Economics of Holidays!!!
You may be expecting a blog about the recent landmark Supreme Court decisions, or perhaps President Obama's bold executive order... But those are great topics left of a government week. Expect them to come soon so make sure you are keeping up with the news!
The topic for this week is a fun one: Supply, Demand, and Holidays.
This week is, as you know, the annual celebration of our Declaration of Independence from England: The Fourth of July! We all have our traditions which may include; fireworks, bar-b-ques, picnics, and a plethora of our favorite foods. From the west coast to the east coast the taste in food varies but there is always FOOD!!!!!
In addition to food holidays also often include celebrations that may center around gifts, decorations, music, travel and much more. Have you ever consider what happens if what we expect to be a given around the holiday were to suddenly become less available? Perhaps even in shortage? What are we to do in this case? Pay a higher price, substitute another good, forgo a tradition???
This week I want you to have a little fun and do a little research. Tell us about a tradition your family has around this holiday, The Fourth of July, or any other holiday that was perhaps altered because of an economics situation. Maybe there was a shortage of a treasured item (see the articles below) or perhaps there was a shortage of resources (ie, family income) that altered a long standing tradition. What did you or your family do to make up for the change in the expected? Included in your description please find supporting evidence to show that the situation was not an isolated event but a situation faced by others across the country.
If you can not recall a personal situation perhaps you can research a time when a holiday was affected by a shortage or a good, economics crisis, or other conditions that impacted traditional holiday celebrations.
Examples of holiday shortages:http://www.freep.com/usatoday/article/55946890?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cp
http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_20976840/global-helium-shortage-threatens-deflate-holiday-parades-parties
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT POST NEED TO BE DATED BY WEDNESDAY OF THE WEEK YOU ARE PARTICIPATING. RESPONSES NEED TO BE DATED BY THE FRIDAY OF THE WEEK.
In all honesty, I could never imagine people forgoing a holiday simply because there was a shortage of goods. In fact, substituting something as usual as, say, a hot dog for something people usually don't eat on the 4th of July- perhaps meatloaf, or pasta, or another ill-fitting food- could even start a new tradition.
ReplyDeleteI say this because when I was younger, my family went through the stereotypical x-mas situation: my dad was out of a job, mom was a housewife, and we had five kids to support. And, of course, it happened to coincide with the holiday. Did we skip x-mas all together? No. But we did substitute the usual gifts with homemade ones that costed us next to nothing, and it started a tradition in my family, to give at least one homemade gift per person. It just made our holidays that much more special, to remember when we didn't have a lot, but that we did our best to enjoy it just the same.
I love that story. Your families troubles created a new tradition. This tradition probably keeps your family close. It is a really cute idea.
DeleteI loved that your family still kept the holiday spirit up even though your dad lost his job. Homemade gifts are a great and creative way to tell someone you care about them-- isn't that the purpose of a gift? By making the most of what you had, Christmas still felt the same or even better than the previous years.
DeleteI love this. Its such a great way to stay close with your family despite the troubles you are facing.
DeleteI agree with everyone else, that is what a lot of families have had to do. It brings you closer in a way because something you made yourself is more personal and heartfelt, anyway.
DeleteI love how your family adapted to a bad situation so well. Also, I've always thought that homemade gifts- gifts that actually require real thought and effort- have always meant so much more than just a cheep mass produced item that only takes a seconds thought.
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ReplyDeleteMy tradition is one that comes from Christmas. Every year, my mom makes these amazing pumpkin rolls. The main ingredient is a big can of mashed pumpkin. A few years ago there was a massive pumpkin shortage around the country. The shortage affected Halloween as well because there were fewer pumpkins to carve and they were more expensive. We tried to find the cans of pumpkin every where, even going as far as Surprise but there was nothing. That year we had no choice but to not have our pumpkin rolls. This year with the crab shortage, people on the East coast can substitute the crab meat for something similiar instead of tossing out the tradition for the year.
ReplyDeleteFinding a substitute to your item is a good idea to help solve the situation. They could also make a different dinner as a way to remember that one year.
DeleteThat is interesting, I have never heard of a punkin roll. Well that sucks that you could not have your pumpkin rolls. It is good how you said this affected many people in the nation. What is the reason you stated the crap shortage?
DeleteYes because its the same scenarion. Both ingredients are necessary for a lot of seasonal dishes. Brickell I like the idea of doing something different to make that year special.
DeleteThe during the global financial crisis my father lost his job. That year my family moved to anthem for my dad's new job. This caused us to move further away from our family. Instead of spending money on already expensive gas to visit them during this holiday our family decided to stay closer to home. This financial crisis hit "millions of Americans" (Guina). With such a financial shortage many people lost their jobs or homes. This act most likely changed many holiday plans. http://cashmoneylife.com/economic-financial-crisis-2008-causes/
ReplyDeleteMy father did not lose his job, but income has been short. We have family down in south of tucson and we rarely visit them anymore because of the gas to get there. So I know how you feel with not being able to see your family.
DeleteFor as long as I can remember, my family has always had a tradition of going out to eat at a fast food restaurant on Christmas eve. This tradition was started during the early 1980's due to the rise in unemployment at the time. My grandfather was newly out of a job, and struggling to make ends meet, and instead of having the usual Christmas ham dinner, he instead opted to take the family out to the local McDonalds and eat there. While the next year he had found a steady job and was effectively providing for the family, the tradition he had started remained and is still practiced to this day.
ReplyDeleteSources:
http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/rec1980.htm (See chart "U.S. Unemployment Rates Month-by-Month for the Period 1978-1984")
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ReplyDeleteFun stories so far. Please remember that I would like to have supporting evidence of the "economic situation" that triggered your families behavior change. Perhaps provide us a link to data showing an economics hardship or an article talking about a particular shortage that year as Jake has. Good Job Jake!
