Do You Celebrate Commercial Holidays?
By highlyclever
@highlyclever (1111)
United States
August 20, 2008 11:54am CST
Commercial holidays are those that seem to have been invented by some company (usually one that sells greeting cards,) for the sole purpose of increasing revenue... er... uh... celebrating some small overlooked aspect of life.
Ok - some of these holidays are actually meaningful and put the spotlight on some rather important (and often overlooked) people. At the same time, I can't get away from the fact that these holidays probably would not exist if some company wasn't out there trying to sell you a "Happy Bosses' Day Bouquet".
Do you celebrate commercial holidays? What are your favorites? Which ones amuse you the most?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@AskGrannyD (17)
• United States
29 Aug 08
YES!
If I think of it and it is a good time to insert a bright moment into the day - WHY NOT. I mean there is nothing wrong with telling someone "Happy ____ Day!" as long as the person you are talking to isn't in the middle of a life crisis or computer crashing. Most people like to be thought of in a positive way.
Skip all the spending on cards and flowers though. Make a cute card by hand on a post it note qnd stick it up in a place that will surprise someone. That's better than an expensive card they will toss in the can afterwards.
Flowers, I pick them from the garden. My garden or someone elses.... whichever is easiest.
1 person likes this
@highlyclever (1111)
• United States
1 Sep 08
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, AskGrannyD!
I'm sure that these holidays can be a good opportunity to tell someone that they are appreciated... which everybody appreciates, whether there is a holiday specified for doing so or not...
The flower boutiques and card companies wouldn't be happy with your suggestions, though... about making your own cards or taking the flowers out of your own garden...
I was simply curious if I would find any die-hard fans out there for holidays that seem to have been invented only for the commercial purpose, and you seem to have embraced these holidays... though perhaps not their commercial aspects...
Thanks again for your reply!
No, I never celebrate it till today.
Maybe it is only a good day for business.
@highlyclever (1111)
• United States
29 Aug 08
I should have given some examples. In the States, there are some holidays that seem to have been created simply for companies to sell gifts. An example is "Bosses' Day" or "Secretaries' Day" or "Sweetest Day". While good reasons may exist to celebrate these holidays (to honor good bosses, good employees, or sweethearts), it often seems that they exist solely for some companies (usually ones that sell greeting cards or flowers) to increase their revenues.
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
20 Aug 08
I guess I'm a bit of a rebel about holidays. My mother never wanted to celebrate Mother's Day. She said that if we couldn't show love and respect all year 'round, then we weren't getting off the hook by buying a card or candy or flowers one day of the year. She said the same thing to Dad about Valentine's Day. And I have followed in her footsteps on these. I'd rather get a card or a flower or plant on some obscure day when no one else is getting anything...just because someone cares.
But, that being said, I do love looking up bizarre holidays on the internet.
For instance did you know that today is...National Radio Day?
Or that tomorrow is National Spumoni Day, Poet's Day, Senior Citizen's Day?
And August 22 is Be An Angel Day, World Daffodil Day, Southern Hemisphere Hoodie Hoo Day and Eat a Peach Day.
Now those sound like some fun holidays to celebrate, especially that Southern Hemisphere Hoodie Hoo Day. 
1 person likes this
@highlyclever (1111)
• United States
21 Aug 08
That reminds me of a children's song around Christmas time in which the children are reminded to be on their good behavior all year and not just in the weeks (or days) before they are hoping to get the special presents!
Everybody has a holiday! And everybody could find a holiday to celebrate every day of the year if they wanted to... ("A very merry un-birthday, to you!", as the song goes...)
Here's to someone remembering you with something special on a day of the year that no one else is observing! Cheers!