And may all your Christmases be. . . BLUE?!

In an uncertain economy, such as the one we are embroiled in now, retailers have launched an all-out assault on some of the finer things in life: Our traditions of the upcoming holiday season. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukkah, the New Year and Kwanzaa. That's all of them, right? Did I include everyone? That wasn't difficult. All things included in one fell swoop. I wish the management company of The Shops at Nanuet (Simon) was able to do the same.

I grew up here in Rockland County, New City to be exact. I enjoyed a pretty ideal middle class childhood. I went to school locally and on occasion spent afternoons bonding with my mother at the good old Nanuet mall. I think it goes without saying that many of us were saddened by the state of affairs at the mall, and it's eventul demise. Now, as adults, many of us with children of our own now, were looking forward to the new Shops at Nanuet with great anticipation. I, personally, was looking forward to my first Christmas shopping season there, with my daughter in tow, just as my mother did 25+ years ago. 

Sadly, Simon made a bizarre decision of political correctness with their "Winter Celebration" last night (never mind the fact that it was only the 17th of November, not even winter, and not even Thanksgiving for that matter) You see, last night they "lit up the night" at the new property. This celebration, met with much fanfare despite the sketchy weather, included a menorah a blue Christmas Tree. 

That is not a typo, or an over-exaggerated observation. The wreaths on propery are silver and gold with clear lights. The menorah is shiny and silver plated. The Christmas Tree, well, it's blatantly blue. So much so, that I probably should not be referring to it as a Christmas Tree at all. Visit their Facebook page and read the comments. It is a blue cone of shame. In my research of the genesis of modern Christmas traditions, I was unable to locate any references to a tree lit in blue. When did it become acceptable to demoralize Christmas? When did the celebration of Christmas become such a bad thing? Why are retailers sterilizing the traditions we hold so dear? More importantly, why are we expected to be okay with it?

If you are anything like me, you DO NOT have to be okay with it. Would you hang ornaments from a menorah? No, that would be deplorable. We cannot do much about the over commercialization of this time of year, but what we can do is make our voices heard about what the customs and traditions of Christmas truly are. A tree should be dressed with clear (white) or multi-colored lights, and a creche should be present somewhe on property. Its Christmas, not generic, sterilized "holiday". Light the menorah for the 8 nights of Chanukkah, light the Christmas Tree when the advent season begins. 

We already live in a world of economic, social ad political unrest. Our children will not have the same idilic upbringing we did, but we sure should try as hard as we can to keep the reason for the season in their hearts and minds. Shame on us for letting our most basic religious traditions be completely demoralized. Speak up, send a note, write a Facebook post - tell Simon properties you want this tree situation rectified, and you want to see a crèche. If you're like me, you want this new mall to become a big part of our community, but not if they are so hell bent on being PC, that they leave the majority of shoppers out of the season's celebrations.