It's That Time Of Year

I saw a Christmas commercial on TV today, you know the one.  Where the Hershey Kisses are playing  We Wish You A Merry Christmas ......... it's November 8th.  

Hershey Christmas Kisses

My girlfriend did some grocery shopping for me today at Wal-Mart.  She said she couldn't wait to get out of there because they were playing Christmas music.   Jingle Bells ......... it's November 8th.

A Traditional Jack-O-Lantern

I recall Halloween just ending.  The masks have not been put away and the candy is still lingering around homes that occupy all the little ghouls and goblins that roamed the streets on October 31.  I'm sure candy is still going into lunch boxes and being taken to movies.  Wrappers are being found under beds, next to computers, in the pockets of blue jeans and coat pockets.  

You'd think, at 52 years of age, I would have accepted Madison & 5th Avenues marketing plans by now.  I haven't.  Maybe, if I was a real 'material girl', I'd enjoy being pushed out my door to start Christmas shopping right after I returned from Trick-or-Treating.  I find this all quite sad.  The big shots in New York have been telling us, through advertising, to acknowledge the holiday we should be concentrating on, but don't stay too long, we need to hurry up and rush to the next.  This makes me extremely sad.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving, everyone focuses on food and family.  There are no gifts to purchase, wrap and give.  No major decorations to hang, only a nicely dressed fall mantel and a table adorned with a wonderful centerpiece of fall flowers accented with pheasant feathers, beautiful candles, pinecones and mini gourds.  

When growing up, I would wake up to the smell of turkey.  My parents would serve Thanksgiving dinner around 1 p.m., so the turkey went in the oven in the early morning.  My father would always turn to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which started at 9 a.m.  The parade lasted 3 hours, so when the parade ended, the table would be set, the potatoes whipped, the relish tray put out and the bottle of wine uncorked.

The turkey was placed on the table, carved by my dad and we all dug in.  Dinner never quite ended.  Pie was to come and in just a few short hours we'd be smothering mayonnaise on left over dinner rolls for a turkey sandwich, adding a side of cold stuffing and a few sweet pickles, topped off with a quick nap on the couch or your favorite chair.

For me, the Christmas season does not kick off until you see Santa, in his sleigh, with Mrs. Claus traveling down 6th Avenue and 34th St.  I think 5th Avenue is missing the entire show, they need to slide on over to 6th Avenue and see exactly when the Christmas Season starts.  

Santa greeting everyone at The Macy's Parade

Thanksgiving does not need to take a backseat to Christmas.  Food TV does it right, they celebrate Thanksgiving right after Halloween.  Food TV was founded by E.W. Scripps Company where the headquarters are in Knoxville, Tennessee. The southern states are all about food and family, food brings comfort and food helps makes memories.  

It's a time to be thankful for all you have.  It's a time to reflect on loved ones who are no longer sitting at the table with you.  It's a time to tells stories of past years, have a few laughs and a have a few tears.  Thanksgiving is the quintessential holiday.  I continue to carry on the Allard tradition, right down to the relish tray because if I didn't I'd find myself in a real pickle!