American Holidays: A Cause For Celebration or Not?
Valentine's Day was just two weeks ago. I repeat, just two weeks. I walked into my neighborhood pharmacy the other evening and saw Summer beach toys for kids and Easter baskets. I rolled my eyes. Can we process the Russell Stover chocolate and wilted flowers that we received on V-Day before we move on to the next holiday or calendar-based season please?
I started to ask myself questions. Have things always been this way? Did my Mom roll her eyes when she walked into her local pharmacy after Valentine's Day in 1992?
If you're wondering why I rolled my eyes, its because America has become Holiday and "National Day" obsessed. In my calendar alone, I have counted 66 holidays and "National Days" like National Slurpee, National Magic and National Punch Day (hoping that it's the drink -- or not). From Labor Day to Independence Day, we cannot catch a break!
Now don't get me wrong, I am all about grilled corn and fireworks on the Fourth of July just like the next girl. I love eating my Grandmother's cooking and whippin' the Nay-Nay with my family during Thanksgiving. With the average American working a longer work week than ever before, we certainly need holidays. They remind us to slow down and enjoy life.
I really appreciate National Sibling Day but do we really need a National Pie Day? Here are my issues with holidays.
We Never Plan For the National Days
If it weren't for Instagram and Facebook, I wouldn't know that it is National Grandparents Day. I just log on as I normally do and see tons of photos of senior citizens on my feed along with a #NationalGrandparentsDay hash tag. All of this is really cute and touching (especially the captions) but who really took the time to rub icy hot on Pop Pop's back or take Grandma to the hair salon to get "her hair fixed"?
We can enjoy the special days only if we plan for them -- my new planner features all of the special days for the year so I'm going to try to be more aware!
Celebrating the Wrong People
So why do we celebrate Christopher Columbus day again? We know the true facts on his "discovery". We have also uncovered how terrible of a person he actually was -- he committed gruesome acts amongst women, indigenous people and slaves when he came to America.
Thank God that President's Day is more about getting savings on a mattress instead of actually celebrating presidents who didn't really want slavery to end. Unless you've been under a rock, you know that Lincoln didn't really want to abolish slavery. While the Internet will continually debate on whether George Washington's teeth came from the mouth's of slaves, one thing is for sure -- he needed slaves to maintain his lifestyle.
We don't need to wait for the government to do away with these holidays -- we can stop celebrating them now!
Do We Really Need A Day For Everything?
National Doughnut Day. Sorry not sorry, but I celebrate doughnuts everyday.
Money Is the Motive
Did you ever stop and think about how much money our holiday obsessions contribute to the economy? If you just can't live without that Santa Claus hat, be sure to shop small -- there are people in your city who need your support!
Create Your Own Holiday
We all have our very own holiday -- our birthdays. It's a time when we not only celebrate ourselves but our friends and families celebrate us too! Be open to creating other holidays that suit you, your family or your interests. Love to escape the winter? Take an annual Girl's Trip in January to a tropical getaway of your choice. Throw a party to celebrate being debt-free or make the last week of every June, family week where you visit relatives in different cities. Make your holidays count.

Courtesy of Tidal
Do American Holidays bother you too? What holiday would you eliminate? What holiday would you create? Chime in below.