All I Want For Christmas Is Boxing Week

via raredelights.com

The inevitable Christmas post is finally here and although the holiday is not in my Jewish family heritage, I can't help but get in the spirit. There are sparkling lights adorning the streets, a jumbo snowman on my street corner, fifty different versions of "Last Christmas" replaying in my head, and Christmas movie promotions all over Netflix. It's unavoidable. Christmas is everywhere (except on the ground in the form of snow and for once, all Montrealers are mourning over it). While it may be a green Christmas this year, there are still certain things that Mother Nature cannot take away from us (like Christmas-themed cupcakes). So whether we receive a little sprinkle of Christmas dust on Friday or nothing at all, people will still unite with their families in honour of the much-commercialized holiday, ideally giving it deeper meaning than the association with shopping it has come to represent. I, myself, will be spending time with my family since it is a national day off and everything is closed anyway.  While mine may not involve Christmas trees and presents, the end result of family unity will be the same. This year, I have chosen to define Christmas in my world.

Here is what it means to me:

NUMBER 1:

Michael Buble's voice radiating through store windows, singing "All I Want For Christmas Is You", serenading every window shopper around. All I want for Christmas is you, Michael Buble.

NUMBER 2

Elaborate Christmas displays in department store windows. If you don't stop and stare for at least a minute, you may in fact be a fashion grinch in disguise.
 

NUMBER 3

Endless shopping, just because I'm on holiday. Even though you aren't shopping for gifts, you can justify every purchase you make as "getting in the Christmas spirit". Nothing could be more wonderful.

NUMBER 4

Fluffy Santa-themed lingerie merely meant to get you in the mood, screaming "try me, try me".

NUMBER 5

Sequins. So many sequins. All day, every day.

NUMBER 6

Love, Actually. But actually, the film.

NUMBER 7

Friendlier people. This may be the only time of year when your grumpy next door neighbor will wish you happy holidays filled with Christmas cheer.

NUMBER 8

The last hurrah before the year comes to an end and you can make some resolutions you'll most inevitably break by February.

NUMBER 9

Chinese food.
Just kidding.

AND FINALLY:

NUMBER 10

BOXING WEEK: The seven day reward for your non-stop spending in December. Even though you thought you were all shopped-out, you just can't resist another sale, can you?

Happy Holidays, lovelies!

Bella

The December Shopping Disease

via nebraskahub.com

Yes, I have resurfaced from exam period (more or less) unscathed with much adrenaline to spare. With sales like Black Friday and Cyber Monday screaming my name, it was a wonder I stayed away from the shopping world and remained deeply immersed in my books. I must admit, Cyber Monday threw me slightly off guard (when did that become a thing?). But, alas, I managed to resist the urge to press that "add to cart" button and avoid Facebook ads like the plague (yes, they do occasionally entice me).

But today, all that has changed, my friend. Today, I have been freed of the heavy weight of literature and I have caught the bug. No, I am not sick in the coughing fit kind of way. I merely have the December shopping disease. Is it the Christmas jingles playing in every story putting me in the mood? Is it the snow falling from the sky inducing me to buy more sweaters? Is it a desire to decompress after remaining cooped up in the library? I could not say. But this disease has taken over my body and my immune system is struggling to fight it.

After all, it is only natural that with Boxing Week (best holiday of the year) rapidly approaching, my desire to shop is continuously expanding like a hot air balloon and eventually, it will explode. The stores will beckon and I will enter. That rush will return as I touch every soft fabric in sight against my dried up winter withered hands.

It might not be Boxing Day for a few weeks, but the sales have begun and everything that you will probably still be wearing for the next six months (due to the lengthiness of winter) is now at a reduced price. The promotions are yelling "BUY ME!". The red stickers are officially your favourite kind of stickers and invite you to blow kisses at them (if you're crazy enough). And sales people are starting to look slightly more attractive due to your blurred lovestruck vision.

December is officially being renamed "Shoptember". It sounds a little like September, which has already been taken, but we'll let it slide. This is the month when you can permit yourself to go a little nuts. Shoptember is about making yourself feel better on a -30 degree day. It's about making the best of winter by staying indoors, while avoiding hibernation. The mall is your new best friend. Open your arms to it.

So, take your best friend to lunch. And dinner. And breakfast. It is after all a season to be jolly and nothing makes me more jolly than a good sale.

Happy Shoptember!

XOXO,

Bella