Right after christmas and of course the christmas sales, valentines day starts to appear. You can't miss the flash of red that greets you and jumps out at you. Encouraging those with loved ones to buy a card, buy a gift, sweets, chocolate anything. In England, from what I remember Valentines day was there but it wasn't as big as it is here. Here it takes over stores. Most stores have a special section dedicated to Valentines day. And its not just for those with lovers either. Its for friends and family, kids, teachers everyone. They have these special cards that kids can buy - of course they're themed with Dora, Mickey mouse, Tinker bell or Spongebob and kids can give these to other kids in their class and even their teachers. They never had this in England when I was a child anyway. And of course there's the candy, the chocolates, the heart shaped confetti not to mention the heart shaped plates, cups, glasses, napkins, clothes, jewellry....the list is endless. Libraries, restaurants, bookstores all have some kind of display, promotion for valentines day. No one wants to be left behind.
After Valentines day is Easter. Easter bunnies start poppoing out from the corner. Chocolates, baskets, furry bunnies. Easter was celebrated in England, but more spiritually than anything else. I remember them selling these huge chocolate eggs based on your favorite Cadbury's chocolate. And each year my dad would buy my sister and I one. It was usually milk chocolate and then would also include the actual chocolate of your choice. But I don't remember easter egg hunts like they have here, or bunny rabbits, or gifts.
After Easter comes Mother's day. In England Mother's day is in March but in America it is in May which is totally bizzare that it would be different but anyway.... Mother's day presents and cards flood the stores including TV advertisements reminding you not to forget that special person in your life.
After Mother's day is Father's day which is the same day in both countries.
In America we also have 4th of july and this means a lot of merchandise including cards which have the flag of America on it. People decorate their houses, cars, self for the occasion. There is also a firework show in the evenings, or people just lit their own fireworks to celebrate this special day.
Then its October and Halloween. Costumes in costume stores, as well as pharmacies, grocery stores, and other stores. Clothing which has something related to Halloween, jewelry, accessories and all that jazz. Even theme parks offer a Halloween special event. Halloween in England consisted of Trick or Treating but not much more. But here in America its huge. People dress up for work. People wear jewelry and themed t shirts the whole month long. People celebrate it for weeks. Parties, activities, games.
Then its thanksgiving. Cards wander into the stores. Grocery stores have a special section for thanksgiving. Not to mention you can wear a shirt or a sweater with a turkey on it, and of course jewelry. And then of course its the after thanksgiving sales so of course that's being advertised intensely.
And then of course Christmas. Christmas, Christmas Christmas. We all know what that means.
I might have forgotten some smaller holidays along the way but you get the jist of what I am saying and there is a store called Old navy which actually offers $5 t shirts for each of these holidays as they approach. Crazy huh? So what is it? Are these holidays a means of commercialization or is it just a way of bringing people together. Is Valentines day important to people dating, or married. Or does it matter if that special person can't be there to celebrate that day with you? Who made these holidays and how come in America they are so much bigger and so much more celebrated. Are they less significant because of how they are commercialized?
