I believe 'christmas' is a time of giving.. a time of sharing.. and a good excuse for familys to get together and share some bonding time.. it's also a time for forgiveness and hope..

I've been a single parent for many years and although have not had the greatest budget for lots of gifts.. my kids are always happy.. instead of waiting for the LAST MINUTE to get gifts.. I listen to their 'wants' 1/2 of the year then start shopping in July.. prices are lower.. quantities are higher.. and the 'rush' of christmas not yet upon the masses.. it's way more pleasent and stress free to shop that way!

I don't go for the hype of what commercialism has done through the media.. the hi-pressure sales pitches of "gift giving" is a bane to my exsistance.. and in reality.. it's US that have "changed the ways of thinking" as we strive for yet MORE in this ever growing world of technology related garbage!

what it boils down to is WE have become our OWN worst enemies wherein WE have allowed the commercialism of the holiday rule us.. as opposed to keeping to the traditions handed down before us.. it's up to US to continue the legacy's of the past and re-instill the TRUE NATURE of the holiday before it's lost forever.. but.. that's JMO!

I have a love hate toward Christmas,, I always hear the same thing ,, here is your Christmas and your birthday! I was born Christmas day 1958. It would be nice if my own family would get thier head out of thier butt long enough to say "Happy Birthday" instead of Merry Christmas.

This will be our first x mas without my mom...she was pretty much the foundation of santa when my children were little. She was the always the host of the family get togethers. Its going to be differant. The kids are older..we will try to make things differant...and maybe somewhat the same. I don't know...its sad already...I think I hate it!

"because of that stupid toy that their BRAT of a kid wants. "


OMG!!! lol!!!!

i love Christmas, however i agree- it has become more about the wrong stuff like having to buy a gift for someone because they
bought you one etc.

I also LOVE Christmas and all it stands for, although trying to shop in NY can be HELL,and generally not worth the effort. It has become a money making holiday, and it should never be that way. They have christmas cards in CVS in July for God sakes...

help put the "X" back into X-MAS!

I don't know, I think from my Experiences and what I have seen on here so far is that the people who are at least the most happy and content are us poor people..lol
Like I said I never begged my parents for alot because I knew they couldn't afford it when I was young and I was happy enough.

Love2knowya, I'm glad you found that funny

My dad's side of the family does have a christmas tradition, though I tend to skip most year's because I really have nothing in common with that side.
What they do is everyone brings ONE gift and the gift has to be some kind of craft {My dad's side often make really nice things from wood} also that way if you don't have to worry about buying a gift everyone}

The Exchange Game:
So everyone brings ONE gift and picks a number from a hat, 1 Number for each gift then we go in that order, First person picks a gift and everyone see's, then the second person can either pick the last gift opened or go for a new gift, if the person picks the first person's gift then the first person picks a new gift and it goes on like this with people choosing along the way, we have set up rules to combat argueing over how many times one person can take back a gift and it seemed to work pretty good.
Maybe someone else would like to try this game this christmas and tell me how it went.

I Christmas time...

You do not have to let comercialisum ruin it.

It is a time for me to share memories of years past, to spend
time with family and friend's, I love to decorate, many times
I have not been able to afford to give gifts- I have made a huge
meal instead and share it with people. I love spreading love around, and wish it would be spread like that everyday!

Maybe "that brat" could use a new toy... Geesh!

i don't do christmas--it's a waste of time when there's no family involved--

oh xmas , ya my dysfunctional family get together, and have a real dandy time.!!! lol

I dislike what the business world has turned it into ..... start selling holiday stuff 3 months early, promote selling crap in the "Spirit of Christmas", if sales/profits are down a hair from last year it's disappointing, blah blah blah .... it gets to where you can't get away from the corporate pursuit of the almighty dollar ..... makes me want to just avoid the whole thing.

SPENDCEMBER.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

we're skipping christmas this year...and the kids are fine with it. they understand that we're in a...financial situation this year.

we plan to sort of celebrate in february.

reminds me of Bob Rivers...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssa_56NzKOM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6E-yjmSPzc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHO0HV_tW8s

I was shopping for groceries the other day, when out of the blue I suddenly become aware of Christmas Carols playing over the music system. I wanted to throw up. It actually made me angry. This was BEFORE Halloween or right around it.I love the beautiful decorations and time with family, but the season has become far too commercialized. It's like everywhere you turn it is crammed down your throat. I don't get in the spirit until a few weeks before Christmas, and it seems like every year the retailers keep moving shopping season back earlier and earlier. As someone said before, they skipped Thanksgiving!

I say celebrate everyday. I do not need some over commercialized crap to make me spend time with family and friends. If I want to give a gift, I give a gift. I do not want to be forced to give. What if I really do not like you, I have to buy you something because popular culture says I should? I don't think that is right. We are forced into things that are uncomfortable and akward, why because it "tis the season". We as a people (I mean world wide) that christmas is someone elses birthday. No matter what you believe, he had an impact on the world. We have turned it into a commercial mess. I don't want to give gifts, because I have to, I want to give because I want to. And not just 1 day a year. We are pushed to spend, spend, spend and to what end?Fighting to get your kid the latest, greatest, whatever is popular then. No, get with loved ones, family or friends and reflect. It is the end of a YEAR and almost the start of a new year. We have too few years in our lives. Spend time talking of the past and dreaming of the future. Send them a gift for the hell of it on April 10th, because you want too.

I LOVE Christmas !!!!

I love the crowds and the people and the decorating and being with my family and the music . I LOVE it all .

Oh and I started downloading new Christmas music last month . I love Christmas music I would listen year round if it were acceptable .

I love when Christmas rolls around so I have an excuse to listen .

Love time off work.
L ve spending time with family & friends.

The rest... and how other's chose to "celebrate" doesn't bother or distract me; content in my own little world.