What Think Ye Of All The Christmas Hoopla?

[StrawberryFields]

Do you enjoy all aspects of the Christmas Season?

[shanstress70]

I LOVE Christmas... look forward to it more than anything else!

What I didn't previously like is the commercialism, with all the pressure to shop and spend so much money on gifts. But then I realized that no person or amount of marketing can MAKE me spend so much money. Since then, I've started making a lot of crafty gifts or baking cookies or breads and giving those instead of store-bought items (although I still give some store-bought gifts). This year I have made a queen size quilt using squares of my 2 year old's baby blankets for one of his gifts. I made a quilt using squares of my neice's baby clothes for her gift. And big cushy fleece bean bags for all the other kids in the family.

Gift giving back in my grandparents' time was much more special than it is now. Most of them weren't able to just run out to Target and get whatever they wanted, like a lot of us can now. It just doesn't seem special to go to fight the crowds looking for that special something for Aunt Bessie, knowing that if she wants a Foreman Grill, she would have already bought one! People tend to appreciate simple, homemade gifts so much more.

My favorite things about Christmas are: looking at all the lights (my child is still in awe when he sees them, and the look on his face is priceless); the advent season at my church with all its special activities (toy collections, pageants, breakfasts, putting together baskets for the needy); Christmas music; and just the general feeling that most people are in a good mood (strangers smile at you, let you out in traffic, etc); traditions (my family never really had many traditions, and I am trying to make up for that by starting lots of new ones).

I personally think it is important to remember the whole reason for Christmas. I try to reflect on it each day during the season. I will try to teach my child that aspect primarily. I will also teach him of the importance of giving to those in need. But I will also teach him about SANTA CLAUS and that whole magical aspect of Christmas that is so magical!

[Marsha]

[COLOR=purple] I enjoy most of the aspects of Christmas. I have carried on some family traditions from my childhood and of course made many more with my own family. I don't enjoy seeing Christmas decorations for sale well before Halloween.... that just takes the anticipation out of it, seems like such a long time!

We bake a birthday cake for our Savior on Christmas Eve to celebrate His birthday... this is a new tradition but one that reminds us of why we really do have Christmas.

As I/We get older, we try and celebrate each day as though it is our last.

Yep, Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year.......hands down.

[StrawberryFields]

Thank you Shanstress.

I have been re-thinking my approach to Christmas this year. Christmas used to be for me similar to your description. I used to be much more creative then I have time for these days. I loved the "hunt" for that perfect gift, the gift that would make the receiver say "wow". Now I don't even want try to pretend I know what they want. I would just prefer to give the person I am buying for, the money right now, and tell them that while they are shopping to buy themselves a gift from me. I don't mind giving and I understand that that to is part of the spirit of Christmas. Except for the children, I think for them, the anticipation and the surprise factor is still worth the gift buying. As adults, I feel that the magical time comes in watching the children and their expressions.

I still enjoy the festivities and the spirit of Christmas. I enjoy the decorations and the splendor that is brought through the true meaning of Christmas. I enjoy giving to those who are in need and they sometimes can be found as close as our own extended families.

This change in my approach to Christmas has been coming on for a few years. Maybe the change has something to do with my children getting older. I wonder if this is normal or it has to do with the events in my life over the past couple of years. I worry some that it might be brought on from our lack of need, and coming up with ideas for those who buy for us is a real pain. I remember my mom almost becoming angry when I would tell her that we really don't need a thing. Feelings of anger and stress don't belong in the gift giving process in my opinion.

My husband and I just had our birthdays, and when asked what we wanted from his parents, we told them to just take us to dinner. We would my more enjoy spending time with them then we would a trinket of some sort.