ReplyDeleteThis topic is soo fun
DeleteAs kids, when my family was poorer, my parents would often by my sister & I lots of small, cheap gifts, because Christmas toys rarely see extended use and kids just like opening presents. For the last couple of Christmases and birthdays, we didn't even exchange anything, though this was less about economic hardship and more about a lack of interest in gifts. We'd just have a nice, family dinner and maybe movie. However, this Fourth of July we are abandoning the luxury due to the several surprising & expensive emergencies my family has had recently. Rather than hosting a feast for the extended family, the four of us are just having a small barbecue, then inviting a couple of family friends to enjoy the nice, free view of the fireworks we have from our backyard.
ReplyDeleteBy far the largest of those emergencies was my dad's heart attack in May. Although it was pretty much the best case scenario as far as heart attacks go, we still have a $78,000 hospital bill, which with interest will likely go over $100,000, and, because family history constitutes a preexisting condition, little of this is covered by insurance. About 41% of Americans aged 19 to 64 also either have difficulty paying for treatment or are in medical debt.
Deletehttp://www.reuters.com/article/2008/08/20/us-medicaldebt-idUSN1932186920080820
I agree that kids do like the feeling of opening a gift--I know i did when i was younger! Also, i do agree with you about the "lack of interest in gifts". For Holidays and Birthdays, my family and I didn't really exchange gifts, we just have dinners and that was it. We weren't poor or anything, we are actually doing fairly well this past year. Its just that my family doesn't wait for a "special occasion" to buy things for each other. When the opportunity comes up, we just take it.
DeleteI do like how you can still spend time with your family even in hard times. Although the story is nice, maybe what was the family emergency and how did many people suffer from it. Finnaly I hope you enjoy your fourth with your family.
DeleteI understand slightly what you are going through on the economic side of the medical condition. I am not about to say this even BEGINS to relate with what your family went through, however my dad as a former fighter pilot suffers from severe back issues. He is looking at possible needing surgery to fix several bulging discs and bone spurs. He has had to avoid a lot of treatment for himself in an effort to keep our family financially stable. It frustrates me as I think health should come over any tradition or whatever he is using to reason withholding from his treatment. Health issues are hard emotionally as well as financially. I am glad to hear your father is OK and I pray it doesn't happen again. Best of wishes, enjoy that time you have with your family. Quite family time is just as enjoyable.
DeleteBack in 2009, my family and I experienced a financial crisis that I know many people across the country has gone through: Home foreclosures. Records show that "2.82 million homes faced foreclosure in 2009" (Eley). We had just moved into our new home in 2008, my parents took out a loan on the new house and were planning to use the money form our old home --once its sold --to pay off this mortgage. We had completely payed off our old house but we wanted a bigger home.
ReplyDeleteShortly after the purchase of our new home in 2008, the economy began to decline. Many people were beginning to lose their jobs and unfortunately, my dad was one of them. This was around Christmas time. What was unknown to me was that even before my dad lost his job, both of my parents were struggling to pay the mortgage along with the monthly bills. So when my dad lost his job, my parents were frustrated at their situation. It was christmas and everybody was suppose to be jolly. My brother and I weren't aware of their predicament until months later when we had to move back into our old house-- which was (fortunately) never sold. My parents didn't want me to worry about their financial problems so they hid them from me. Christmas eve rolled round and we usually spent the night out eating at our favorite restaurant. But that year, my parents decided to save money and have a home cooked meal instead. The whole family helped out in the kitchen and we had a blast. Unknowingly to me, I thought my parents just wanted to try something new this year, but the real reason was a whole different story. Nevertheless, each year after that, our family decided to stay in every christmas eve and cook instead of dining out. It brought us together more than eating out could ever do.
source:
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/jan2010/home-j16.shtml
http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000
I think its great that you and your family got to spend that time together! Those are always the best times :) it really does bring everyone together.
DeleteEvery summer I used to go up to illonois to visit my family so we could have a family reunion. When we had this reunion we would have a day of family activities followed by a great dinner. Flying up to Illinois and the day of activities always costed a large sum of money. In 2008 my mom, my brother and I were unable to attend the reunion due to lack of funds. Since the I our family has not had a reunion since 2007. Although my family could not have a great reunion, we instead called each other and talked on the phone. I can tell others suffered from lack of money at this time because in 2007 there was a economic depression around the world. Many businesses were shutting down due to this.
ReplyDeleteIn December of '04, the day before Christmas Eve, my family and I were due to fly back to the UK to spend the holiday with all of our extended relatives. We lived in Memphis, TN. at the time, and in order to get to UK, we had to make a connecting flight in Newark. The weather at the time in Memphis was terrible, icy and sticking snow, so not the best possible flying conditions. Our flight from Memphis to Newark was delayed due to the weather, eventually departing hours later, leading us to miss our connection to the UK. The weather was just as bad in many other parts of the country, causing a shortage of seats on flights internationally because of all the local cancellations and delays. Due to the inconsistency of supply and demand, the shortage of flights, my family couldn't be re-booked on a flight to the UK for another three days, which left us stranded in New York for Xmas.
ReplyDeleteIn light of the situation, my family pulled through and we had a fantastic time in New York together. This started a new tradition, in that now around Christmas time (in lieu of giving each other large gifts) we go on a short trip somewhere in the US we haven't yet been to.
Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/weather/12/21/winter.weather/index.html
http://www.tbd.com/articles/2011/02/d-c-airports-expecting-cancellations-in-storm-49323.html
http://www.almanac.com/weather/history/TN/Memphis/2004-12-24
So, compounding upon all the Christmas traditions, my family and I always used to sit down and watch the funny Christmas movie "Elf" with Will Ferrell (I'm sure you know the one) on Christmas Eve since it came out in 2003. However in the year 2009 two very tragic things happened. One, my mom got laid off work so our family income was split in half. Two, we lost the cherished Christmas movie. My dad was also making a lot less money due to the economic recession. In fact, the "August of 2009 was the 19th straight month with employment below that of one year earlier"(Arizona Unemployment Rate Dips). So Christmas Eve night, we were frantically searching for "Elf" but we couldn't find it anywhere (I think my little sister cried). We didn't want to go to Walmart and buy the movie because we had financial problems as stated earlier so we decided to search through our movies and watch something else. At the time we were very desperate so when we found "The Grinch" (the one with Jim Carrey) we decided to watch it. This turned out to be a big mistake as we found out because it was a horrible movie. That fateful year we found out that "Elf" was an inelastic good and my brothers and I began saving up money so that we could buy the movie the following year. Instead of using allowance money on other things like going to the movies or buying fast food, we would save it up. The following year we ended up buying our traditional Christmas movie again and our tradition still continues today. Just because a family experiences economic problems doesn't mean they have to skip or change a holiday tradition because skipping it would feel horrible and changing it may be just as bad.
