Christmas is NOT about presents!!

I have had just about enough of people and their "get me this, or get me that" attitude about Christmas and every other holiday that involves presents....How about I get you a Merry Christmas or a Happy Birthday and that is it?!

This whole world has become greedy in regards to Christmas and other holidays. The meaning of Christmas is to be with loved ones and be thankful to have them, NOT who can buy the best gifts. People are stressed enough as it is, they shouldn't have to worry about buying Christmas gifts for others.

I work for Zales Corp's online division and some of the people that call in I feel so bad for. They get all upset over making sure their item arrives on time then they get upset over price and then in the same breathe say "well if I dont get it so and so will be upset,"

no X-mas at my house..

The wife and me have a YULE dinner and give 1 gift to each other..

forget all that commercialism...

Right, and religion isnt about money.

Originally posted by ThrowCatsAtCacti
Right, and religion isnt about money.

Where did I mention religion??

Originally posted by baddmove
no X-mas at my house..

The wife and me have a YULE dinner and give 1 gift to each other..

forget all that commercialism...

Good plan!

I am going to make my honey some cookies and send him those with a nice hand made card....now lets hope he doesn't read this otherwise he will know

reply to post by mblahnikluver
Its a saying, like "yeah right and I'm the queens mother"
Christmas is just a makerting tool

reply to post by mblahnikluver


There ya go..

gonna do Prime Rib this year ..

got a good recipe to share?

Originally posted by ThrowCatsAtCacti
reply to post by mblahnikluver

 

Christmas is just a makerting tool

That is my POINT! It has become a marketing tool, it wasn't like that before. It gets worse every year.

Leave religion out of it. I dont care about religion. I have never been religious and I wasnt raised religious. I was raised that Christmas is a time for family and loved ones...something my sister has seemed to have forgotten. She is brainwashed by the BUY BUY BUY attitude....

reply to post by baddmove


I don't touch steak lol I let the man do the steaks

There are two things I don't really cook or use, one being steak and the other the grill unless it's the Foreman grill lol.

Prime Rib sounds yummy!!

I am not really doing anything this year. I thought I was working but found out I am off I could have used the money too. Not sure what I will be doing though. If I end up at my sisters it will be with a bottle of Jager disguised as egg nog

You are exactly right.

For many years I have been telling people that Christmas is about - PRESENCE.
This Christmas I will be with my pets and very peaceful.
I do not need to gorge myself on food.
I do not need presents.


I have spent many a Christmas on my own and I am okay with that - I actually think I am lucky. I do not have to worry about the pressure of buying presents. I do not have to worry about the judgement passed on me if I do not participate.

This Christmas I will be thinking of all the people who have lost their homes through freak weather, foreclosure, firefighters who stood by and watched because a fee had not been paid - I will think of all the people who have no food and will continue to have no food until they die - I will think of all the Children who have nothing all year and who will continue to have nothing - I will think about all the animals on the planet that are tortured and killed - I will think of Mother Earth and how beautiful she will be when we can live differently.

This Christmas - is for me - just another day but I will be aware of what is going on all over the world. I will have a roof over my head and my pets and food and everything I need until tomorrow.

Much Peace...and goodwill to ALL ...

reply to post by mblahnikluver

This whole world has become greedy in regards to Christmas and other holidays. The meaning of Christmas is to be with loved ones and be thankful to have them, NOT who can buy the best gifts. People are stressed enough as it is, they shouldn't have to worry about buying Christmas gifts for others.

I think there are many who love to give..but just don't have the means to do it...and it isn't what Christmas is really about.

I'm sorry your sister was so hard on you..and I'm sure someday she will regret what she has said...and will realize that her son has more than enough toys...and loves his auntie because she is who she is..and his auntie loves him because he is who he is.

We have associated love with giving of material things in this world.. and that has contributed to the debt of many who could not afford it.

If I could receive any gifts this holiday season.. I would wish for the gifts of the Holy Spirit...because I know in my heart that's what I need..and if I could give these gifts to people I love.. they would far surpass anything material...even for children.

I hope you have a very nice holiday with your family Mblah.. and when that day rolls around.. you will see how much you all love each other..and how in the end.. that is all that really matters.

I'm sure you will enjoy some great food as well. ..but for those who have little food as well.. the love you speak about is what really feeds the soul..and it is what we take with us when we leave this earth.

