The first sighting of 2010 “Christmas” merchandise occurred at our house in April. It’s a tree ornament in the colors of a certain big state university that has a lot of fans and alumni.

Why “Christmas” in quotes? Because it has nothing to do with the true Christmas holiday. Instead it’s another sign of “Excessmas,” the part of the holiday devoted to excess in indulgence and consumption. Don’t be fooled — you don’t need any of that for a joyous Christmas, and the sellers are being ungracious by starting in April.

There is no connection between the strength of retail sales and the joy of Christmas. You can have a joyous Christmas in the worst of times; you can have a bad one in boom times. Notice how this article reflects the common and contrary view — the view that associates joy with spending. Will they ever get it? I don’t think so.

Alternatives for Simpler Living has a dandy list here, starting with: “1.  Plan ahead. Instead of going on auto-pilot the day after Thanksgiving, hold a family meeting to decide what the group really wants to do and who’s going to do what.” Read the whole thing at http://www.newcelebrations.com/Advent_Tips.htm .

If Christmas is a religious holiday for you, it simply doesn’t matter how many billions of dollars of stuff people buy. Here’s one forecast that predicts a 2 percent increase. If you concentrate on a joyous and meaningful holiday, however, you can have an increase in happiness a lot larger than 2 percent! Read the article that started the Excessmas movement here.

Don’t do this if it will make you sad, but: Look out for the first mention of “Christmas” on a catalog you receive in the mail. Could be September or even August, depending on where you are. It will be way, way earlier than anybody needs if they’re celebrating Christmas as a religious holiday. No, that first “Christmas” catalog sighting will be about “Excessmas,” the materialistic side of the holiday.

Here’s a nice post on how to keep Christmas simple. From “only use cash” to “look for the meaning,” there are some good and practical tips. To those I would only add this: Call the secular celebration “Excessmas,” recognizing that there is no moral or religious obligation to spend a lot on Excessmas, and turn your thoughts toward the true meaning of the holiday.

The prophets of doom are in full cry telling us it will be a “gloomy Christmas.”

But wait. Regardless of what the media will tell you, it can be joyful. What they define as “Christmas” is the frenzied fourth-quarter retail sales extravaganza — and it may not be so hot this year. But for those who seek the true meaning of Christmas in the birth of Jesus Christ, it will be a great holiday.

Do this exercise. Think about the most joyful Christmas you can remember. Was it joyful because you received a lot of stuff? I thought not. So forget about the stuff and be joyful!

My national and international effort to take the commercialism out of the celebration of Nativity began with this article, which appeared in an edited version in the Wall Street Journal. Have a look and see what you think!

The mainstream media just don’t get it. The joy of Christmas isn’t about buying and consuming things. Even if you grant the premise that retail sales should be the object, they still don’t get it. They didn’t get it last year. They don’t get it this year. Maybe they will get it next year? See http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/tom-blumer/2007/12/26/tis-season-post-christmas-bias-new-york-times

The prophets of doom are in full cry telling us it will be a “gloomy Christmas.”

But wait. Regardless of what the media will tell you, it can be joyful. What they define as “Christmas” is the frenzied fourth-quarter retail sales extravaganza — and it may not be so hot this year. But for those who seek the true meaning of Christmas in the birth of Jesus Christ, it will be a great holiday.

Do this exercise. Think about the most joyful Christmas you can remember. Was it joyful because you received a lot of stuff? I thought not. So forget about the stuff and be joyful!

My national and international effort to take the commercialism out of the celebration of Nativity began with this article, which appeared in an edited version in the Wall Street Journal. Have a look and see what you think!