ReplyDeleteSource: http://www.naztoday.com/uncategorized/2009/09/arizona-unemployment-rate-dips/
I like how you said you didn't necessarily have to change a holiday tradition. You had to skip your tradition one year and didn't enjoy it, so you saved up to get the movie for the next year. I think traditions are really important to preserve in today's society. We're always looking for something more modern or whatever the new big thing to do is. Tradition is what keeps families together and I'm glad that so many of us can say our families are closer because of it. PS-My family LOVES Elf and we watch it at least 62346 times a year. :)
DeleteAccording to a report done by Gallup this past December, Americans' average economic confidence boosts every holiday season whether it's summertime soirees or frosty fetes. Just this past November, retail sales rose roughly .2% and unemployment dropped 8.6% despite drastic turns in the stock market. "While improving economic confidence may not be enough to drive higher consumer spending on its own, it certainly provides the conditions that make it possible," says Chief Economist of Gallup, Dennie Jacobe.
ReplyDeleteHowever, even with the positive outcomes of the holiday shopping sprees for the hottest gifts and yummiest treats- Americans are facing more challenges against their traditions than they realize. Because of the constant increase in gas prices, many online shops have been taking the initiative to offer free shipping to their penny-pinching consumers. By shifting sales to online markets by 15%, our holidays are slowly losing their traditional luster. Personally, I find it disheartening when my family can have a plastic “convenient” Christmas tree shipped right to our door, birthday presents given merely through monetary cards and flowers and gift baskets can be shipped to kin hundreds of miles away without you even having touched it. Perhaps I’m a bit old fashioned, but today’s convenient ways to beat the “hassle” of the holidays have really put a damper on things.
Still, what would happen if the system stopped? No more impersonal cash wires and gift baskets with genetically modified fruits smothered in chocolate, no more door busting holiday sales at 5 A.M., no more holiday economic rushes. Instead, a massive recall on major holiday products or perhaps a boiling conflict with China- no more tinsel and cheap fireworks for you, America. Given that our American “holidays” are not so holy anymore for they are based on nothing but flashy purchases and gluttony, perhaps such a “tragedy” would actually assist the morale of this nation.
In France, a primarily Catholic country, their holidays do take on a more religious nature but even the most Atheistic of the French participate for they are often just cheap thrills to correlate with previous monarchy traditions. No flashy purchases, no outrageous and sometimes fatal sales, no relying on the economy to make the holiday season pleasant- just holiday spirit, great homemade delicacies and relaxation. While it seems to be a bit too fantastical approach to an already failing economy, the French economy has a tendency to be more stable and less torturous for those on the lower half of the class spectrum as the American economy fluctuates dramatically and leaves the poor in a much worse place.
Essentially, the elimination of today’s holiday economic patterns would cause an immediate shock to all, even I. If it’s one thing I know about the American people, it’s that when there’s suddenly no more luxury to be bought, they will use any means necessary to still achieve it. Yet just a few years ago, there began a sudden shortage of Halloween pumpkins and my younger brother got so upset. Being the older sibling, I wasn’t too affected by such a seemingly childish tradition of carving pumpkins, but the thought of that being jeopardized truly scared me. Holidays are what surges the economy, the morale, and time perception of the American people. While a change in the economic processes would be refreshing, I just can’t imagine an American culture without our holidays.
Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505123_162-57342130/holidays-lift-economic-confidence-to-6-month-high/
I like your comparison of the American holiday culture to the one of the French :) I've indeed noticed as well that all of us are so stressed out with buying gifts and planning out everything during holidays that we neglect the whole point of the event: to just spend some quality time with the people we care about doing the things we like to do. But of course, nevertheless, as Christmas approaches, you can always find me running cheerfully around the mall shopping for presents and new clothes along with my fellow Americans.
DeleteIn 2008 due to the economic crisis at the time, my father lost his job. My mother always worked a part time job and took care of us kids. That year my mother worked two jobs while my father stayed home with the kids instead. When Christmas time came around it wasn't in the budget to get gifts for friends and relatives. We decided to bake everyones favorite cookies and treats instead. Since my mother was busy working two jobs, my father was the one that had to bake with us kids and help decorate tons of cookies. It started a tradition of baking with dad around the holidays for family and friends. We even have some of our own special recipes now!
ReplyDeleteSource: http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2009/jan/wk2/art02.htm
I can't relate to the lose of job, and baking with my Dad, however I can with the baking. My mom started to make numerous baked goods and giving them out as presents instead of large expensive gifts. This has also become a sort of tradition. Each year my mom makes lots of goods, and we all have our favorite.
DeleteI can relate to the job loss especially but also the making of handmade gifts and treats instead of just forgetting the tradition entirely. I'm glad I'm not the only one that just likes to bake for people on the holidays. :)
DeleteWhether we realize it or not, all of us have traditions. They could be anything from eating a certain food, to gathering with friends, to maybe even staying home and doing nothing! Whatever these traditions may be, everyone definitely has certain things that they like to do around times of celebration. The trouble arises sometimes when we come up to a holiday, and suddenly realize that we may not be able to do the things we normally do. The feeling that comes with this occaision is not a good one, and I know this not only because I've seen it, but because it has happened in my life as well. Ever since we moved away from Michigan, my family has come back every year to celebrate Christmas in Winter and the Fourth of July in the Summer. However, during a period of years of recession starting with the 2008 economic collapse (when the US gdp growth rate reached its lowest point in 50 years) we were only able to come for one or the other, and in 2011 we werent able to come to either one. Luckily , now with the economy beginning to pick up again we are able to come back in both the summer and the winter this year.
