Christmas

[Naomi4Christ]

I don't get the pressure about presents. Just do what you feel is right and do not conform to society for the sake of it - giving is important but being ostentatious is not. I find it only takes one year to break the cycle with friends/relatives...

 

[non-religious]

[jellybean]why? you mean me or me and the others?

I wouldn't say I'm aiming it at you per se, just the fact that this whole cynical diatribe of anti-Christmas sentiment has no real meaning to it, except to be mean spirited and cynical. Look, I understand and fully appreciate the fact that we don't all have to get excited about Christmas. Of course you can hate the commercial aspect of it all, or the way that Christmas for many of us seems to be the only time we see certain members of our families. That's not good, but c'mon there must be something you like about Christmas? (and you did say you liked a couple of things). So I guess I'm just someone who still enjoys that particular holiday, shoot me.......

 

[meebs]

I wouldn't say I'm aiming it at you per se, just the fact that this whole cynical diatribe of anti-Christmas sentiment has no real meaning to it, except to be mean spirited and cynical. Look, I understand and fully appreciate the fact that we don't all have to get excited about Christmas. Of course you can hate the commercial aspect of it all, or the way that Christmas for many of us seems to be the only time we see certain members of our families. That's not good, but c'mon there must be something you like about Christmas? (and you did say you liked a couple of things). So I guess I'm just someone who still enjoys that particular holiday, shoot me.......

*BANG!!!* no only joking. its great you like it. Yes i like the meal also the fact some people can be nice and generous over christmas and help those people who are less well off. saying that, we dont need an excuse to do those things

 

[non-religious]

[jellybean]saying that, we dont need an excuse to do those things

So True..... Sadly this is the one of the harsh realities of the Christmas period. It's the only time during the year when the homeless charities are over-whelmed with volunteers, as if somehow homeless people are only without a home during Christmas. At least there are people out there trying to make a difference, so one can't exactly knock that. Although it's a bit of a cliche, giving gifts feels so much better than recieving them and that for me is one of the reasons why I really enjoy it. I'm just a big ol softee

 

[meebs]

Although it's a bit of a cliche, giving gifts feels so much better than recieving them and that for me is one of the reasons why I really enjoy it. I'm just a big ol softee

well your thoughts are in the right place

 

[Robbie_James_Francis]

I for one am boycotting "the Feast which shall not be named" until the First Sunday of Advent. There is no need for the hype and every time I'm in a shop I rush past the "Feast which shall not be named" display because I don't want to think about it.

I'm thinking that this year I might not ask for anything but ask for people to get a small something from Oxfam (like buying a few chickens for a poor family), because they do that sort of thing. Also, I might give all my money that I get to charity. Having said that, we'll see how much willpower I have because I also want an iPod and a new video phone. I'll still give presents, but I hope to make my own cards and put a bit more thought into them this year. Then again, if I don't start til December I might not have time...

When Advent does arrive I'll be referring to the "Feast that shall not be named" as the "Nativity of the Lord" and not the secularised "Christmas".

I absolutely love Christmas and that is exactly why I don't think it should start in September and finish in February, nor should it be about presents.

...but that's just my crazy thoughts!

Pax Christi vobiscum,
Rob

 

[ChasingADream]

I have read all of your posts and I respect all of your opinions. I do agree that on a whole, Christmas has become much more commercial than it used to be but there's no reason why individual families need to buy into that. You can make the decision to celebrate Christmas however you want to and that's what I choose to do. I love Christmas for what it is to me.

 

[Martin^^]

I think Christmas was hijacked from the pagans by early Christians and has now been taken over by the new religion of consumerism, driven by the need for economic growth.
I respect people who use the day to celebrate their Christian beliefs, and many non-Christians enjoy the traditions of goodwill and charity which are highlighted at this time.
However, it is impossible to ignore the pressure placed on parents to buy expensive gifts for their kids. It is not easy to choose how far to 'buy in' to this culture - for most parents, the emotional pressure to give their kids as much as everybody else is intolerable. Unfortunately, this serves as an annual fix of overconsumption, forcing many families deeper into debt each year.
This seems an sad reflection of the many positive messages of Christmas.

 

[ScottishJohn]

Thanks to the Metripolitan Police, I do not think we need to worry - Christmas (at least the commercial part with presents etc) has been cancelled:

 

[Abiel]

dont like christmas. It's not the commercialisation- which I can opt out of if I wish. It's the sickly sweet rehashing of the story that I can't abide- and I'm the one who has to do it! Arghhhhh!

