Merry Christmas to you all, you bah humbugs!
I am not offended when someone says Merry Christmas or Merry Xmas.....I would return the greeting back to them likewise even I do not believe in what Christmas is all about....its about sharing, spending time with family and friends, good food and spirits and stories to be told or waiting to be told. THAT alone is Christmas for me, the love of my families and friends.
Yes I agree with all of you that it has gotten too commercialized and it really puts the damper on things. This year, I didnt put up a tree, I donated the tree with lights with ornaments to a family that needed it the most. I simply put up all my lovely Scottish Santas and Nutcracker soldiers in kilts all lined up on top of the TV cabinet along with one small white ceramic tree that hubby gave me my first xmas gift when we first met 12 years ago. My mother gave me a Santa, with all the glitters on it for dd (who is too young to understand the fragility of the figurine could be). AND Xmas stockings hanging off from it. AND I made a homemade wreath, copy-cat a Scottish Santa wreath, and it came out beautiful. Saved me $100 dollars. We have decided to go frugal this year according to what we need, like small things and one expensive thing, all less than $100. My dd has her OWN Xmas tree, decked out with the lights and ornaments she wants to put on and I helped with her decorating in her own bedroom, putting up nutcrackers and Santas in various shelves on her walls. She is very happy with that and I would share the fun of Santa and will not burst her bubble about Santa's existance but a wonderful make believe of a jolly man whose heart is good with all children and a good example.
With my extending families, my mother decided not to have any Xmas at all at her house, no decorations or anything...she was tired of it all. Too much work and they just don't have the money like they used to since both of them are now retired. I told my mother, it is not the gifts that matters, its the thought and everyone can bring anything for food as a buffet and eat and be merry! My sister shared the same thoughts as mine...FOOD and FAMILY! The presents would be reserved for the kids, since there is only four grandkids, so it is not like breaking the bank for them. All of us have what we wanted and there isn't anything we really need at the moment. If we need something, we can get in the car and go get the item we need.
With the serious recession going on, commercialization is out of the window, Christmas has a new meaning for all of us and be appreciative of what we have and enjoy the time we have for our elderly parents in their late 60's and we told them we do not want gifts from them. Like every year we told them that, they still give us a little cash or a meal card to our favorite resturuant which that is so nice! I had a second cousin who despites gift credit cards to stores or resturants....she said it is an insult and there was NO thought behind the effort of getting her a gift. EEEEEEK! Just about eveeryone in my family LOVES gift credit cards...they can go and spend what they didn't get for Christmas.
So its the thought and planning behind Christmas.....whatever works for you, is fine with me too!
Yes I agree with all of you that it has gotten too commercialized and it really puts the damper on things. This year, I didnt put up a tree, I donated the tree with lights with ornaments to a family that needed it the most. I simply put up all my lovely Scottish Santas and Nutcracker soldiers in kilts all lined up on top of the TV cabinet along with one small white ceramic tree that hubby gave me my first xmas gift when we first met 12 years ago. My mother gave me a Santa, with all the glitters on it for dd (who is too young to understand the fragility of the figurine could be). AND Xmas stockings hanging off from it. AND I made a homemade wreath, copy-cat a Scottish Santa wreath, and it came out beautiful. Saved me $100 dollars. We have decided to go frugal this year according to what we need, like small things and one expensive thing, all less than $100. My dd has her OWN Xmas tree, decked out with the lights and ornaments she wants to put on and I helped with her decorating in her own bedroom, putting up nutcrackers and Santas in various shelves on her walls. She is very happy with that and I would share the fun of Santa and will not burst her bubble about Santa's existance but a wonderful make believe of a jolly man whose heart is good with all children and a good example.
With my extending families, my mother decided not to have any Xmas at all at her house, no decorations or anything...she was tired of it all. Too much work and they just don't have the money like they used to since both of them are now retired. I told my mother, it is not the gifts that matters, its the thought and everyone can bring anything for food as a buffet and eat and be merry! My sister shared the same thoughts as mine...FOOD and FAMILY! The presents would be reserved for the kids, since there is only four grandkids, so it is not like breaking the bank for them. All of us have what we wanted and there isn't anything we really need at the moment. If we need something, we can get in the car and go get the item we need.
With the serious recession going on, commercialization is out of the window, Christmas has a new meaning for all of us and be appreciative of what we have and enjoy the time we have for our elderly parents in their late 60's and we told them we do not want gifts from them. Like every year we told them that, they still give us a little cash or a meal card to our favorite resturuant which that is so nice! I had a second cousin who despites gift credit cards to stores or resturants....she said it is an insult and there was NO thought behind the effort of getting her a gift. EEEEEEK! Just about eveeryone in my family LOVES gift credit cards...they can go and spend what they didn't get for Christmas.
So its the thought and planning behind Christmas.....whatever works for you, is fine with me too!