ReplyDeleteSituations like this are not uncommon in times of hardship. When my grandparents were children during WWII they were only allowed certain rations of goods, this hindered them from indulging or feasting even at holiday times or times of celebration. In my opinion, although it is unfortunate that sometime we cannot continue traditions, changing it up is not so bad. If it is so bad to whereas you cannot do anything at all, it at least is good in that it helps you appreciate it more the next time.
Source: http://www.tradingeconomics.com/united-states/gdp-growth
I totally agree my family we travel. That's what we do since my dad is a pilot as you know. This year we are in Anthem still. I am not sure how to respond as it hasn't happened for me before but I think it is important for people to realize even when something new or strange is happening they need to embrace it and learn to make the most out of a situation. It doesn't always have to be the same exact thing you do every year but it can be used to develop you into a stronger person and can teach you to really truly enjoy the small things and the family you have right close to home.
DeleteWith the financial crisis, items have become more expensive, and people have less money to spend. My family is no exception.
ReplyDeleteEvery year, my family has flown out to Tyler, Texas to spend Thanksgiving with our extended family and enjoy a week full of games and delicious food. Last year, we ran into a problem. With the increasing price in airfare (up to $40 per person more than in the last year), it would have been very difficult for us to make the trip. So instead of throwing in the towel and forgetting about Thanksgiving altogether, we invited our neighbors over and had a wonderful thanksgiving getting to know them better. Even though we could not continue on the original tradition, we were able to create a new one that will hopefully last just as long.
http://money.cnn.com/2011/02/24/news/companies/airfare_oil_prices/index.htm
It is interesting that you were able to start a new tradition despite the circumstance. I wish you the best of luck in continuing it!
DeleteEveryone has been affected by the economic crisis our country is going through. Financially, prices are rising and people are struggling to meet their needs. For example, gas has gone through the roof and jobless teens (like me) are spending their parents’ money to get around, which only adds to the family’s expenses. In general, the economy has forced everyone to make changes and find more convenient ways to experience their family traditions.
ReplyDeleteEvery Christmas Eve, my dad’s whole family gathers at my grandma’s house to exchange gifts with each other. We all bring food and my uncle breaks out the Santa hat to pass out gifts. When I was younger, everyone in the family got a present for everyone else. Now, we tend to stick with gifts for each individual part of the family. For example, instead of giving each of my cousins separate gifts, my dad and I will give something to my aunt and uncle that their daughters will enjoy, as well. One year, we even decided to pull names from a hat so that we only had to buy a gift for the person whose name we pulled. This definitely saved a lot of money, but the holidays will always be a time when people struggle. It’s also important to remember that we shouldn’t have to buy material objects to prove our love for our family. The main idea of a holiday like Christmas is to spend time with our family and reflect on what we value in our lives.
I think the idea of secret santa is not only cost-friendly but also very exciting! I'm glad that your family hasn't forgo the tradition of giving gifts due to financial crisis but instead modified it into something better and more suitable. The value of a gift is definitely not in its cost but the thoughtfulness of its giver.
DeleteI love how your family turned a negative into a positive. I had that exact situation happen in my own family, and I think we have all grown closer to each other as a result. It definitely means more when the gift is given more from the heart then from the wallet.
DeleteLove the secret Santa idea! Definitely going to have to push that idea with the family this year. I'm also glad you mentioned how the economy has affected families not just on a generalized level but the particular lifestyle choices that come along with the holidays and just being a teenager in general.
DeleteI agree with your point that we don't always need to buy material things to show love. The best way to show that you love someone is to spend time with them and show that you appreciate them.
DeleteLuckily I have yet suffered any severe backlash from the economic recession. However for other reasons I'd prefer to not talk about, my family has suffered from some economic crisis. These reasons causing the economic issues played an even larger role in acting as a tie-down preventing us from traveling. With my father being a pilot we often traveled around and have spent numerous 4th's in Michigan, Utah, camping in Prescott, and even the United States Naval Academy, I do not remember one July 4th of my life which we spent in what we called our hometown at that time. Due to these outside forces we could not afford numerous trips with rental cars, food and other basic ammenities. We also could not plan far enough ahead as we were living on a more week to week basis. Therefor we are spending tonight in a more "normal" fashion and my family will be heading to the park with other families from our community and having a small get together with my step-brother and step-sister and whoever it is they bring. This crisis and its ensuing restrictions has changed the dynamic for my final July 4th living with my parents and brother and I am hoping to make the best out of this new way I am unaccustomed too and try to enjoy the "simple" life and enjoy the basic comfort of my home instead of the family hospitality.
ReplyDeleteAlso I really just want you all to know I do not have ANYTHING against staying at home I just have always been in a more nomadic state visiting family or enjoying the mountains at our condo in Park City. I hope none of you took this as me considering myself above anyone because I travel or something absurd like that I actually have respect for those who have made Anthem or the surrounding places a home and have that true sense of belonging.
Don't you love unforeseen conditions that make our lives just a little bit more complicated? Haha. But, you, and long with everyone else here Jake, has shown humanity's natural ability to adapt to its surroundings and circumstances. It's impressive and amazing to see. However, I am sorry that you felt the need to place that disclaimer at the end of your post. That just epitomizes how our "P.C."society has become.
DeleteLike many families, my family has been hit by the recession. My mother being a teacher, and my father working in construction our money flow has decreased large amounts. Luckily for myself however, my parents were always good at keeping it a secret. Many of our traditions has stayed intact. There is one tradition that was eliminated in our lives. Each Christmas morning as a family we would go out to eat at a really nice and expensive restaurant. This could range between $50-$70 a person. When paying for around 6 people this got pricey. Especially with it being Christmas and spending money on present. When money got low, that holiday tradition was cut, and we now stay home and make our own food. Our Christmas morning has changed drastically the last few years, but is now the norm. Many other families whose income was mainly based on construction, just as mine did.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1960639,00.html
My family had a similar experience due to the poor economy. Instead of the whole family going out to dinner for each birthday, just the birthday child and my parents go. Its sad to see one tradition go, but I like how your family made the most of it and now have a new tradition because of it!
DeleteWe have the same tradition for birthdays, but due to the fact that my family is half of yours that tradition has stayed alive.
