A Rhetorical Analysis Of Christmas Traditions By Hank Stuever

Hank Stuever utilizes many rhetorical devices to reinforce his point that Christmas traditions can be anything, they don’t have to be something that is seen as traditional. For example, shopping. It is important to both economics, and many family traditions. On page 308, he says that if people “pine for simpler Christmases of handmade toys and ornaments” so that they can go back to simpler times, then, “[It would] truly transport us back into the very world of the Depression-era American girl dolls.” This device is dichotomy because first it’s talking about going back to the simpler times that people made handmade gifts, and then suddenly the tone switches over to a dark world that would be the Depression-era. Stuever decides to use this to
help support his overarching argument. His argument is that even though people all over the world would like to do Christmas for the right reasons, such as religious reasons and not shopping, there’s no way of going back. Situations have changed since our ancestor’s times, those of which we thought so pure and real. People hate to love shopping, but it must be part of our tradition now, otherwise our economy will fall and life as we know it will change drastically. On page 309, there is dichotomy being used when talking about Black Friday at Best Buy. Stuever mentions Ryan having to “keep the peace” of the crowd during Black Friday, and directly after he talks about a man that was “trampled to death”. This really makes people think about Black Friday. Those people that stay home and criticize anyone that goes shopping will see this story on the news and think, “Is this what our society has become?” This just gives those critics more of a reason to think people that shop are fake and are missing out on the real meaning of Christmas. The argument that Stuever tries to make in the book however, is that everyone has a tradition (such as shopping), and they should not be judged for two reasons. One because everyone has their own version of Christmas that makes it special for them. They spend time with their family, and they are building stronger bonds with each other, which is truly what Christmas is about. Another reason is that one that aforementioned, shopping is part of our nation’s Christmas now. If people stopped shopping all together, then our economy would collapse, and it’d be a rough time for everyone. Also on page 309, Carroll says that “‘Nobody wants anything big this year, so why buy it?
Why spend it [money]?’” Stuever then points out that regardless of that, she still “likes the tradition.” This is the rhetorical strategy of allegory, because there is a deeper meaning there. It connects to the overarching theme because it highlights the fact that shopping can indeed be a tradition. Even though Carroll feels as if no one wants anything big that’s going to be worth buying, she still likes the tradition. It’s a “wet and unappealing morning,” so it’s very easy for Carroll to just stay home and not spend any money, but it’s a tradition that her and her daughter, Marissa, have created and they thoroughly enjoy doing it together. They even say that it felt as if it wasn’t the same, but they still do it. It’s the same thing with a family that has a traditional tradition, such as a Christmas tree or Christmas lights. Every single year, regardless of how they feel or where they’re at, they are always going to put up a Christmas tree. Carroll and Marissa like the tradition of shopping, and they will continue to do it. Hank Stuever’s usage of various rhetorical strategies and devices helps reinforce his point that times have changed, and that anything, such as shopping, can be a tradition. More specifically, shopping is a tradition just as valid as putting up a Christmas tree, and carries legitimacy because of the economics, and how it brings a family
together.