Let's say you were born in the Middle Ages....

[icarus]

Let's say you were born in the Middle Ages.

After a long day salting away food for the winter darning socks, you would put away your apron thimble and hear that one or more of the passion plays were being performed in the courtyard in front of the church. Actors were basically vagabonds but... a play.

It's a muddy slog, but everyone is there, rubbing elbows, gossiping and laughing. No one actually watches the play unless it gets interesting. Kids run in and out of the crowd, excited by the unusual activity.

There were three main ones, and you probably know them by heart. Certainly you know the basic story line. But the slapstick of the three shepherds shoving each other about like the three stooges was a hoot, and it was a touching moment when the shepherds gave lambswool to the baby Jesus under that big star, after all those wise men brought their fancy gifts. What was myrrh, anyway?

In the Paradise Play the devil was half bad guy and half comic relief, and ran in and out of the crowd, hissing. A risky manuever given how riled up the crowd got, but the little fellow was fast. (Check your pockets.)

Now let's say you lived in Seattle, Black Friday, 2007.

You would bundle up your kids and go downtown to Macy's to watch the giant electric star on the side of the department store light up, kicking off the Christmas shopping season with big savings. Macy's Inc. also lights a four story Christmas tree and there's a fireworks display the moment the star is lit. After the fireworks there are carols singing "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree (Have A Happy Holiday)" and a fat Santa standing next to the mayor and most of the members of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

Most years you need an umbrella, but today the skies are clear and cold. There are hundreds of shoppers with plastic bags full of parcels. Tired toddlers crying. You make your kids hold hands as they cross the street.

After braving the sales at Nordstrom and Macy's and buying cotton candy (what the heck), you and your youngsters stand in line to take a ride on the restored Merry-Go-Round in Westlake Center, alive with lights.

The Upshot of it All.

I can't decide if it's really all that different. But I have to say, I watched the extravaganza starting the Christmas shopping season appalled and laughing at the sheer tackiness of it all. What's the underlying message of celebrating the start of the shopping season? Is this really what we celebrate?

Comments

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I think you missed my point. The motives are no different.

The 15th century woman is going for some entertainment. While she's there, she'll probably splurge and buy something from one of the street hawkers (mulled cider? spiced wine?) and haggle the price down on -- oh -- a spool of embroidery floss died an unusual color, cheap from a vendor she knows is trying to dump his stock before he gets to London.

No doubt the monks copying Illuminated manuscripts are somewhere between amused and horrified at the revelry. Not that there's anything wrong with revelry, but they wonder if anyone knows it's supposed to mean something.

*massages hands, inked in blue and red from drawing birds down the margins of a text*

I'll always be on the side of the monks on this one. The rampant consumerism makes me feel a shade... embarrassed... at America. Like watching a greedy child get everything he wants.

[florahart]

Hee. I mostly was only commenting on the mood cutting off. It says "Vastly amused and somewhat hor."

Which, it took me a minute to decide that must have been intended to be horrified, but given the crazy spending thing of the day always sort of reminds me of a weird sort of whoring--buying of affection, I can give you what you need baby, only $500 for the whole night outfit/game setup/buy two get one free/whatever, you know?--the cutting off at "hor" amused me.

And then I was saying I didn't participate this year, except in that I did see other people in the store participating, though since I didn't go until like two, the crazy was mostly gone, and that not participating was kind of nice.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Ha. I need to fix that.

And then I was saying I didn't participate this year, except in that I did see other people in the store participating, though since I didn't go until like two, the crazy was mostly gone, and that not participating was kind of nice.

It's almost a kind of delightful sacrilege, isn't it? Not obediently trotting down to the sales. My shopping is going to be done online and all my packages are going to roll in to me. :)