Have you seen these ads on TV recently? You know the cute Guinness ads that ask you to treat St. Patrick's Day like a real holiday. You know, a REAL holiday like Christmas - where the meaning of the actual holiday is lost and replaced by some "idea" of what the holiday should mean to the people. Let's call these "Holidays for a profit."
It's obvious to pick out Christmas a RELIGIOUS holiday turned into a gift-giving extravaganza. I know some people celebrate the religious aspects of this holiday but I am pretty sure most people only hang around for the gifts. Easter another RELIGIOUS holiday and what do the Christians do - turn it into an Easter egg hunt. Oh and let us not forget all that chocolate the Easter bunny leaves behind (I guess a guy coming to your home nailed to a cross to hand out chocolate is a little too scary for the children). Valentines Day is another one - some say it originated back to the Romans and one of their rituals to the gods I think it was called "Lupercalia" which had something to do with wolves attacking or something like that. The ceremony involved, men claiming a woman or women being fertile or protecting sheep from wolves. When Christianity came to Rome, we get the story of some priest named Valentine performing marriages. All of that turns into Cupid and a heart shaped box of chocolates. All Saints Day = Halloween = CANDY. Whatever it has all the same bullshit - take any religious holiday or make up a religious holiday and make a profit from it. Just like St. Patrick's Day. I said it last year and I will say it again I really hate this holiday. Guinness (with these TV ads) are further perpetuating the stereotype that all Irish drink - I hate to break it to you but we do not (I haven't since Feb 14). So thank you Guinness, thank you for turning another religious holiday into a money making machine. Soon we will have Leprechauns leaving beer flavored gold coins under our beds or something dumb like that.
My plan for the rest of the year is to pick out some obscure religious holiday in a month where we are currently not celebrating a holiday (or make one up). Think of a good story to tell as a background bases ... chat up the card companies and the chocolate manufactures, audition some possible mascots (must be cute, child friendly, and bring gifts or chocolate), get a liquor sponsor and within 10 years I should be a billionaire! Anyone care to join me on this Holiday profit train?
