What will it take to end this horrible yearly ritual?
- Thread starter Funit
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butters
High on a Hill
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- Jul 2, 2009
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it's simple. don't buy into it if you don't like it. let people know you won't be gifting purchased presents and don't want to receive any.
if you're the kind of person who enjoys making gifts, or doing something for a person by way of a gift, then do that and enjoy it. the pressure is only there if you allow it to be.
for me, i adore giving presents...even more than receiving them in most cases, although small, personal gifts from special people make my year. it's about the thought that goes into them, whether bought or crafted or performed that counts for me; if someone spends aout on a lavish gift (something THEY'd enjoy receiving) without giving a thought to my own tastes, it usually ends up wasted money since i'm not impressed with how much something costs, not in the slightest. it's about if i LIKE the thing. So, i make some gifts, buy others, but always after some thinking about what they actually would like to receive. And that's always gonna vary with the ages of people and the individuals themselves. For some teens, for example, money is ALWAYS the right gift, but even then i like to add something small and personal, which they'll enjoy long after they've spent the cash
oggbashan
Dying Truth seeker
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- Jul 3, 2002
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It is the time of year when I have to very diplomatic around my wife. She was born in December and as a child never had a proper birthday, She couldn't have her school friends to a birthday party - it was too close to Christmas.
She didn't get Birthday presents - she got presents for 'Birthday and Christmas'.
She sympathizes with our eldest granddaughter - born on Christmas Eve, and our grandson, also born in December.
From mid-November when the supermarkets go overboard for Christmas, she gets grumpy.
We don't start putting Christmas decorations up until the day AFTER her birthday.
She didn't get Birthday presents - she got presents for 'Birthday and Christmas'.
She sympathizes with our eldest granddaughter - born on Christmas Eve, and our grandson, also born in December.
From mid-November when the supermarkets go overboard for Christmas, she gets grumpy.
We don't start putting Christmas decorations up until the day AFTER her birthday.
it's simple. don't buy into it if you don't like it. let people know you won't be gifting purchased presents and don't want to receive any.
if you're the kind of person who enjoys making gifts, or doing something for a person by way of a gift, then do that and enjoy it. the pressure is only there if you allow it to be.
for me, i adore giving presents...even more than receiving them in most cases, although small, personal gifts from special people make my year. it's about the thought that goes into them, whether bought or crafted or performed that counts for me; if someone spends aout on a lavish gift (something THEY'd enjoy receiving) without giving a thought to my own tastes, it usually ends up wasted money since i'm not impressed with how much something costs, not in the slightest. it's about if i LIKE the thing. So, i make some gifts, buy others, but always after some thinking about what they actually would like to receive. And that's always gonna vary with the ages of people and the individuals themselves. For some teens, for example, money is ALWAYS the right gift, but even then i like to add something small and personal, which they'll enjoy long after they've spent the cash
I was going to answer Funit's question, but you nailed it. Well said.
Yup, same here. The kids always get gifts, even back when I was dirt poor.
The adults get invited over for spiked eggnog, which will be done mostly virtual this year. My neighborhood used to have a campfire almost every Friday during the winter, serving eggnog on the Friday before Christmas. Not this year.
Also, my gf and I always serve green corn tamales on Christmas and put up a few lights. We do not go for too much ritual, but just enough to satisfy the historical urge to celebrate the coming of the light, an ancient pagan ritual that was combined with Christianity in order to reduce competition.
I'm not really sure when Christ was actually born. I think my ancestors must've misplaced the baby announcement.
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