“It’s the Holiday Season.”
This phrase drives me crazy, whether or not it is accented by unnecessary capitalization. Winter is a season; so is spring. Christmas (and the ensuing holiday) is not a season, even though advertising that starts before the Halloween decorations are put away makes it seem so. So please, can we just say “holidays” rather than “holiday season”?
By coincidence, I recently ran across humorist Dave Barry‘s funny take on the “Holiday Season” (thanks to Wendy Marlow), from Christmas Shopping: A Survivor’s Guide:
“In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it ‘Christmas’ and went to church; the Jews called it ‘Hanukkah’ and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say ‘Merry Christmas!’ or ‘Happy Hanukkah!’ or (to the atheists) ‘Look out for the wall!'”
While trying unsuccessfully to find an online link to it, I came across this one, which reminds me of attempting to shop at a mall near me anywhere near Christmas:
“Once again we find ourselves enmeshed in the Holiday Season, that very special time of year when we join with our loved ones in sharing centuries-old traditions such as trying to find a parking space at the mall. We traditionally do this in my family by driving around a parking lot until we see a shopper emerge from the mall, then we follow her, in very much the same spirit as the Three Wise Men, who 2,000 years ago followed a star, week after week, until it led them to a parking space.”
I hope you enjoy the laugh, and the “season”!