Dildos as Holiday Decor: Say Goodbye

In the spirit of the holiday, the culture of Christmas decorating has long sought to maintain a harmonious balance of both the modern and the more antiquated. Recently a new, popular strain of holiday décor entered the public eye: "dildos," ornaments that look like the male reproductive system, loosely resembling some form of anatomy. Novelty is part of their appeal, but the true cultural deconstruction value lies within this idea; amplifying the near perfect jollity atmosphere they promote, minimal social relevance being pushed to the side through entrepreneurship (of all things holiday related) and a near complete empathy for the single person.

Dressing for the days and elevating holiday cheer

On Christmas Day itself, each household is a colourful presentation - you hold your pallette according to your individual family Dosas of delights. Old fashioned holiday decorations: jingle chime bells hung over pine boughs, stars, angels, Santa figures, snowflakes, any and all ribbon garlands; a Christmas tree is the end point of all this. Everything is 'done,' Santa comes (or at least we all hope he does).

But dildos, or at least those griny, bloated, lumbering figures, will always wake something up. Stressful or not, a carnival of sorts, is still a part of the Christmas experience.

There is a very powerful dramatic effect in both subversion and parody

The complete absurdity of dildos is funny enough on its own. May bring joy by creating a striking contrast when strung on a Christmas tree, encircled with colorful lights, or used as some sort of decorative accent for present boxes. A sleigh drawn by reindeer marked with "Old Man Tintin" or a "Tintin Star" instead of the Star of Bethlehem at a Christmas party are two creative forms of social icebreakers.

Relieving tension through exercise

This phallus as a symbol of materialism has a long history; the image itself seems at odds with this Christmas season (the here and now). Just showing up brings a certain attitude: parties don't have to be perfect, joy in the absolutely absurd is what we all seek. Youth, specifically, will embrace those irreverent decorations because lowering the stress of "competing with friends for Christmas dinner" is part of the fun.

From debate to interest: The vitality of the festival

What all these phallic decorations have in common is controversy. Introducing a new way to celebrate Christmas is what they all attempt to do; the stereotype of a modest, home-bound holiday must be pushed back.

How online communities can transform the future?

It's easy to make decorations go viral when traffic reigns supreme. A Christmas tree decorated with dildos could become an internet sensation. People of the region (and all of us) will at least partially re-define what a "real" Christmas looks like. Engagement is and always will be, to me at least, a part of the holiday.

A "multi-aesthetic experimental field"

Dildos, for example, can be made from eco-friendly materials for a sustainability angle; crocheted out of wool for some contemporary look, metal based for that all encompassing cyberpunk vibe. So many different layout options exist, pushing people to at least partially abandon the 'standardized' approach to Christmas decorating. Personalizing a celebration in this way shakes up the usual parameters we place on it - an unexpected twist is what I find beautiful.

Addiction and self-discovery: the craft of hiding in plain sight

Many people spend time alone during the Christmas season. Helping those who live alone should be considered. The occasion itself is often condemned as 'couples only'; singles experience a near constant perception of marginalization in all forms of love lore. Talking about dildo decorations choking on sexual innuendo, the smaller more private acts of guilt - camaraderie of some sort is what I believe we all need.

"When you feel loneliness creeping in, use humor to combat it."

Singletons decorating their flats (using or not using dildos) is that very cheeky, near boastful act I mentioned. Santa's ding dong socks, fake gifts hidden within, or any and all forms of bachelorette party style candy canes - a communal laugh is the end result I hope for.

A subtle articulation of the right to be sexually active.

Sexual liberation, to me at least, is a part of being human. Conservative or not, we all want to feel free to be, and to celebrate, to a certain degree, our fullness. Dildos and all.

In conclusion

This line of thinking, explaining how the phallus could be interpreted as a somewhat justified Christmas ornament, ultimately boils down to that — the Christmas season itself, the contemporary (and ever-changing) understandings we place upon it, is a setting that cannot be contained by either religion or simple 'enterprise'. An unrestricted space of some sort is what we all need.

Handling all of this creatively is difficult, but the primary signals are clear: absurdity goes in to fight boredom, various forms of entertainment relieve the more permanent stress, and a near complete tolerance of all things (socially unacceptable if not legally) replaces short term isolation. If we want Christmas to be good for everyone, more 'offensive innovation' of all kinds should be encouraged within our increasingly homogenized celebration of the holiday. Why not get creative? Christmas décor at least, should push itself to be a little different.