The Christmas puzzle

Here’s the LHR Christmas Greeting:

http://www.youtube.com/v/tXxFriit7h8&hl=en&fs=1”

Here’s the disclaimer: (All good ads have to have at least one!)

All the trappings are there already. Stores decorated. All the special foods. But underneath it all, do I sense what Tom Lehrer advised in one of his songs, “

Christmas time is here by golly, disapproval would be folly

Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fill the cup and don’t say when,

Kill the turkey, ducks and chickens, mix the punch, drag out the Dickens,

Even though the prospect sickens, brother, “here we go again!”

In a little bit of introspection I would have to ask myself as an advertising person: “Is the Christmas hype really reflective of the event or are we (happily and profitably) overriding its real meaning?”

Stan Freeberg in the 45r.p.m 7” e.p. (you have to be old to understand the technology) Green Christmas, has one of his characters say,

“Christmas has two s’s in it and they’re both dollar signs”

The real meaning of Christmas is reflected in the actual story, where a baby viewed by some as illegitimate is born in a filthy stable because of family rejection. This baby, born on the edge of poverty was to become a gift to the world of teaching healing and change.

I wonder does our advertising reflect that, or subtly, the opposite?

Geoff Holt