I remember special days being special when I was growing up, largely because my parents were careful to take the commercialism out of every holiday. We celebrated the actual holiday, and didn't make spending money a part of it. We just focused on being together as a family. I agree that living here in the States is a constant onslaught of advertising and superlatives. Maybe we have lost our collective sense of perspective. I really think the advertising industry is to blame for most of it. Everything has to be bigger and better and we need to buy more of it! It's gross, and it demeans the things that truly are special.