On The First Day Of Christmas, My Brand Gave To Me

"Oh, this is cute," the woman says to her friend. The "cute" thing is a display set up in the middle of the floor that looks vaguely like a little woodland clearing as conceived by a set dresser on a budget, with a plastic ball covered in plastic leaves hanging under a sign that reads, "Celebrate under the mistletoe with UGG."

As they arrange themselves for their perfect Instagram pic, I snarkily think to myself, "Enjoy your branded holidays!" 

But then I think of Coca-Cola, and Macy's holiday parades, and Hershey's Kisses, and Life-Savers, and all the other ways that brands have basically made Christmas, at least the modern version, and I forgive them, and myself, and go about my day.