Picture this: Its Christmas evening, you have enjoyed a wonderful time of fellowship over a delicious Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. You and your extended family that you only see semi-annually has gathered around the tree with anticipation of exchanging gifts. Your aunt loves the blouse your mom gave her. The cousins are delighted about the new Hot Wheels Death Tunnel play set they received. Now its your turn to open your gift. Now you specifically remember asking for and dropping many not-so-subtle hints about the new 13h generation Ipod you have been wanting, so naturally this is all you can think about as you unwrap your gift. The wrapping paper comes off along with the ribbon and bow. You open the box and...its a reindeer sweater. Although you force the fake half-smile of appreciation, the disappointment cannot be masked and your Christmas is ruined.
For some reason the two gifts that are the object of scorn around Christmas are fruitcake and the holiday-themed sweater. To me the holiday sweater is not only a thoughtful gift, it actually symbolizes everything that is good about the United States of America. There is no other country on Earth that has enough wealth to freely exchange such magnificent, intricately woven tapestries that adorn the upper half of the body quite like the holiday sweater. Images such as snowflakes, reindeer, Christmas trees, and Santa Clause represent a childlike innocence that, no matter how ugly this world gets, we return to this one time of year. When you dress yourself with one of these warm and comforting garments you are sending a message to a dying world, saying "I believe in something unseen, and I am not afraid to let the world know it!" You are also letting this world know that you refuse to be ruled by its ever-changing and often ridiculous sense of fashion.
With this in mind, next time you receive a holiday-themed sweater for Christmas deny the impulse to get upset that you did not get that new flavor-of-the-week electronic that will be obsolete in three days. Instead, think of your most cherished childhood Christmas memory and relive it every time you wear the sweater.
As always thanks for reading and tell all your friends to read this! May God bless (as only he can) your merry Christmas!
