10 Ways to Improve Christmas

Christmas is now over and I don't know if it's due to me growing up or if it's actually the truth, but Christmas seems to be getting less and less exciting every year. It was the most exciting time when we were kids. We'd leave milk and a cookie on the table for Santa when he stopped by. We swore that we'd wait up all night to see him. The next morning, we were amazed at all the presents that suddenly appeared beneath the tree. By and large, we were also very impressed by Santa's knowledge in knowing exactly what we wanted. There are always exceptions though. Santa did have a slight case of 'sometimers' disease, I like to call it. But, then we found out the truth to the story and lost a bit of that childish naivete' and excitement to the holiday.

But, I remained excited for every December 25th up until I was about 15 years old. I liked the opening presents part of it and looking into my stocking only to find my favorite candies and chocolates. But, since I was 15, the Christmas season has seemed to lose a bit of its luster, has seemed to be the same thing year in and year out and I just recently thought, hey, maybe that's why not as many people are putting up lights, not as many people are getting excited for the holiday, why there's more stress and worry than excitement and joy. So, I've thought up 10 ways to hopefully instill that excitement and joy back into the Christmas season.

1. Songs- Can't we stop listening to the same songs 100 times in a month each and every year? By the time December is over, many reach the point of insanity from hearing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" for the 123rd time. Not only do you hear these things over and over and over again through the course of a single day, the songs have a way of getting stuck inside your head. So, all throughout the day, I find myself humming, singing outwardly or inwardly or attempting to whistle one of these songs. Isn't it time to come up with something new? Look at every major musical or comedic act. When a band comes out with a new album, they don't just play old songs and basically play the same set they played 5 years prior at the same venue. No, they play some of their newer stuff, play some of the old classics, and perhaps some of their personal favorites. That's what keeps fans coming to the shows and what keeps them interested. During the Christmas season, sure, you can play "Chestnuts Roasting On an Open Fire" 21 times, but balance the old classics with the newer songs so that people don't go crazy.

2. Trees- Maybe this is just me, since my family has had the same artificial tree for as long as I can remember, but just like the songs, it seems very old and worn. So, I say, let's experiment with some new shrubbery What about bushes? Decorating the giant tree in the front yard with ornaments? Decorating the exterior of the house with ornaments? Why does it have to be the same old tree year in and year out? Why can't we try something different and see what happens?

3. Stories- Santa Claus and his reindeer? That story is getting a bit old. I am now 24 years old and I have never met this Santa Claus character. Yeah, I met plenty of his helpers at the mall, but never the true Santa Claus. I've never even seen his reindeer and why is the Red-Nosed one, Rudolph, always so special? Where'd that come from? Was Rudolph just an experiment in a scientific lab and became the hybrid of Prancer and a Christmas light? Let's think up something else. Heck, we can have a yearly change. One year can be year of the Santa. The following year can be year of Elmer the Emu. The third year can be year of Donald the Duck-Billed Platypus. Then, every Christmas, we can have a parade with all the icons of each and every Christmas. With this, we'd have changes in songs and movies. We'd have to. We couldn't keep just playing the ones of Santa. We'd have to start in on Elmer the Emu and Donald the Duck-Billed Platypus. People could start in on collections and no longer would it just be about that jolly big guy wearing a bunch of red and white. People who are into collectibles could load up on different characters and stories each and every year.

4. Booze- We need to think of a new traditional drink to eggnog. I know some people like it and that's fine, but for those who can't stand the stuff, we need to find something different. Also, we need not be ashamed to down some booze over the holidays. Family is wonderful. I love family. But, there are always one or two people who make you want to scream. Yeah, you probably know who I'm talking about... So, when these times come about, be prepared! Make sure you're loaded with the goodies and be ready to take a few sips whenever needed.

5. Legalize Pot for a Day- Yeah, I know, pretty extreme, eh? I don't know about that. Pot is being legalized medicinally in more parts of the world and come on now. Haven't you ever wondered how silly your grandparents or parents would look after they've smoked a little bit of ganja? I've known people who've smoked this stuff and what did they all have in common? Especially right after doing it? They were all silly, relaxed; they laughed at everything, and could eat for 5 hours non-stop if you continually put food in front of their face. So, what better time for it to be legal than this day? Putting family in a relaxing state-of-mind, making them more apt to laugh as opposed to creating drama, and giving them more reason to eat all that was cooked. No plate would have any food on it, I can guarantee that!

6. Travel Resorts/Destinations- Just like we could make every year a different story. We could do likewise with where to celebrate that story. We'd have to divide it up in regions, so that one area of the country wasn't too crowded. But, this could give families a chance to see more of the country, meet new people, and celebrate the holiday in a way they never had before. People in the western part of the country could celebrate it one year in Phoenix, then San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Seattle. It'd give families more of a reason to travel and it wouldn't be the same atmosphere every year at your parents' or grandparents' place. It'd provide something new and exciting for everyone involved.

7. Bars- In case that 'legalizing pot for a day' idea doesn't follow through, we have to make sure all bars are open and all night! We'd then have to make it tradition that after dinner, some members of the family take off for the bar(s). With family gatherings, there comes joy, but there also comes tension and drama. What cures all that? Going to the bar, killing off brain cells with family members and friends, through drinking alcoholic beverages and watching sports. The parts of the family who were about to get into an all out brawl can cool off at different places. One can cool off at home and the other can cool off at a bar. Or, both parties could cool off at separate bars, although, that could create a problem if they were both to come back and stay at the same place later on that evening. Dogs are a man's best friend when alone. Bars are a man's best friend when with family.

8. Year-round Shopping- Got to love it...as time draws nearer and nearer to Christmas Day, you'll start seeing parking lots at the malls and other shopping centers packed so full that you have to park a couple miles over and take a bus to wherever you wanted to go. Why is this? Well, when do you think the best deals are for Christmas shopping? And when do we find out what the hot gift item is for that year? Near Christmas. So, enough of that. Let's let people know the hot items all year-round. Let's give them deals for those items. Let's let family relax during the holiday, as opposed to stressing 24/7 about finding a certain gift that everyone else is looking for, and not being able to find a parking spot for an hour while driving around in the parking lot.

9. New Movies- There are some classic Christmas films, just as there are classic Christmas songs. But, let's come up with some newbie classics. The movie "A Christmas Story" was on for 24 hours on TBS on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Give me a break. 24 hours? So, they showed the movie twelve times that day? "A Wonderful Life" is another holiday favorite. One problem is, the new Christmas movies have been anything but classics. Just look at "The Santa Clause," "Christmas with the Kranks," and "Surviving Christmas." No, no, and no again. So, if anyone has the time and wit, please write a script for a Christmas film that will be a new classic.

10. TV Specials- There was that Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey joke special a couple years ago. Every special I've seen, has been anything but...special. Maybe they're awful, because it's the same thing being reiterated every single year. New storylines, like Elmer the Emu. New songs. New classic films. New exciting traditions. These could all spice up these TV specials and give them more options in their presentation.

I do hope everyone had a great holiday season, got to spend time with family, got to drink a bit to get away from family, got to eat a scrumptious meal, and got wonderful gifts from Elmer the Emu. If anyone has new ideas for the holiday, feel free to pass them along. I'd love to hear them.