The audacity of Christmas hope?

As I was driving home through the 'hood today, I noticed that another two houses had their Christmas lights up and their Christmas trees decorated with care (yes, I peek in windows). That brings the grand total in the not-so-large 'hood up to four on the day before Thanksgiving.

And you know what? I didn't mind. And usually I would.*

I've always been a stickler to the notion that Christmas season doesn't start until the day after Thanksgiving. In my family, that's when we break out the Christmas music. The tree and decorations don't usually follow for another two weeks, although we do leave them up for a week after Christmas, 'cause you know, it took the Wise Men some time to get to the Little Baby Jesus.

This year, however, I've had the Comcast Sounds of the Season music channel while at home more times than I'm willing to publically admit in the past two weeks. I know I'm not the only one sheepishly indulging in Christmas tunes or the spirit of the season.

Is it because of all the bad news about the economy that's hit us week after week after week that we're all looking a bit more forward to the hope and cheer that Christmas brings? I know I've been turning the Christmas music on at the times I'm most bummed about my job.

Are we looking for the additional inspiration that Christmas brings now that the election has passed and the initial buzz from Obama's change-inspired victory has worn off?

I don't know, what do you think?

*I do still very much mind the Christmas advertisements hitting the airwaves before Halloween has passed. That, I don't think, will ever change.