I hear ya Mblah! I'm glad you have a job, I don't. But I waitressed for 35 years and I can tell you, people, especially at Christmas, when they have the prospect of being forced to spend time with their families, take it out on the waitress, believe me!

My mom always had us make Christmas presents, and I still do that, make gifts. It keeps the season cheery for me. I'm making an apron for my son in law, who loves to cook, a jar of home toasted flax seeds, and some homemade sun dried tomato pasta. I know he'll "Top Chef" it into something wonderful. My nephews and their families get cookies. My daughter get a designer tote, designed by me of course! My sister gets one too.

Don't worry, I never throw anything away, so the totes and apron are made from reclaimed fabric. Cookies get expensive, but I have to make cookies for Christmas, its in my blood!

If you need ideas about things to make for your family and friends, go online shopping at homemade craft site and see if there's something there you can make a copy of. You Tube has a ton of tutorials that will walk you through most anything. I go online for designer inspiration all the time. I hope by next year to have enough of my "designer" items to sell, and make myself a job.

Anyway, your rant doesn't fall on deaf ears, but you knew that....





I do notice the irony of my post being about presents, when your post titled "Christmas is NOT about presents. my brainwash bad!

I couldn't agree more about Christmas not being about Presents. Even if one isn't Christian, as so many here at ATS would classify themselves as, It's a time of family and warm feelings toward others in general. The ONE time each year we can all just say a nice couple of words to a stranger (Merry Christmas) and not be looked at like you're about to rob them or insult them by simply saying anything at all.

98% of those in my life get a very warm and touching card, in my opinion, that I pick out and buy. Extended family get the box cards..but hey, my last name isn't trump.

Only my Son gets gifts every year, without fail and whatever hardship it may mean to balance...and that isn't to boggle his mind with shiny garbage and games. It's a way of thanking him and showing our appreciation for how great he is as our Son.....as we celebrate Christmas for it's other meanings. Of course my other half and I get a little something for each other...but thats it.

Anyone else can recall the reason for the season and it isn't to thank me for a gift then quite possibly RE-GIFT the thing later to save themselves the cost of buying presents down the road for someone else. (that's happened in our life before... )

I couldn't stand Christmas until I got married. Now we celebrate it on My Better Half's birthday, and don't pay much attention to the actual day.
We just take the day off and make those big batches of cookies for gifts.

Christmas is about what people make it out to be, and people make it out to be about presents....Nothing wrong with it I say, and ya it was fun and all when young....But the older i get the less I care about such things, and given the fact that I never cared all that much about it to begin with, it's a wonder I even get up in the morning or remember when Christmas is.

In fact this thread made me go look up when Christmas is coming up, because I dont keep track of such things. And dam it's about two weeks from now....So I suppose I best go buy some presents and such, really I don't know what it is, must be because I am jaded, or just older, or that I have other things on my mind....But ya I just cant get happy or that exited about any holiday lately, but I participate in them all, as long as people remind me when there coming up that is.

But ya op people have no doubt been to busy to notice, but the times are not changing they have changed, and now a days it really is about getting the new and shiny gadgets under the tree, and nobody really has the time or energy to even stick around. But to just show up exchange presents then take of to there respective corners of there life's, and do there own things only to come back out same time next year.

I suppose we have a fast culture when it comes to holiday's like Christmas and others. As well as a fast food culture, everything is on the go, and nobody even wants to sit down and just be for a little while. I know I will just probably be showing up doing an exchange of gifts, then be going back to doing my own thing.

Which most likely will be sleeping the day away if I can.

We opted out of the Christmas commercialism frenzy a good number of years ago. Our families dealt with it. We just explained that we don't agree with the commercialization and wouldn't be participating in cards and gifts at this time of year. The families weren't happy, and it was a bit of an adjustment, but everyone is fine now.

We are generous (especially with the kids) throughout the year, but it's because we want to be, not because we're obligated to be.

Good luck with your sister... Try to keep anger out of it and explain rationally that you are uncomfortable with the whole obligatory aspect of Christmas gift-giving and would rather show your love in other ways throughout the year. People do adjust... eventually.

The problem is that the "giving" concept got twisted away from the original form.
In the original St Nicholas legend, someone who had wealth (St Nicholas) was giving to those without wealth (the girls needing dowries).
Now it has become an exchange of presents on equal terms, with children getting presents from everyone, especially their parents, even if their parents have no money,.
If the original format was being followed, the children of poor families would be getting their presents from millionnaires.

reply to post by mblahnikluver




It must be hard to cut your sister out of you life man.... tough call.