DeleteIt's sad to see such a shift in traditions as those which happened to you guys, bit as with most posts, it's still nice to see other families also able to adapt and grow new traditions out of old ones that aren't possible anymore.
DeleteIn my experience, cooking as a family can be even more fun than eating out. It is a great way to laugh together and make bonds stronger. I hope that you are able to make the most of it and enjoy your Christmas mornings just as much as you did in the past.
DeleteRobert Abel (I'm doing this from a mobile device)
ReplyDeleteOne tradition that my family does is have a family reunion. We usually go back to Missouri every couple of years but this year my family wasn't able to go. Due to money issues we decided to have our own vacation closer to home. I'm sure things like this have happened to many families due to the economy. Another thing that my family does, like most families is buy presents on Christmas. Last Christmas my we decided to only buy presents for the children. Everyone needed to cut back on spending. Even with people needing to cut back on things, we are lucky to live in this great country.
I think the high airline fares have been affecting a lot of people lately, considering most families have relatives who live out of state. It is important to see family, especially around the holidays. It is unfortunate that sometimes exceptions have to be made. Both my brothers go to college in Annapolis, Maryland, and many of my relatives live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I can relate to your situation, because trying to fly my brothers back to Arizona for holidays makes seeing my relatives in Pittsburgh nearly impossible.
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ReplyDeleteMany of us in our family live in different parts of the United States, but every year we still manage to gather at my aunt's house(who also lives in Arizona) to celebrate Christmas together. However, in the particular year of 2008, something changed. With the national economic crisis and the inflating fuel cost, air traveling suddenly became difficult. "From the year 2000 to the middle of 2011, jet fuel prices rose 268 percent..[and]...domestic airfare costs reportedly rose 10 percent." (CBSDC) So as a result, many of my relatives couldn’t make it to Arizona that year. I was greatly disappointed as my excitement for the holiday was met with the dispiritedness of the supposed reunion. Until then, I had never thought that a financial issue can affect the way I celebrate a holiday, because for me these celebrations were never about extravagant gifts or grand trips. It is truly sad that families are forced to be separated on this special day just because they can't afford an airplane ticket. Luckily, due to that year's tragic experience, all members of my family have since then prepared to budget more wisely each year in order to save up for that December flight. Gas price may be forever rising, and we may continue to struggle financially, but in my mind being with loved ones during holiday season is something that should be prioritize among others.
ReplyDeletehttp://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/03/01/high-gas-prices-raising-airline-ticket-costs-curbing-holiday-travel/
Some years ago, when news hit America of mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy), the public became somewhat hesitant to purchase and consume beef products. Although most meat was generally unaffected, some people thought it best to avoid cow products temporarily. A past article described the publics incline towards meat abstinence: “Industry spokespeople and the USDA have scrambled to reassure consumers that the country's beef is safe and that the chances are extremely low of any humans contracting the debilitating and fatal Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD, the human form of spongiform encephalopathy). Nonetheless, so far at least 28 countries have suspended the import of US beef, and the public remains skeptical” (Parrish). During Christmas time, my mother’s side of the family (French Canadians), cook and consume numerous meat pies. Of course it was probably safe to continue this tradition in the winter of 2002; however, my grandmother and aunts decided it would be wise not to cook meat pies this year. To substitute for this important Christmas dish, my aunt suggested that every family bakes a fruit pie for dessert instead of the usual cake we traditionally ate. Years following this Christmas, we returned to our traditional consumption of meat pies, in addition, we now also eat fruit pies after dinner.
ReplyDeleteSource: http://www.rense.com/general47/impact.htm
I remember this "crisis". This is a good example of a change in behavior due to a change in market conditions. Thanks Nikki. Did you also know that several ranchers sued Oprah Winfrey on behalf of the cattle industry during this same time? Oprah made a comment on her highly popular show regarding eating beef. She said that was going to not eat burgers for a long time due to the Mad Cow disease. As you can imaging the sales of beef products plummeted. The ensuing court case was centered around this loss of profits with the ranchers suing Oprah for slander and loss of profit. What you do think? Was the loss of revenue due to Oprah's comments or to the growing concern over the dangers of the meat products????
DeleteVery interesting relation Nikki, I still can't donate blood because of that scare aha :/ But while it's good that you found the substitute, it's also nice that you are now able to get back to the longer standing tradition of using meat in the pies, as well as the fruit ones.
DeleteIt's crazy how much a hype over a disease or condition, however unfounded it may be, can affect the consumption of a product. As to your question, Mrs. Pondy, while Oprah's comments were probably naive, I don't think it would be particularly fair for ranchers to sue her over her own opinion on her own talk show, no matter how much influence she has. I'm sure their legal teams probably found difficulty in sourcing an air tight, direct link between the comments and beef consumption. Do you know what happened to the case?
It is truly amazing how much a few words "mad cow disease" can affect the market for a product, even if in reality it is not a very credible or prominent threat. Your example of switching away from beef I'm sure is not an uncommon one. Many other people likely made the same decision under the same set of circumstances that you did, which would lead to a significant change in the demand for the product. As far as what Oprah said, I am sure that it did indeed affect peoples decisions being that she is a trusted and well known individual. Although it seems silly and is probably not wise to shadow a celebrity in their action, especially when they are clearly not an expert in the area, it is the sad truth that people do it anyways, whether subconsciously or not. The words of famed talk show hosts carry great weight in our day.
DeleteI agree with you Alex that it is unlikely the case went anywhere because it doesnt seem like you could really provide very strong evidence that showed she had a great effect. (Although she probably did.)
I definitely agree with everyone here that people tend to panic and worry excessively about diseases they know little about. When Mrs. Pondy mentioned the affect of Oprah Winfrey on the beef market, it got me thinking about a Ted video I saw earlier (the link is below). In this video, the trends manager at Youtube discusses how videos go viral and the most significant reason he states is that the video is spread by some celebrity. When the celebrity endorsed a video, millions more people end up watching than would of otherwise. The same thing is true about Oprah Winfrey. She may not have guessed the affect of her statements but she probably had a significant impact on the industry.
