Anyone else not doing Christmas this year?

[herefordlovinglady]

I do Christmas. I love it. I am not one of those who wants to hear all the Christmas music, and decorates everything. I like it because if it weren't for Christmas or the Holiday season, I know that life would go on as it does everyday and I would not have the opportunity to see most of my friends and family. I love getting together and having a good time with the ones that are so important to me. I love to buy gifts for my nieces and nephews, my mom and my sisters -- I do not go over board and put myself in debt -- just something to mark the occasion.

I ignore the commercialism, I love to see the decorations on the homes -- we have so much to be thankful for and I love to celebrate that.



i agree with Deb, Christmas is what you make it. I make mine the opportunity to end my year and begin my new year with the ones I love.

 

[Wifezilla]

i agree with Deb, Christmas is what you make it.

 

[EweSheep]

Save your Sundays toon papers, they are so whimsome and colorful and it can be recycled and you do not have pay for those expensive so called recycled Xmas paper you buy from the stores. Or when you get done unwrapping the papers, throw them in the shredder and it will make good nesting beddings!

 

[animalloverabh]

Quote:
im also pagan (

) and i give out Xmas prezzies, but i dont celebrate it myself, i celebrate yule.

 

[Candiss]

To me Christmas is a feeling not a day to get presents. I have tried to teach my children to give at Christmas and throughout the year not to expect everything for themselves, but this world is soo commercial, it is hard. To each there own, like alot of people have said.

I hope everyday is wonderful and blessed for all of you; whatever race, religion, life preference, etc, you choose. Respect and kindness is due to everyone.

 

[chickensNpoodles]

We don't do Christmas anymore. We really never got into it except when our kids were lil bitty. But in the last 5 years it has been non existent. Our daughter passed away 5 years ago and it is just too painful, so we don't. Even if our daughter was here, I doubt we would celebrate it because like Halo said, it is just too commercial. We are born again Southern Baptist Christians and we don't need one day to celebrate Jesus because we do it every day. Praise God for our savior, our redeemer, Jesus Christ. I don't need a tree with pretty lights, or neatly wrapped over priced items, I need Jesus and His strength to make it through another day.

I say let the pagans have their holiday. We celebrate our salvation everyday when we love God with all of our hearts, our minds and our souls, and when we love our neighbors as ourselves, and when we are obedient to Him.

Aside from the religion aspect. I truly don't get Christmas. I mean people get themselves into debt to purchase something that the said recipient may or may not want or enjoy. Then, you as a recipient, may receive something you may or may not want or enjoy, from someone that barely has the money to put food on their table. Why the obligation. Why not buy what your want for yourself and vice versa. I mean you don't get a gift and the person say I am getting you this gift because of our love for Jesus. So really how is it a celebration with him in mind? I would rather give the gift to Christ, in loving, providing and helping others with physical needs (feeding and clothing those in need) , a listening ear, spiritual help (prayer) etc.

That's just my 2 cents.

In Christ,
Cheryl

 

[Judy]

I'm just glad to see the rebellion against commercializing it, and hope it snowballs; marketing and advertising have, IMO, gotten incredibly out of hand in this country.

This thread shows how personal and individual something like Christmas can be, and that's as it should be -- instead of another excuse for someone to make money, or an obligation to spend money that we may not have.

 

[featherbaby]

Quote:
Oh Cheryl, I couldn't have said it better. Thank you for reminding me that it's not all about "me". This year I've been more 'needy' than ever before in my life. My 85 year old parents have come to live with me. My dad is in a coma and hospice has been called. My mom has dementia and is about 5 years old in her mind (and doesn't know who I am). I am their 24/7 caregiver (with some hired help for a few hours in the mornings) and it has been a life-changing experience. I have new perspective and compassion for those people who need physical things and spiritual encouragement. We don't have to look too far to find someone who could use our help and prayers.
Those are the gifts I can appreciate most, and I know I'm not the only one. So I want to encourage everyone to look around them and see who could benefit from your generous gift of time, thought, or overflow of 'things'. I guarantee you will be blessed beyond measure for it.

 

[highcountrychickens]

Quote:

I was trying to come up with something like this when I read Halo's title.

You know Halo, I'm glad you posted this, because I've been struggling with it also. My reaction to the same issues you have mentioned? Plain, old fashioned apathy. I have had it in spades for this Holiday season. After seeing your thread, I've been really chewing on this - Here's what I think (with apology if it's a bit of a soapbox... it's a bit of advice to myself too

):
Christmas eve and Christmas day carry a magic and sacred peacefulness that are immeasurable. It reminds us of our greatest capacity for kindness and humanity, and the peace of simply being in a way that restores us. Everything that leads up to that is in celebration of it... and, as you have said, is in exploitation of it... the ugly rub of human nature. (I believe that it all began with feelings of gratitude and generosity... but has run roughshod too long now)

But to shut the whole thing down in response to that exploitation would be the greater tragedy, because it would mean that all of that self-absorbed consumerism prevails over the peace. YOUR peace. It wins. (Of ALL babies thrown out with the bathwater, this would be profoundly sad to lose.)
The lovely thing is that you can choose where you participate: That which warms the hearts of strangers, touches those who feel they are alone, and locates and embraces the simple dear things that make YOU happy, and bring YOU peace... and inspire you to give that forward... like baking cookies and taking them to visit someone in the nursing home who doesn't have a visitor during the holidays, or singing with a choir, or watching the old "Miracle on 34th Street" with your good friend... (or The Grinch, because it'll warm your heart AND make you laugh)

It isn't selfish to bask in the peace and magic after having shed the shrieking of consumerism and pseudo political grandstanding... In fact, I suspect that's what it is really about. You have started that process by checking the flow of gifts, and as for people being offended by something beautiful or celebrated with genuine warm intention... that's their very sad problem. Don't shoulder it.
I, for one, love to sit at night while the world is going to sleep with the house lights off, dogs snoring in front of the fire, with only Christmas tree lights on - its such a moment of beautiful, simple calm in a world gone crazy. The poor soul who has a problem with that has issues beyond my measure... or affectation.

Halo. I hope you find that you're tired of the stupidity, but never tire of embracing the beauty and celebration of the birth of He who teaches us to be selfless and kind.

(I guess this is the very long winded version of what Deb said

)

 

[Organics North]

I am not really a Christian or anything for that matter, regarding groups or organizations of Religion.... I guess you could call me an eclectic Pagan if you choose.

I do see good in most of the ways to celebrate the season. I do find the "their way or the highway" attitude abrasive (no matter what side it comes from)...

My very favorite Christian story is The Little Drummer Boy. That song makes me melt, the idea of the poor boy having nothing but his heart to give to the king of kings.. That to me is the crux of the Christian message. (It is a beautiful message.)

The season is really a Northern Hemisphere thing...and recognizing it and celebrating it predates all Religions.

In our home we go with the flow, celebrate in a lower key way, a tree outside with lights, songs, some gifts, good food, family....Sometimes go to a church service and see a kids play.

We have boys 5 and 7, so Santa along with the tooth fairy and all the other "Spirits of the heart" are fun! (Yes my boys are already getting in trouble saying Santa is a real person, that he is a Spirit within us.) Yes I believe in Santa....

I tell the boys to let others be on their beliefs and not push their own on others..

On saying Merry Christmas, if I know someone is Christian I say it!! I wish them a Merry Christmas.... If I know they are Jewish, I do not wish them a Merry Christmas, but a Happy Hanukkah, and so forth. If I do not know their beliefs, I say happy holidays...

Peace and be well

ON