Well I guess you have as you said :

If someone gets mad because you didn't spend your hard earned money on a present for them then they aren't someone you should have in your life but that is just me.

But yeah.... all that aside, I agree that Christmas is just too commercial now.
It used to be just about giving chocolate or fruit to your kids, that was it... but then in the 1800's it became a proper consumer driven, gift giving extravaganza.


If people don't understand that you don't have money this year, then perhaps they should watch the news or go outside or read a paper and see what's happening in the real world.

Originally posted by Amanda5
You are exactly right.

For many years I have been telling people that Christmas is about - PRESENCE.

That is exactly right! I am putting this on my FB because many on there need a reminder!

This Christmas I will be with my pets and very peaceful.
I do not need to gorge myself on food.
I do not need presents.

I have no plans for Christmas, I have been invited to a few places but I think I will just stay at home and make myself a mini Christmas dinner

I have spent many a Christmas on my own and I am okay with that - I actually think I am lucky. I do not have to worry about the pressure of buying presents. I do not have to worry about the judgement passed on me if I do not participate.

I too have spent many alone...It doesn't bother me. I like being alone and if I want to go to someones house I will but I'd rather not. The one person I want to spend the holidays with, my bf, is not going to be home so I will just spend the day talking to him on the phone That is all I need!

This Christmas I will be thinking of all the people who have lost their homes through freak weather, foreclosure, firefighters who stood by and watched because a fee had not been paid - I will think of all the people who have no food and will continue to have no food until they die - I will think of all the Children who have nothing all year and who will continue to have nothing - I will think about all the animals on the planet that are tortured and killed - I will think of Mother Earth and how beautiful she will be when we can live differently.

I think of these things too and wish I could help....Maybe I can volunteer somewhere on Christmas to help hand out food to the homeless or something.

This Christmas - is for me - just another day but I will be aware of what is going on all over the world. I will have a roof over my head and my pets and food and everything I need until tomorrow.

Much Peace...and goodwill to ALL ...

Sounds like you will have a nice Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you and your pets

Originally posted by gabby2011
reply to post by mblahnikluver

 

This whole world has become greedy in regards to Christmas and other holidays. The meaning of Christmas is to be with loved ones and be thankful to have them, NOT who can buy the best gifts. People are stressed enough as it is, they shouldn't have to worry about buying Christmas gifts for others.

I think there are many who love to give..but just don't have the means to do it...and it isn't what Christmas is really about.

I love to give but I don't like feeling the pressure that i have to. I'd give someone my last 20 bucks and have so they could get a meal. I had a home and food. I didn't need that 20 bucks, they did and it made them happy to have a nice meal.

I'm sorry your sister was so hard on you..and I'm sure someday she will regret what she has said...and will realize that her son has more than enough toys...and loves his auntie because she is who she is..and his auntie loves him because he is who he is.

Exactly

We have associated love with giving of material things in this world.. and that has contributed to the debt of many who could not afford it.

100% correct!! I see it with tv advertisements and even in the company I work for, jewelry company. "Show her you love her," yea cause love = a $2500k over priced rock?! Honestly my fiancee could give me a twisty tie as a ring and i'd wear it daily with pride. It's the gesture that has meaning not the monetary value

If I could receive any gifts this holiday season.. I would wish for the gifts of the Holy Spirit...because I know in my heart that's what I need..and if I could give these gifts to people I love.. they would far surpass anything material...even for children.

I just want people to be happy and not stress this year. I want them to realize that there is someone worse off and that they should be appreciative of what they have and not expect more. I am going to look into volunteering somewhere for Christmas. That would be a good gift to give

I hope you have a very nice holiday with your family Mblah.. and when that day rolls around.. you will see how much you all love each other..and how in the end.. that is all that really matters.

I am actually spending Christmas alone, I prefer it that way. I just don't need the headache that goes along with the holidays with my family lol. I stopped going a few years ago because it always ends in arguing or something so silly. I am content sitting at home talking with my honey online since he is overseas and has to work anyway. I think it will be a great day!

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas too

I'm sure you will enjoy some great food as well.

..but for those who have little food as well.. the love you speak about is what really feeds the soul..and it is what we take with us when we leave this earth.

I will be making Christmas dinner for one. Im going to get a small chicken and stuff it and make homemade individual sides lol It will be good! I actually can't wait lol

Thanks for you kind reply and hope you have a very Merry Christmas