 

[The-Doctor]

I agree with comments already made, christmas has become too commercial, people associate christmas with lots of presents and some mad spending spree they feel they must go on. People forget the real meaning of christmas and yes I will buy presents for my family (but mostly for my neices and nephews) but what I do with my partner is that I buy her one big present and we give each other lots of smaller ones. Usually the smaller ones are hand made and silly like this year I am making a video for her and some other bits and pieces.

 

[snowydc2003]

I love christmas, it is the best time of year!!! I start planning in october and buying in november. I don't believe in spending a fortune and i refuse to get myself in debt for christmas. We have a plan in our family, as soon as you have children you don't get many presents anymore because the kids do and to be honest i don't care. The kids in my family get tons of stuff but that is because we have tons of family. All their presents usually cost around £10 each so it is not too bad. I can't believe that some families think of nothing of spending £200 odd quid on a present!!!!!


Personally I enjoy seeing everyone, the decorations and the whole christmas spirit more than anything else.

 

[flaglady]

As I see it, there are two Christmases - one in the church that is centred on the birth of Christ and on a holy reverence for the event. Love all that, the kid's nativities, the carols and and stuff.

The other is the commercial thing where tv ads try to convince us that buying expensive stuff is the only way to ensure a good Christmas for your loved ones and stuffing yourself like the poor old turkey and drinking alcohol to excess is what Christmas is all about when we all know it's not!

People selling/buying trashy Christmas cards and things that the recipients don't want or need and would much rather be without! Oh - bah, humbug to it all!

 

[StarryEyedPea]

i have not read all the comments on this thread but thought i would just throw my two pennies in!

this year, christmas for me is going to be unlike any before.
I shall be going home to spend time with my family, but being a full time voluntary worker now, the presents are going to very limited but meaningful.

by that i mean, I am already carefully thinking about how to give a gift to various people, i also need to think about getting them in advance, and at low cost. My friends are going to get homemade cards, and for me, everything this year is going to be completely low cost and done before christmas,

previous years i have succombed to the whole "christmas" thing, spending stupid amounts of money, usually on christmas eve, with the ethos of, well its expensive so my brother will like it!!

all going to be verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry different to that this year, and our home group are looking at having a christian project and are thinking about buying "ethical" gifts, so a cow in africa or something on those lines instead of lots of presents, not sure how it will work yet
anyway just my two thoughts there, and i know some of you will prob be thinking how terrible i am, because you all think about each present every year, but i have to say i am looking forwards to it this year, and to just have it as a true celebration and family time!

hope that makes some sense

sep

 

[bumblebee62331]

Is anybody else actually dreading the whole christmas thing?

I just see it looming ahead and every year it just gets worse.

I dread the card buying thing and the present buying thing. I feel fake and it feels fake. I mean youre buying each other gifts and sometimes people want to know how much your spending so they can match you. You might as well buy yourself something. Also i feel that i have everything i need ever already right now i dont really want anything! (except a PSP but i feel that is something i could get myself!).

I like the idea of having a small christmas tree with nice trimmings and stuff and the family meal, which appeals so much more. Also i fancy the idea of helping out in a soup kitchen to help people who cant eat well or help poor families (i cant do this - nothing nearby)

UGH! western chritmas is so fake and commercial.

And for christians: i know you feel like this is jesus's birthday but i know some of you actually recognise it isnt anyway. but how do you feel?

christmas is great for kids but even then the tradttional side seem better. when you get older presents seem to lose their excitement.

im no scrooge - but i hate christmas the way it is now, so

Bah humbug

How about asking everyone to donate to charity, instead of buying you a present? That's what I did one year, I said "Find something you would buy me, work out how much it is and donate that amount to a charity". Or you could ask for something like Pet Food, I saw this in the newspaper today. A boy asked for Pet Food for his birthday so he could take it to the pound to help the animals who needed it.

Just some thoughts.

 

[flaglady]

Aw, Starry - that sounds like a good Christmas spirit to me!!
I really think I must do something similar!

 

[jehovahjireh2007]

I must admit I think Christmas has become too commercialised but I still like waking up on Christmas morning though!

Derbystudent

 

[flaglady]

I'm beginning to get near to the age when I'm usually grateful to wake up on Christmas morning!!!!!!!