Why are Retailers Embarrassed About Christmas?

11.20.02 | mlmr

[mlmr]

The Christmas stock is out in the stores. There are scads of snowmen, Santas, reindeer and other items craving for your dollar. But interestingly enough, when one asks for religious Christmas items, at most stores, which serve a public that is conservatively estimated to be about 67% practicing Christian, there is nothing for sale.

No Christian based ornaments, hardly any Nativity scenes, and Christmas card... “Well Lady, I have robins, joke cards, Santas, dressed and nude, as well as lovely winter scenes and smart looking graphics.” Nativity scene? Magnificent reproductions of famous religious Nativities painted by the Masters? Ummm...no.

Some clerks make a weak smile and point out their extensive angel ornaments...others are belligerent and say firmly: "No we don't carry that sort of thing here." One owner said she did not carry religious Christmas items because people would be offended.

Guess what? I am offended. Every time I walk into a store decked out in its Christmas finest and cannot find any religious Christian items, I am offended. Every time I walk through huge displays of Christmas knickknacks and have to hunt to a bottom shelf of dark aisle to find a small nativity or Christian Advent calendar, I am offended. Every time a walk into a store with a brimming Menorah display, but no equally brimming nativity display, I am offended. (I have nothing against Hanukkah, I just want my religious tradition upheld with respect too. After all we are talking about 2% of the US population versus 67%.)

It is odd. When I talk to clerks about the availability of religious items in their stores, most also tell me that many people ask for them, but there just isn't anything available. Funny, that there is a need and no will to fill it.

I am equally offended by the Christians who are oblivious. Who no longer expect their tradition will be honored by having its items made available through retailers. Christian who don't want to rock the boat. Christians who don't want to seems too pushy or too religious.

I recommend that all thinking Christians go into retailers and ask where the Christian religious objects are located. If there are no religious objects available, perhaps it is time to tell the retailer how disappointed and offended that your religious tradition is being dismissed.

So I have decided to be offended...and to let people know...that true plurality honors even the faith of the majority and dominant culture. I encourage you to do the same...it confuses 'em when we use their words and phrases against 'em.

[TSgt]

It cracks me up with I see Santa Claus on one side of someone's yard and a Nativity scene on the other.

[Dat]

I find most people in the West don't like to talk about religion. That is probably why the situation has come about.

[mlmr]

I think you are right, but why are western Christian so willing to let their religion be so marginalized in the marketplace of ideas and in the real marketplace too??

[mlmr]

I agree, but here in the Northeast seeing a Nativity scene is sooooo rare that I'd settle for one on the back of Sant's sleigh!!

[Miss Marple]

In Indiana, there are plenty of natiity scenes, "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" signs, and religious ornaments for sale. I think this depends on the area in which you live.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Try a Christian book or supply store, and dont shop at stores that fail to sell religious items. You are not going to bully them into doing what you want... let the Almight Dollar speak for you.

Sadly, Christmas has become Americanized.

[meyer]

It cracks me up with I see Santa Claus on one side of someone's yard and a Nativity scene on the other.

I would hope that Santa is on the left side of the walkway, signifying the self-centeredness of the liberals while the nativity scene is on the ritious right. :^)

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Reminds me of an old cartoon I saw about 40 years ago.
A man is kneeling before a Christmas display of The Three Wise Men in a store window. He says to his wife who is looking on embarrassed,
"To you they are just three wise men. To me they are the Patron Saints of Advertising."

[JoeFromCA]

The answer is simple: the media, government schools, and other institutions in this country have depicted Christianity as politically incorrect to the point where even corporate America is cowering. I agree; complain, complain, complain about it. If I find time, I'll write a letter to the Chairman of Wal-Mart, as good a place to start as any. (Haven't been in a Wal-Mart lately, but I'll bet actual Christmas items, in any religious sense, are just about non-existent ).

[mlmr]

That is refreshing to hear. I am in the Northeast... and it is rare here for a retailer large or small to have any religious Christmas items...Target has a small selection. We have a chain up here called the Christmas Tree Shoppes and they looked at me as if I grew two feet when I asked where their Nativity scenes were.

[mlmr]

I do shop Christian supply stores, my point is that the majority's religious traditons are being marginalized.

[cyncooper]

I am at a loss. I do not see the problem you do as religious decorations and themes are in every store and displayed at many homes in my area.

[Skooz]

I refuse to shop for Christmas gifts in a store which refuses to use the word "Christmas."

I do not shop for "holiday presents," nor do I buy "holiday cookies." My wife and I saw a "Holiday Fruit Cake" in Wal-Mart the other day. We kept asking (where other people could hear us) what holiday the seller had in mind. Flag Day, perhaps? National Boss's Day? Maybe Groundhog Day?

If a store uses the word Christmas in their ads or their store displays, they get my money. The stores selling "holiday gifts" do not. Period.

[mlmr]

old cartoon I saw about 40 years ago.

I remember that...wasn't it an old New Yorker cartoon?

We don't even get that sort of respect today...

[BunnySlippers]

I'm getting on in years ... but I have never EVER seen the department stores rely on a religious (Nativity) scene for sales ... EVER. Christmas as a secular "event" is grotesque. If one was truly religious they would avoid retailers like the plague. I'm fully aware this is never going to happen.

[mlmr]

Poke around your local stores. In my stores religious Christmas items are small to nonexistent.

[cyncooper]

It cracks me up with I see Santa Claus on one side of someone's yard and a Nativity scene on the other.

Some people like to put out lots of decorations. Surely you aren't saying it is wrong for people to display Santa and also a Nativity?

[mlmr]

You are lucky, where do you live? Utah?

[LiteKeeper]

Freepers - your mission, if you chose to accept it - fan out, hit the stores...ask, politely, of course, where the religious items are for Christmas. Let's put the pressure on. Why? Not to be obnoxious, but to prevent the slipping away of our traditions...and more importantly, slipping out of sight in the Public Square.