Deletehttp://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/kevin_allocca_why_videos_go_viral.html
In my family the traditions are simple. We do not have any outstanding holiday rituals, but what we do follow is the most important tradition of all, seeing family. The majority of out of state family members reside in California and being less expensive than plane tickets, driving is really the only option. Due to the inflated gas prices in California we've had to cut back on seeing family members. Instead of seeing my uncle and cousins this year for the 4th we have to hear their voices from the telephone. Although gas prices are not currently the highest they've been, prices in California have been well over $4/gallon at times during the last several months.
ReplyDeletehttp://energyalmanac.ca.gov/gasoline/margins/index.php
I have also always driven to California with my family due to the money you save by not traveling via air. I am sorry that you didn't get to spend the 4th with your family due to the gas prices that have only been inflating the past year. With gas prices so high, it's almost just as expensive to drive as it is to fly. However, I hope you had a great 4th with your immediate family!
DeleteIn 2006, my grandmother arranged for my mothers side of the family to go on a cruise for Christmas. While she paid for a generous half of this trip, the expenses that my family still had to take care of enabled us to be able to have our traditional Christmas at home, which included a tree, presents and decorations. Since we got back from our trip on the midnight of Christmas Eve (due to hold ups and delays of our flights), in the morning instead of our traditional gifts, we each got one present that gave us a way to remember our trip, for example, picture frames from the islands. My fathers income has never been particularly low, however in 2006, the economy slowed due to extreme built up debt which made it hard on working class families to be able to afford all the luxuries they were once able to. The housing boom ended this year, which I remember as we debated selling our house, but decided not to due to the housing market crash, and consumption growth was at its lowest. Although the economy in 2006 took quite a beating, my grandmother made an effort to get the family together and escape from a less profitable Christmas than others. Now, on the years we decide to spend our Christmas on a tropical vacation or elsewhere, we do not spend any money on gifts. However, on the morning of Christmas, we all receive a gift that we can use to always remember that trip.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2006/12/economic_review.html
Just like most American families, the economic crisis hit hard. In 2009, my Dad's business wasn't doing very good. A lot of his income relies on his business with different golf courses. Due to the condition of the economy, a lot of golf courses were suffering, which means that his business suffered. Christmas time came, and money was tight, so my Mom was left with a big problem to solve. How does she give all 6 of us kids a Christmas like every other? During most past Christmases, my parents would give us all basically what ever was on our list and more. That year, my Mom had the idea to give us 3 all gifts; something needful, something meaningful, and something fun. While it took awhile to get used to, that idea became a tradition in our house and made Christmas just that much more special.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/01/04/20100104biz-golf1231.html
DeleteYour mom's idea of three gifts: something needful, something meaningful, and something fun was brilliant. How did you feel about not getting all the presents you normally would? Would you say that its hard times like these that really teach the lessons that you cannot always get what you want and if so do you think your brothers and sisters have learned this through this holiday tradition?
DeleteI thought they were pretty genius as well. I suppose at first it was a little weird, but I love the new tradition. My older brother and some of my little sisters didn't really mind the change while the younger two had a harder time adapting to it. I hope that they all have learned from the new "three gift idea", I know I have!
DeleteI also think that your mom's idea of the 3 gift thing was brilliant! Getting a meaningful gift a fun gift and a needful gift as opposed to just a sheer volume of random stuff for Christmas is something that I think more people in America should adhere to because I would think that it would make a special holiday like that even more meaningful. We really should put more thought into things like that and opt for quality rather than quantity.
DeleteThis is one of the coolest traditions I've heard of. It really does bring more meaning to the holiday. It reminds us that Christmas isn't just about the "fun" things but that there's more to it. I love the idea of at least one meaningful and needed present. Everyone also gets a fair amount so there's no jealousy of who got more.
DeleteFor my father's birthday, my family usually holds large feasts. We buy tons of food, and have most of my family come around to enjoy the festivities and unusually large portions of food. Guests can range from 15-25, so we make sure to buy a little (lot) of everything. Seen on the dinner table includes: Turkeys, steaks, melons, mashed potatoes, and so forth. Recently, though - specifically around 2008 - prices rose as a result of the "World Food Crisis." The growing populations around the world, creating a demand for livestock to feed the hungry mouths (which in turn created a demand for the feed) and the introduction of biofuels as an attractive option for motorized transport increased prices of corn, and these prices interrupted our generous dinner. As a result, our family scaled down the amount of feeding at my father's birthday. We didn't invite some of those brother-in-laws, those mother-in-laws, those family friends. We only invited the closest of our family so that we wouldn't have to buy so much food. In the end, it kind of made those who came a tighter group.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/10/opinion/10thu1.html?_r=1
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DeleteThat is a very cool story Brett! It's almost inspiring to see how people react to such a global crisis and become closer through it!
DeleteIt is amazing that some inconveniences can bring about some positive outcomes. Despite not being able to see all of those close to you, you were able to develop a stronger connection with those who made the cut.
DeleteEven though it is unfortunate for those who did not "make the cut" (as Austin put it), I'm sure it was a very heart warming experience for the others in your family that grew closer. If it was your decision, would you suggest a more affordable option for food so that all family members are once again able to partake in the feast?
DeleteIS that not a blessing in disguise though? Since less people were there, a closer knit group was formed. You weren't faced with the mobs of family members who don't remember your name, and instead met with those closest to your heart?
DeleteThere comes a time in everyone’s life where sacrifices must be made. Due to living in a society where were capital runs everything, an economic crisis, depression, or even recession, will cause widespread changes in lifestyle and tradition. As stock brokers and investors become more and more wary with their money, banks will continue to raise interest rates on loans, and lower them on savings. Where does this leave the average citizen struggling to continue their annual family vacation to visit relatives across the country? Where does this leave the middle class teacher hoping to retire at a reasonable age making an unreasonable wage? Previous things taken for granted must be reevaluated when looking towards the future with a continuation of economic strife always lurking around the corner.
