Ray Hanania
Holidays are different today
.
By Ray Hanania
.
When I was growing up, a phrase I am sure younger generations hate to hear is that I really enjoyed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The focus was on family, food and fun. Kids got time off from school, and our parents had time off from work. But instead of going on vacation, we got together and relaxed, enjoying what we had.
We spent a lot of time visiting our cousins, and they visited us. The kids played. Our dads and uncles sat in the front room and talked. Our moms and aunts were in the kitchen crafting the next big meal.
The television was usually turned off. Music would be playing in the background on the big Zenith stereo record player.
The focus of the holidays included big meals, but Christmas was also a time when we spent a lot of effort on getting ready for church. We had special clothes we wore. We wore our best shirts, suits and shoes, especially for Christmas, which wasn’t just one day but a weeklong series of church events that brought us together with other families that we knew.
My dad’s family was from Jerusalem and my mom’s family was from Bethlehem, but I don’t think that direct connection to the Holy Land is what fueled this really enjoyable gathering. It was shared by other families, our neighbors, whom we all knew, who were mostly from Europe and countries like Italy, Ireland and Russian provinces.
When I was a kid, we knew all of the neighbors. It wasn’t about gossip. It was about a friendly “Hello, how are you?” Neighbors looked after neighbors. If I got lost or had a problem, I could knock on any door and ask for help. And help was given.
There was a stack of different newspapers each day in our house. Sure, the headlines screamed controversy, but the most gruesome tragedies were tempered. They didn’t throw the blood into our faces, and our parents didn’t have to hide the front pages.
The number of newspapers actually created a competition that made news reporting so much more accurate, and fair. A newspaper that exaggerated a story or favored one side would stand out like a rotten apple, pushed by the better reporting of the others. The competition made the media better.
There were really only three TV stations back then. And the programs were filled with family fare, entertainment programs that crafted humor in a pleasurable way. True, a lot of them were Westerns in which Native Americans — Indians — were often poorly portrayed, even on a program like Andy of Mayberry.
Arabs were portrayed pretty badly, too. But all our neighbors knew us, and Hollywood’s hate didn’t translate immediately into hate in society. As kids, we could grab the bus at 89th and Jeffery for 12 cents all the way downtown to see the opening of the James Bond movie, “Dr. No,” at a theater on State Street.
My parents didn’t tell me to “watch out for strangers” or “avoid certain neighborhoods.” They did say, come home when the streetlights go on.
Rock ‘n roll music was in its infancy and risque song lyrics were censored when the songs were played, like in “Louie Louie” by the Kingsmen. Rock music began as a private experience with little plastic encased radios with batteries and earplugs.
There were only two rock radio stations — WLS and WCFL — and the focus were songs by the Beatles, Herman’s Hermits, and a few others. The Rolling Stones didn’t quite hit until a few years after the Beatles arrived.
The real difference between then and now has to do with the insatiable thirst for profits.
The holidays were run by the families. We defined them as a community. Today, though, holidays are platforms for greed. It shifted from “gift-giving” to “buying.” Buying a lot. Giving less.
It’s not about the internet or social media, which is just a complex transformation of news and information delivery. Word of mouth. The telegram then the telephone. Neighbors chatting in the “gangway” between homes built close together, or from one front stoop to another. The transistor radio, television. Movie theaters.
What’s really changed is our attitudes and our priorities. Suburbs today are collectives of individual privacy. As a kid, I knew every neighbor by name. Today, I know maybe five. Friends who I used to talk to are now people on Facebook and Twitter where it is so easy for people to scream, yell and hate, because they are not looking you in the face, eye to eye. We used to see each other. Today we don’t.
Everyone wants “space.” Bigger. Faster. More extravagant. Not quality. It’s not about “family” anymore. Thanksgiving and Christmas are all about money.
(Ray Hanania is a former Chicago City Hall reporter and award-winning columnist. Visit hanania.com for more opinion.)
