One of the more popular songs of the Christmas season sung around this time leading up to the holiday itself is, “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas. ”

It sings of what we see at Christmas time, and helps us to imagine things at this festive time, like the lights, Nativity Scenes, inflatable lawn characters, wreaths hanging on doors and in windows, the overload of things red and green, Christmas trees, rooftop Santa Clauses and reindeer, the wearing of Santa hats, ugly sweaters, and the glimmering blanket of snow on the ground. All these things brought to imaginations by that song attempt to put us in a happy mood for the season.

Unfortunately, in the past more than a few years, the objective of this song, doesn’t meet the goal it sets for itself. Some may ask why I have these feelings. Here comes the rant.

Years ago, there were some who referred to July 25th as Christmas in July. It wasn’t a huge deal. It was a kind of a lark, an amusement, if you will, but it was something that came and went in the blink of an eye.

Today, thanks to about a half dozen television networks, and hundreds of businesses, the Christmas season now seems to be six months in length. One of those television networks takes off its regular programming in July (one of those programs being a favorite of mine, I Love Lucy), and begins to show Romantic and “feel good” Christmas movies which now run mostly 24/7 for the better part of six months, maybe more.

Stores begin their push on Christmas immediately after Halloween, a holiday that has become way too overdone. The Salvation Army, which is a tremendous organization, one I support whole heartedly, now puts its Kettle Campaign in operation well before Thanksgiving, whereas it used to begin following Thanksgiving. Many businesses begin pumping Christmas Carols and songs through their parking lots and stores in early November.

Black Friday, which at its inception began in the early morning the day after Thanksgiving, moved to “Midnight Madness” the day after Thanksgiving, then to Thanksgiving night, and now, with online shopping and early buying and pickup, has become Early Black Friday now beginning a few weeks before Thanksgiving.

You may have noticed that I’ve made mention to Thanksgiving often in this narrative. I purposely have done this because I think Thanksgiving is a forgotten holiday, pushed to the curb in favor of capitalism and its meaning dragged there along with it. Thanksgiving is a holiday marked by family, friends, and food. It’s a time to break bread together with many special people in our lives, and give thanks for the food on our tables, the family and friends who mean so much to us, and to give thanks for the many blessings we are so lucky to have. Some may not have what others have, but most of us have food for our bellies and people whom we care about and who care for us. Those who may not have these things should be thought of, prayed for, and helped, by us as individuals, assisting local churches, organizations, food banks, and the Salvation Army Kettles, to name a few. We who are lucky to have, need to help those who need, and be grateful for what we have and the where-with-all to be able to help others. No one can tell me that there’s any valid reason(s) for Thanksgiving being kicked to the gutter, and not given its due recognition, honor, and reverence in celebration.

Thanksgiving isn’t about presents. It isn’t about receiving. It isn’t about Black Friday deals. It isn’t about the over elaborative decorating of homes. It is about being grateful, being thankful for what, and who, we have in our lives, and having the privilege to help others.

And for those singing “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” it began looking and sounding like Christmas six months ago, but I preferred to wait until the day after Thanksgiving to say it’s looks a lot like Christmas. That’s when our decorations went up, and I started watching my favorite old time television Christmas episodes from The Odd Couple, Dragnet, Father Knows Best, Ozzie and Harriet, The Honeymooners, The Donna Reed Show, M*A*S*H*, The Andy Griffith Show, The Beverly Hillbillies, I Love Lucy, and many more I’ve accumulated on VHS videotapes (and yes, I have a combination VHS/TV to be able to watch them), and I started playing my favorite Christmas music CDs, but please don’t try to convince me anymore, that Christmas begins in July.

I end my rant hoping all had a wonderful Thanksgiving this past Thursday!