ReplyDeleteMy family has the gift of a hand built (by my great grandfather) log cabin on the beautiful shores of Pentwater Lake in Michigan. For a few consecutive years, we would make a trip to this cabin where we would stay with family from across the country and enjoy the Fourth of July celebration on the lake. A few years ago, towards the beginning of the recent recession, this tradition was missed… then the next year… and the next. Its now been a few years since any large scale family gathering has occurred at our cabin because very few in America escaped the effects of the recession. Everyone had to make sacrifices, and everyone did. Although increases of unemployment statistics such as the 6.9 percent in 2008 seem relatively small, it equates to around 10 million citizens. Ten million.
http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2009/03/art1full.pdf
I agree that with every flux of the economy, the ripples in our society are widespread. It's happened many times since the Great Depression. Being that almost ten million citizens don't even have a job or a steady income, the fact that there may not be enough crabs for celebrating or helium for balloons seems like a petty and almost trivial side note. What those two things do show us, is that no matter how insignificant they may seem, those traditions that many look forward to each year are closely related to one common thing: money. We all rely so much on money in this country, and I feel it's time to realize that 4th of July can be celebrated with family even if there are no crabs or balloons.
DeleteExactly. It all boils down to one simple concept, money. That's what keeps the wheels of a capitalist nation turning. This works for some who can afford to feed the fuel, but leaves others groping for a feeling of financial security while at the same time struggling to hold on to tradition. Finding a balance would serve to benefit many who are failing to keep up with the cost of living.
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ReplyDeleteMy family and I moved to Glendale, Arizona from Chicago, Illinois right about at the time when all of my older cousins were starting to settle down. This meant there were more marriages, showers, and baptisms, than usual. Unfortunately, due to high airfare, it is nearly impossible to send out a family of 4 to Chicago a few times a year. This has been even more of a frustration the last couple years as a result of the economic recession and the increase in fuel prices. Not being able to be a part of those eventful occasions makes my family miss the family in Chicago even more. Fortunately, my dad is a truck driver and we were able to avoid high airfare by him basically smuggling my sister and I to Chicago in the summer for a couple weeks a few years back. We have since then traveled with him to Chicago every summer and it has become a great way to spend quality time with my dad whom we don’t see much because of his work. We have seen many different places and things and made even more memories. Even in times of financial difficulty light can be made of the situation, as well as rule breaking (he he). Although setbacks may prevent people from doing things, individual will try to those things through improvisation and in the process, new traditions may be formed.
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty interesting. I wonder if your travelling with him has created some sort a disturbance in the company's pricing for objects due to the limited shipping space. Does it cost him more in gas to bring you guys? Or does his company pay for the gas?
DeleteWe travel in his sleeper so we're not actually taking up any of the space in the trailer and his company pays for the gas. The only disturbance we have is that the weight of the truck at the scales and it's not really legal haha.
DeleteEver since relocating to Arizona in 2005, my family and I have grown accustomed to trekking across the country via air for the holiday season. This is considered our "tradition", being that each time we spend much sought-after time with family members and other friends. It also permits us to spend Christmas exchanging gifts with our closest family members. However, the 2008 economic collapse in America interrupted this annual adventure. Like many American families who "lost on average nearly $5,800 in income due to reduced economic growth during the acute stage of the financial crisis from September 2008 through the end of 2009", my family experienced a shortage of income and was forced to tighten the belt. In effect, fees for airfare, hotel accommodations, and other travel expenses proved to be beyond the budget. In effect, during the winter season of 2009, my family remained home. While this prevented us from the normal holiday experience, it allowed us to grow closer to one another. Also, we were able to experience an Arizona Christmas.
ReplyDeleteAs a result of this, I realized that these elaborate travel plans should not be taken for granted and that I should appreciate every waking moment I get to spend with my loved ones.
http://www.pewtrusts.org/our_work_report_detail.aspx?id=58695
It must have been disappointing not being able to see your family that year, but it's great that not only did you get to experience a Christmas at home, but it also helped you gain a new perspective on the things you were truly thankful for. In a way, this is really what Christmas is all about, great one Austin !
DeleteI agree with Erika that it must be hard to sacrifice a vacation that you must have grown so accustomed to taking. Sometimes when we are raised on getting to annually experience extravagant vacations we lose sight of the privilege that they actually are. In retrospect, not having these vacations will make the trips for the future appear to be that much greater.
DeleteThis just proves that even (what seems like) negative situations can turn out for the better and give you a valuable new perspective on life. Cherishing what you are given is a great way to live life to the fullest.
DeleteJust reading over the previous posts, it's easy to see that the economic recession of 2009 affected Americans profoundly. My family was no different. Normally enthusiastic participants in Christmas traditions, we found it increasingly difficult to keep up with these age-old customs. So, instead of spending money on trivial things like Christmas presents, we made a collective decision to keep the money and use it for more important items. We decided to begin celebrating "Festivus", to avoid the commercialism and other baggage that comes with Christmas, while still getting to spend time together. We've started some new traditions, such as the "Airing of Grievances", and the "Feats of Strength", that help keep the Christmas spirit around. It's a lighthearted stand against the materialism of the Holiday Season and I think we all enjoy participating in it.
ReplyDeleteSome information about Festivus:
http://festivusweb.com/
Especially around Christmas time, companies and businesses significantly increase their holiday campaign in hopes of selling more goods. I thought it was very smart of your family to overcome this consumerism and give up trivial gifts in order to save money. It was also very resourceful of your family to find a fun, unique alternative to replace your old tradition. How did you find out about Festivus by the way? I've never heard of it before.
DeleteAh, festivus. What a great tradition.
DeleteI first saw it on a Seinfeld episode.
DeleteThat's truly interesting, Marcus. The fact that Christmas has come to be a commercialized holiday rather than a veritable day spent to enjoy the spirit of others is quite disappointing. Is it designed to stimulate the economy rather than stimulate morale? It's nice to know that you're going right back to the roots of it.
DeleteI think it's very cool how you've escaped today's consumerist version of Christmas through Festivus. Being able to step away from societal traditions like that in the face of economic hardships is always interesting.