Local News
Summit native marks decade with the Harlem Globetrotters
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan Saul White Jr., better known as Flip White to basketball fans, has been with the famed Harlem Globetrotters for just over 10 years, and has no intention of stopping the entertainment he provides for his fans. White, who grew up in Summit, attended Wharton School and Graves Junior High (now…
A heavenly sound
Spread the love In what is arguably the most ornate and beautiful house of worship on the Southwest Side—St. Joseph Church in Back of the Yards–the Polonijna Orkiestra Chicago played liturgical music selections last Sunday. Founded in 2011, the orchestra is designed to teach young musicians Polish music and culture. St. Joseph parishioner Konrad Pawelek…
Crime images spark outrage in Gage Park
Spread the loveRobbed at gunpoint in his own garage By Tim Hadac Home-security camera images of a 48-year-old Gage Park man being robbed at gunpoint in his own garage outraged a number of Southwest Siders this week. Images showed the man driving his car down the alley in the 5500 block of South Richmond at…
Here’s the skinny: Trimmed-down Lawrence helps Oak Lawn top Evergreen
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Oak Lawn senior basketball player Davion Lawrence is 45 pounds lighter than he was last season, but insists his eating habits are the same. He has, however, changed up his training habits. Heading into football last fall, Lawrence and a few fellow seniors wanted to get in the…
College Report: McAuley grad Swiatek plays hero for St. Francis
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Hannah Swiatek comes off the bench for the University of St. Francis and is averaging 3.1 points per game. But when called on for the biggest shot of her college career, the 5-foot-8 junior guard from Oak Lawn delivered. Swiatek scored the winning basket in a wild 99-97…
Evans, Adams lead Argo past Shepard on Alumni Night
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Corrspondent Argo’s Davonte Evans and Will Adams both knew it was just a matter of time before the Argonauts would find a way to beat Shepard. That time came in the third quarter of a South Suburban Red matchup, when Argo outscored Shepard en rout to a 61-52 on Jan.…
Cruz booted from SD 229 school board in Oak Lawn
Spread the loveBy Dermot Connolly There is a vacancy on the Oak Lawn Community High School District 229 School Board, after members voted 6-1 last week to remove Robert Cruz for allegedly violating his oath of office, school board policy and state statutes. Cruz, a property developer, was elected to the District 229 board in…
Tax exemptions will be automatic, Kaegi says
Spread the loveFrom staff reports In response to the ongoing pandemic, the Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s office will continue the automatic renewal of the Senior Freeze, Veterans with Disabilities and Persons with Disabilities Exemptions. The Homeowner and Senior Exemptions will continue to auto-renew every year. If a homeowner received any of these five exemptions…
Neighbors
Titanic memories haunt Worth Library
Spread the loveBy Kelly White This year marks the 112th anniversary of the Titanic’s fateful ship crossing. Bringing the ship back to life was the Worth Public Library on April 15 with a program called, The Haunted Titanic, with local historian Bob Trzeciak, who walked patrons through the history, the lasting impact, and why it…
Spring cleanup day in Bridgeview set for Saturday
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Any Bridgeview resident with clutter to clear will be busy Friday night, May 10. That’s when they will be putting all kinds of things on the parkway as the village prepares for its annual spring cleanup day set for Saturday, May 11. All items must be at the curb by…
Family of man killed in McCook struggling with his absence
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch On what would have been his 37th birthday, the family of Morales Ricardo Lopez gathered at his grave in Evergreen Park Cemetery. Lopez, of Blue Island, was gunned down in McCook early Feb. 17, leaving behind a widow and three children. His family, other relatives and friends gathered at his…
Southwest Symphony presents ‘American Song Book’
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Southwest Symphony Orchestra will perform “The American Song Book” this weekend at Trinity College in Palos Heights. The performance will feature Grammy nominated Helen Welch under the direction of David Crane at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Trinity Christian College’s Ozinga Auditorium. Welch will perform some of America’s best loved classics.…
Shoppers welcome back Evergreen Park Farmers Market
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Rain was forecast for the morning of May 2, but nothing could dampen the spirits of customers who dropped by the Evergreen Park Farmers Market. The large crowd that attended were instead greeted with mostly sunny skies. Beth Novotney, director of the Evergreen Park Office of Citizen Services that oversees…
Evergreen Park recognizes police for valor
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle The Evergreen Park police have been cited for valor after several key arrests that occurred the past couple of months. Police Chief Michael Saunders requested commendations for the officers during the Evergreen Park Village Board meeting Monday night. Mayor Kelly Burke and the board applauded the efforts of the force.…
Hickory Hills police bid adieu and say welcome
Spread the loveBy Nuha Abdessalam The Hickory Hills Police Department bid a fond farewell to Lieutenant Glenn Tienstra and welcomed new Officer Daniel Balzhiser. On a memorable Thursday evening, April 25, city hall was filled with the warmth of community family, friends, officers, and council members, all gathered to joyfully celebrate Officer Balzhiser and respectfully…
Mother Mac unveils new lights and scoreboard
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Across the nation, women’s sports are on the rise in terms of viewership, enthusiasm, sponsorship and excitement. Mother McAuley is no stranger to the impact that women’s athletics has on the development of an individual, strengthening of a team and key skills and attributes developed along the way. South Side…
Cicadas in the park in Palos Park
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Cicadas are coming and the Village of Palos Park is ready. The village hosted its 31st annual Arbor Day Celebration on Sunday, May 5, themed, “The Wonder of Trees” at The Center in the Lodge, 12700 Southwest Highway, with featured speaker, Tricia Bethke of The Morton Arboretum who presented, “Cicadas…
Palos Heights SD 128 sees enrollment boom
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Over the past few years, Palos Heights School District 128 has experienced an explosive growth among incoming students. There has been a significant increase particularly at Indian Hill Early Learning Center, 12800 S. Austin Ave. Chippewa Elementary School, 12425 S. Austin Ave; Navajo Elementary School, 12401 S. Oak Park Ave;…