry at large, to latch on to the December cash grab that has encompassed American Christmas. Even at its best, it’s a shallow representation of what the holiday is about.
The values of family, togetherness, charity and goodwill are among the few merits that secular Christmas tunes have to offer. Naturally, these values, along with love for the incarnation, ought to be present in our hearts year-round, but the cheesy lyrics and jingling bells do little to keep them there.
We ought to live in the present moment, rather than pushing past gratitude to the shinier, more enticing displays in shopping mall windows. Enjoy the crisp fall leaves and be grateful for what you have, but hold off on Mariah Carey a little longer. Then when December and Advent roll around, we can pop some popcorn and watch the liturgists duel with the salesmen once more.