EVERY YEAR AT CHRISTMAS MY 3 CHILDREN AND I GO TO THE HOMELESS SHELTER WITH GIFTS FOR THE CHILDREN THERE....COLORING BOOKS , CRAYONS, MATCHBOX CARS,TRUCKS,DOLLS,STUFFED ANIMALS...... JUST SEEING THE SMILES ON THE CHILDRENS FACES IS PRICELESS AND MY CHILDREN LOOK FORWARD TO THIS EVERY YEAR

Poppa Smurf puts gerbils up his azz

thats why i like my small town life,i live in a small mill town nestled in the hundred valleys of the umpqua.population 985
everyone knows each other everyone looks out for one another
christmas time here is great
the boys scouts put up a huge tree in the town square
all the kids in town decorate it with home made ornamates
they have a big bonfire hay rides all the churches have hot choc,coffee and homemade cookies,everyone sings carols
i couldnt imagineliving in the city where life is so comercialized and know one slows down to enjoy the small miracles in life

It's just another day for me. Only bad part is that most of the stores aren't open....

yeah, I hear that christmas is going to be the only holiday from now on and they're going to start pushing holiday sales and music starting in February... LOL J/K

I can't stand the music any more I'm really glad that they haven't started with it and I am Amazed and happy about that.

I told my coworker as I looked around the store,
"Christmas time is coming, I can feel the evil rising" He knew exactly what I meant and I'm sure anyone who works in retail will know what I mean because once Christmas hits all the people will turn evil, rude, shoving everyone over and being stressed out with long lines and people writing evil checks!!!
I wish it was next year already because I can't wait for all the madness to be over.

in answer to the original question: YUP

I live in a small town and Christmas is celebrated here much like where shutterguy lives. The kids and the traditions are still the major focus here.

I think sometimes folks make it difficult for themselves. So much emphasis on the 'perfect' gift, the Norman Rockwell holiday, too many expectations. The best Christmases I've experienced are those when I volunteered or helped folks less fortunate than myself. That's the spirit of Christmas to me.

I dont like the mass celebration of capitalism

first of all i dont hate christ but christmas is realy a bad time of year for me i had a relationship with a female who took the life of the child inside of her that was mine he would have been due right at christmas so no matter what they say christmas tends to suck for me he would be 11 this yr.