The Dunkin’ Donuts at 448 Main Street in Watertown proudly announced it planned to be open all day Christmas. This sign was in the window Friday, December 21, 2018. Photo by M.J. McDonald.
One of the biggest problems we have in our society has little to do with politics. It has more to do with culture.
We are losing our sense of the sacred.
For generations preachers have wrung their hands over the commercialization of Christmas. Yet commercialization is in some ways better than what’s going on now — the trivializing and slighting of Christmas.
The photos that accompany this article beg two questions:
Do you need to go to Dunkin’ Donuts on Christmas Day?
If so, do you need to go to Dunkin’ Donuts all day on Christmas Day?
Why?
We all know that some people must work on Christmas so that we have the essential services we need. Police officers, firefighters, doctors, nurses, and soldiers are all needed that day, and at least some of them have to be on duty for at least part of the day.
So do priests and ministers and church choir directors. And news organizations need at least some people on duty to report the news.
But it used to be assumed that anyone whose job could be gone without for a day would not be working on Christmas.
When did coconut doughnuts and caramel mocha latte become essential items on Christmas Day?
Even Ebenezer Scrooge gave Bob Cratchit the whole day off on December 25.
Now, owners of Dunkin’ Donuts franchises are among the hardest working people in our society. Working there is tough, as you know if you’ve stood in line and watched. We don’t begrudge anybody for trying to make as much money as possible.
But it’ll never be enough. You’ll always feel like you need more, no matter how much you make.
And you’ll never get another chance to celebrate Christmas on the day that you don’t.
Yes, we know that not everyone celebrates Christmas in America. But most of us do.
So here’s a suggestion for one way to celebrate it:
Don’t buy anything tomorrow. Don’t go in any stores. Don’t order anything online.
If enough of us shun needless commercial activity on December 25, sooner or later it will stop.
And then more people may remember why we are celebrating it in the first place.
The Dunkin’ Donuts at 448 Main Street in Watertown proudly announced it planned to be open all day Christmas. This sign was in the window Friday, December 21, 2018. Photo by M.J. McDonald. 
