Election time, hand me a sparkler

For many, this week is one of the most significant of the year, I refer to of course:

1. Guy Fawkes, and
2. The beginning of Christmas retail.

If you were expecting me to say:

1. The election of the leader of the free world, and
2. A small election in the USA*

Then you are sorely mistaken, as nothing beats market desire to sell sparklers, cards, and chocolate Santa Claus's to all and sundry - even Barack Obama's reportedly $700 million campaign budget.

We (New Zealand) are in day two of the four days we are able to purchase fireworks legally each year; although each year that period gets shorter and shorter, and what we can buy gets less and less.
This year the dreaded sparklers can only be purchased as part of a pack of 'normal' fireworks; you know the ones:

"Shoots flaming balls and reports. Light fuse and get away"...

...Because sparklers are the dangerous ones.

And I hope the (double) irony isn't lost this year, as during Guy Fawkes we celebrate:

- The ending of a plot to blow up the government by the man Guy Fawkes (and some others who didn't get to go down in history);
- by purchasing explosives;
- three days before a nationwide election.

But even that is nothing compared to the fact that Christmas advertising has begun, a full two months early. I personally find it very difficult to contemplate Christmas shopping outside the month of December, and seeing blatant product placement, fake snow (in NZ!), and hearing incessant jingles far far too early does put me off. And I haven't even begun on the true meaning of Christmas (maybe closer to the time).

Nevertheless what is known that on that key day, millions of children will be looking forward to an elderly, jolly, white haired man turning up to fulfill their greatest wishes.

Or will it be Barack Obama?


*Ok, a small election in NZ :-)