DeleteFor these past few years, my family has been unable to find an adequate amount of only one good in relation to the holiday season. There have always been plenty of gift options for Christmas, and plenty of turkeys to go around at Thanksgiving. The one thing that we can never seem to find enough of around holiday season are these little green pieces of paper known as "Money". To counteract this shortage of the a mentioned "Money", my parents purchased necessities that we were already in need of (clothes, shoes) and gave them as gifts this past Christmas. This shift from video games to clothes as the most common stocking stuffer saved my family money, without a drastic departure from previous tradition. But, to fill the void of the lack of entertainment provided by the missing video games, we were forced to play these ancient things called "board games". These caveman-age multi-player games brought my family closer together, as a result of a simple shift in the kinds of presents purchased, due to the change in my family's income.
ReplyDeleteHow do you feel about the change? Would you say that money cannot buy happiness? Just thinking about your family sitting down to play a board game is heart warming because there is just nothing like a good game of monopoly with everyone gathered around.
DeleteThis shows how money isn't everything in life. Yes, money is neccessary in life but it does not give you happiness. You could buy a video game and be happy for a week, but then you will just bored. On the other hand your family is always there to cheer you up and keep you motivated in life.
DeleteWith holidays and annual events come traditions and customs that make them special. My family has numerous traditions we follow every year. We eat a specific meal for New Years, watch a specific movie near Christmas, and on Easter there is never a shortage of egg salad in our home. Luckily, the traditions my family has are fairly normal and inexpensive; in which case neither a shortage nor an economic flux would really affect our traditions. If, however, our family's source of income was removed to where we couldn't afford to prepare that single New Years meal, or chickens were to become an endangered species (which I am not expecting in the near future!!), I don't believe forgoing a few traditions would be too big of a deal. We would not pay an exuberant amount of money for a dozen eggs, just as if we lived on the east coast and ate crab on the 4th of July would we pay top dollar for a crab meal. My family moved to Arizona from Illinois some odd years ago. We enjoyed traditions such as going sledding as a family, raking the leaves in our yard in the fall (the mounds of leaves are better than a playground when you're 10, trust me), and many other annual activities. Moving to Arizona forced us to give some of those traditions up, but allowed us to create new traditions in the process. I feel that since we were able to adapt to OUR recent situation (when winter came and there was no snow, for instance), those who are faced with shortages or economic roadblocks can adapt as well. Reading some of the previous comments, I noticed that many traditions were actually started because poor economic times forced families to adapt to their situations. I too have faced similar conditions, especially growing up in Chicago when I was younger. If there is a shortage of helium, I really believe that going a year without balloons is not going to bring the apocalypse.
ReplyDeleteAs for travel, airline tickets are EXTREMELY expensive nowadays. Gas prices are through the roof. Both of my brothers go to college in Maryland. Flying them to Arizona every holiday is exceptionally expensive, however, since fortune smiles on my family at the moment, we have been able to do that thus far. If there were a time that seeing family over the holidays became an issue, traditions would probably not be on our list of priorities.
I agree with what you're saying about losing or changing traditions not being too big of a problem. It's cool that you were able to alter and adapt your traditions to your surroundings, I had the same sort of problem coming to Arizona as well, no snow at Christmas was a big letdown, but we still found a way to enjoy it in a new sense by hanging outside all day in the 70 degree weather. I like the point also that it'd be rough to connect with your brothers being that they live cross country, with my dad working in another state 3,000 miles away for the past couple months I have experienced a similar situation, but things are picking up for us economically as well, and luckily we get to see him every month or so. If we were not so lucky, as many families are not, we would hardly ever get to see him, which would be rough.
DeleteYeah pretty much the only thing that matters around the holidays is family. Without families and friends, you probably wouldn't have traditions, so that always comes first.
Deletehttp://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/27/business/la-fi-southwest-rates-20120327 (the article supporting the increase in airline fares)
DeleteI feel that traditions are effects of a family's adaptation to specific times and that no matter where you end up (in our case Arizona) new traditions will arise in the place of others that are no longer realistic. I've experienced similar instances of change due to moving homes. States themselves can shape the traditions of its inhabitants simply as a result of the influence of habitat on lifestyle. Day trips to the beach were a common pastime for my family and I , however, now as a resident of Arizona, day trips to Wet n' Wild have replaced the beach. It is vital as human beings to respond and adapt to our environments in order to continue our goals for happiness.
DeleteEvery Christmas since I can remember, my family and I (this including our dog) have gotten in our family vehicle of the time and driven around the neighborhood to look at lights and festive decorations on the houses. However in the years since the housing crisis that turned many homes into bank foreclosures, we have to alter our little drive. The reasons for that are that all the houses that used to be covered in lights during the holidays have had the families pushed out because they couldn't pay and the banks have taken the houses back; many houses have been turned into rentals due to that and that hinders the number of houses that can out up Christmas lights too. This housing crash has affected many people throughout the country and continues to do so. Since that ordeal, we have been taking a drive around out neighborhood and because of the sparsity of the houses with lights we have had to expand our radius to include almost all of Tramanto (not just our little part of it) and even part of Anthem.
ReplyDelete(This would have had a time stamp from Wednesday on it but my internet crashed and I haven't been able to get it to work until now)
Well my family has a few familt traditions that happen without fail every year. Thanksgiving always takes place at my Grandma's house on Black Mountain and before we eat we gather around the table and each say what we are thankful for, this year was very emotional because my Grandpa had just had open heart surgery after going in for a routine check up. For Christmas my family always open one present on Christmas Eve and read "The Night Before Christmas."
ReplyDeleteThe one tradition that the economy has directly effected was our "Haunted Courtyard" as you can tell it's inspiration came from Halloween. My mom had helped a mortgage company grow from 4 employees (3 of which were in the family) to over two thousand, the company was very successful and she made a good amount of money, Then out of nowhere she got an e-mail from the parent company, First Magnus, saying "we will no longer be funding loans," over night the company was gone. We had to move out of our house and thus lost our courtyard now we have enought decorations to scare a couple of small children.
Same situation as Sara.
DeleteEven though you are not able to to decorate your courtyard with extravagance, how has you family been able to still make this holiday enjoyable? Since something was sacrificed, is there another contribution you and family started to create another traditioin?
Delete