Picking up where this leaves off:

St. Patrick's Day Gets a Bad Rep

This Holiday and the others often had the same problem, that most people see it as too commercial and less heartwarming. Not worth celebrating, because not worth spending money on. To me, Holidays are a chance to take the day or month off depending on the length and use it to spend time doing whatever the hell I want. Whether getting drunk and having fun at a local bar. Or getting high and spending quality time with my friends and family. Presents and other forms of gifts and merchandise that comes with it, are mere amusements and thoughtful gifts to me. Same with the shows that lead to it. South Park for example, wasn't meant to knock St. Patrick's day, it was mostly an elaborate joke at the expense of Butters. That no matter what he did, he'd always get into trouble, whether he meant it or not. With him doing community service for a St. Patrick's Day Pinch only to find their version of St. Patrick, to be more vulgar and lewd, was just Trey Parker and Matt Stone, giving the mother of all craps on Butters before he grew a spine and stood up for himself. Then you have the Simpson's Episode, where a party goes so bad, that they prohibit booze.

Of course that merely covers one holiday, but if you want a good example of a Holiday that was accused of Commercialism, long before Commercialism savagely took over this modern world? Charlie fucking Brown:

Made in 1965, just when the commercial aspect of that holiday was just beginning to bother people even though they were few and in between. All poor Charlie wanted to know, was what Christmas was really about, without commercialism in the way and the Peanuts save for Linus treated him like dirt over it. Linus explained where it came from at the time and it reignited Charlie Brown's Christmas Spirit. Symbolized by this fucking tree:

That's what Charles Schultz was trying to tell us all along when he was making that special. Charlie Brown is his Author Avatar. The character that is based around the creator. Meaning he went through a lot of shit Charlie Brown went through, just to find the secrets to living a good life.

There have been many specials before and after that either delve into the mythos of the respective holidays. Some with more heartwarming moments like the Rankin Bass Specials of old. Some so creative it's scary like Trick R' Treat and Krampus. As well as the iconic Warwick Davis starring horror series Leprechaun:

But a lot of them in between, often say "Buy our shit or you're not really celebrating." And it isn't just the Western Holidays. All over the world, Holidays have been capitalized one way or another and depending on the place, it's often been either very good or very bad for it. On the good side, it gives those without jobs a chance to shell things out for a few bucks. On the bad side, it means they have to contribute to rotting the holidays out.

To me, Holidays are merely breathers, a chance to relax, unplug and unwind until reality comes crashing in the next business day or week or month. How you do it, is up to you, but at the same time if you're not having fun along the way, then it's not a holiday. It's work and you know what they say:

You have the rest of the year to be dull. You only have a once in a while chance to have fun and let loose. Hell if the holidays you celebrate aren't good enough for you, then make your own. Find something you like and make a day out of it, provided a day wasn't made about it already. Hell lot's of fictional writers from Gene Roddenberry to George Lucas, made their own respective universes have their own holidays. Pon Farr for Star Trek and Life Day for Star Wars. And they made shit loads of money on the commercial aspect of it, without even trying. Yet if that wasn't the main thing, odds are they probably would have made the holidays anyway for mere kicks. Hell Seinfeld even had a made up Holiday. Festivus:

When I saw that, I first thought George's Dad was just fucking nuts. Didn't help they had an actor known for playing Crazy Old Guys. But now, I think he's on to something. Festivus while a crazy holiday, was the day everyone was able to air out their grievances. Which to be honest, is very healthy because a lot of us keep shit bottled up inside. While George and his family are Jewish, it's not a holiday based on religion, so everyone can celebrate it. It was like he was a pioneer of a new form of anger management. It allowed you to air out your shit, while having to listen to theirs.

Come to think of it, there should be a Festivus.

But ya, if you can't celebrate the holidays on there, make your own. The sky's the limit.

Everyone needs a breather. Take yours.

Until then, take care, stay safe and stay tuned for more.