Christmas (the commercialization of it)

[GlockSpeed31]

I haven't been able to really get in the spirit of Christmas for a couple years now, due to my mother passing away over 3 years ago. I know this is bad and I really try to be festive for my two young boys, but it is hard.

My main complaint is the commercialization of the holidays. I remember when I was young and looked forward to visiting the family and playing with my cousins with our new toys. Nowdays it seems that the true feelings for the holidays are long gone and is all about buying expensive gifts for everyone and rushing about trying to find that perfect gift. Why not spend that time planning to be with your family and remember the old days and reconnect with distant family and friends instead of doing it by the internet (if it is possible to get together).

I would rather buy my kids a few good toys that they will play with more than a couple days and spend quality time with my family & friends than go further broke buying stuff that people will either re-gift to someone else, return for something they wanted more or refund for cash or credit.

With these thoughts, I bid you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and hopefully atleast one person will stop and think about how they choose to spend the holidays.

Michael

[XRe]

Well put, Michael

I'll tag onto that with... and say "Merry Christmas" to every damn person you meet on the street or in a store... just to piss 'em off... (that's ironic sarcasm, folks... well, kinda... )

[ima45dv8]

I agree, Michael. It got under my skin bad enough that a few years ago I drafted a letter to all the adults in my family, their spouses included. I announced that from now on, I will only buy gifts for the kids and my Mother (and she's damned easy to shop for -- she prefers cash). Everyone else would get my sincerest wishes for happy, healthy and safe Christmas, and maybe a card. And that's all I will accept from them.

To prove I was serious I let them know that I did have a Christmas budget...I just wasn't spending it on them. I would be spending it on toys to deliver to a local orphanage. I told them that if they just could NOT resist buying me something (you know the ones that agree not to and then buy you something anyway?), it better be a toy for a child because I was giving it away as soon as it arrived.

They actually got on board and sent me toys, and money to buy more. That was the last year I had to go through the crap you described. Now they know they aren't getting anything from me except my love.

Something else that pissed me off...

I delivered two truckloads of toys to the orphanage, and they asked me several times if I wanted to come inside. I politely declined and said, "Just tell 'em Santa brought them." I got a puzzled look from her, and she said, "But don't you want a receipt for your taxes? That's why people do this, right?" As I drove off I told her she had become even more disillusioned than I was.

[Graham Smith]

I think I officially reached my threshold the Christmas of 1977. The prior year I was stationed in Germany with the Army and wasn't able to get home for the holidays. So, instead, I spent some time out and about in Germany with friends - what an eye opener that was. The following year, I was back in the states and thought I was going to choke on all the crass commercialism. I just cannot tell you how much I hate what every holiday in the US has become.

[BritinUSA]

I got a puzzled look from her, and she said, "But don't you want a receipt for your taxes? That's why people do this, right?"

Ugh !

This is why I only do the Christmas gift thing with the Salvation Army. They always ask me if I want to fill out a tax receipt form, but they never seem surprised when I say 'No'.

I'm looking forward to doing it again this year. I have no kids of my own so this really gets me in the Christmas spirit, especially when I try to imagine that little kid's face on Christmas morning.

[badassmcgraff]

Never was into x-mas, I don't think I would want to lie to my kid about Santa even though it's a white lie, I just haven't had a desire to do so, and the religious side of it isn't even factual. I do like to see all my family though, I guess it has its perks.

[Hank Ellis]

Last year at this time we were in the middle of rebuilding the house from "The Storm". Its Christmas. We're living in a camper in the back yard. Life isn't easy. Wife asks me "What do you want for Christmas?" Thought a second. "Nothing. Really, lets forgo the gift exchange." She agreed. We bought for the children in family and that was it. Some in the family thought we were on hard financial times. Nope. Not spending the time in the malls allowed us to spend time with family and friends, as it should be.

The experience has reminded us of what is really important and what the holiday really means.

[badchad]

I've been out of the Christmas gift cycle for over 10 years. I don't buy anything for anyone and I tell them not to get me anything. For a lot of reasons I think it's great and would never go back. I was real up-front about it when I started, I'm still up front about it, and I don't think anyone has been offended, not even my girlfriends.