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Our gift giving is because the wise men gave gift to the Christ child.
Each ornament on the tree has special meaning.
Then we have a big meal with family and friends.
It's only as commercialized as people allow it to be.
I agree with you Sue. The holidays are only as commercialized in your life as you allow them to be. I come from a very sensible family who thoroughly enjoys the season together without ever letting it become a financial burden. We allow everyone to be appreciated for what they do contribute or give, but it is never expected or required.
Due to the commercialization of the holiday, all the traffic, hateful people in the stores and the pressure to buy, buy, buy, I can't stand the holidays. I'm not religious, but used to really love the big family get togethers as a child. Now I just wait for it to be over so I can go back to a normal life. This year area stores were putting Christmas stuff out in SEPTEMBER!! How can someone look at that stuff for over 3 months and still be excited by the time it gets here. I'm sure before too long we will really be having Christmas in July! So sick of it I totally avoid the holidays now.
I don't hate them, but Christmas and Father's day are never easy for me because I lost my dad the day after Christmas. Was easier to get through them when DS was around. What I didn't like there that I do here is that special ones like Christmas and Easter aren't commercialized - there is no Easter Bunny and Christmas is celebrated for its true meaning. Right after I moved here, I'll never forget seeing for the first time a man carrying the cross and the entire town following behind him. I literally started crying because it reminded me what these holidays were really about.
My son and nephew were both born on New Year's Day so that's a good day except it reminds me that I'm getting old - DS turns 25 and my nephew turns 10
I miss my parents and the big holiday dinners we use to share and now my kids are grown and could careless one way or the other about the holidays so for me the holidays are a depressing time sorry to say. Maybe if and when I become a granny my spirit will be happy again.
Also, all the hype to buy,buy,buy just shouldn't be!
I enjoy the Christmas season. We get our shopping done early, so we can enjoy going to the mall to watch the bustle because we aren't trying to buy gifts ourselves. We avoid anything that seems too commercial. We love getting together with neighbors to decorate the town tree, and seeing the lights on the houses. I enjoy neighborhood cookie parties and caroling.
We've cut way back on gift giving and that has made Christmas more fun for us. I still send out lots of cards, though. Some people hate Christmas cards but I love sending them and writing an annual letter, too.
I don't particularly like Thanksgiving. The stress of trying to put together a big "perfect" Thanksgiving meal brings out the worst in my family. I like them the rest of the year but I don't enjoy being with them on that day. I also think over eating is a problem in my family. Thanksgiving was fun when I lived in another state and could hang out with friends.
I don't hate it as much as I did when I was married to my ex. He had a real talent for ruining the holidays for the entire family.
Now, the biggest peeve I have is my MIL. She has to be the center of everyone's plans. I suggested that we have our usual Christmas Eve get together at our house one year. Everything hit the fan. Regardless of the weather, we are expected to pack up the kids and drive (9 miles on a dirt road before we hit pavement) the 40 miles to her house so that we can listen to her complain about stuff and yell at my FIL for an hour before it's time to go home. Other than that, it's all good. We don't go for extravagant gift giving. We usually give gifts that are geared to each persons needs. If my kids need something that they can't afford, they get it. As they got past the Santa stage gift cards were big hit. Now we have a day AFTER Christmas tradition. We take the gift cards and go on an all day shopping spree. They love it and it has an added benefit,it teaches them to manage their money because I don't help them out if what they want is more than they have.
Our gift giving is because the wise men gave gift to the Christ child.
Each ornament on the tree has special meaning.
Then we have a big meal with family and friends.
It's only as commercialized as people allow it to be.
Excellent post, GS. As for the "lying to the kids", duh, even as a 4 year old, I knew Santa could not possibly visit everyone, nor could reindeer fly.
It's a special time of year and if you are blessed with good parents and even as an older adult have SOME form of family, then it is normally a good time of year.
Some folks hate the commercialism (except those heavy spenders), and some find the season depressing if they have no parents or siblings or children, and let's face it, sometimes people just don't like christmas! and that's fine too.
I tend to think happy people are happy about life and others, well, let's just say they find things to be unhappy about and want to share it.
It's fun being a humbug sometimes.
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