Christmas shopping season should wait until after Remembrance Day: Legion

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – It seems we hear the sounds of Christmas music behind our shopping a little earlier every year; the retail holiday roll-out started well before Halloween this fall.

But are we ignoring another important day?

As we approach November 11th, the Royal Canadian Legion says there is a growing backlash to the bombardment of Yuletide cheer around Remembrance Day.

“I hear a lot of commentary from our members about Christmas things coming out at Halloween and not giving the time for Remembrance Day to pass before those things start to be advertised. This year, we are seeing a lot more sensitivity to it,” says Inga Kruse, executive director of the Royal Canadian Legion BC/Yukon Command, referring to the deaths of two soldiers in attacks in Ottawa and near Montreal last month.

“I think for businesses that are full-on Christmas right now, people will notice it even more this year and make their buying decisions based on their own personal value systems. The personal value of system of most Legionnaires is about honour and respect and, particularly this year, I think people should be judicious about starting Christmas too early.”

Kruse believes more people than ever are grumbling about early-November holiday advertising and promotions.

“Both on social media and among our members, they’re saying ‘Can’t we just wait until after Remembrance Day?’ It’s only a few more days. Show some respect. It is viewed as a little bit disrespectful in some ways,” she tells News1130.

The Royal Canadian Legion is also calling on organizers of tournaments to be more sensitive and respect the sanctity of November 11th.

“There are so many things that go on that have nothing to do with remembrance — kids’ hockey tournaments and so on. The most we’ve seen is a nod to the remembrance ceremony by suspending play and taking a moment of silence — which is good; that’s appropriate. But as parents, coaches and event planners, we could do a lot better than that.”

Kruse suggests non-Remembrance Day events could start after lunch, allowing more families to attend ceremonies. The Legion also supports the idea of making November 11th a national statutory holiday, which Ottawa has been considering.

“We need to stop for a moment. That’s what a moment of silence is about. The veterans and the serving military and the young people suffering from trauma and PTSD — give them their day on November 11th. Then move on to the next holiday.”

This year, the Legion has seen what it’s calling a “tremendous upswing” in the sale of poppies.

Larger than usual crowds are expected to stand up and remember at ceremonies across the Lower Mainland on Tuesday.