Would you rather have Xmas with or without presents?

I'm with Holly. When it comes to gifts I believe, "It's the thought that counts," and handing me money means no there was no thought at all.

We three buy something for each of the other two so we all have two gifts to put under the tree and open on Christmas Eve, and that's just about all we can stand. :D

It's usually books for my son, (Amazon tells me what he's been looking at) fancy foods for my husband, and those little bath sets you see around at Christmas for me. There's a hint in these gifts -- they're all disposable. We read the books, eat the food, use up the bath powder. What we don't want is something we have to keep on display or be seen wearing forever and ever.
 
Don't want and don't need any presents. At my age I have given car loads to charity shops. Anyway, most things given at Christmas are totally useless junk that end up in landfills. eg: Terry the swearing turtle. Cute on the 25th; embarrassing on the 26th.
 
bowmore said:
At our age, we either have everything we need. The most important thing is to be with family.
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Me too, Bowmore. On Christmas Day Hubby and I first go church and afterwards to his brother's house to celebrate with his family. Meanwhile our grandchildren are celebrating with other relatives. Then on Dec 26th (Boxing Day) they all come to our house for a very casual lunch. Only little children are supposed to be given presents, but everyone brings a few inexpensive wrapped gifts without names. These are all placed in the centre of a large table, and we play a silly game called Stealing Santa. The rules vary from year to year, but this is one version that gives you the idea.

https://www.kotaku.com.au/2020/12/the-definitive-rules-for-stealing-santa/

We always make sure that there are enough gifts to go round the table at least twice. Some gifts are desirable, others are funny and still others are something no sane person would want. Chocolates are always stolen several times. When little children are in the game their gifts are labelled and never stolen.

This has become a family tradition now and the thought of cancelling it is strongly resisted.
 
If someone doesn't want to give gifts at Christmas, that should be up to them. For those of us that do like to give gifts, that is also our choice. I try to listen throughout the year when people speak and they say something like my paperboy did not so long ago, "I wished I had a watch so I could keep track of time and get home before dinner. Last year, I gave him a $40 watch for Christmas and he still wears it everyday that I see him.
 
At our age, what do we really need? After 66 years of marriage, I think we have it all. We don’t buy gifts anymore for kids, grand and great grand children. Just way too many to buy for. Our kids always send us gift cards or cash which we do appreciate.
 
I love to watch the little 'uns ripping into their presents, so I buy stuff for them.

I asked my daughter to just give me honey from their apiary from now on. I use a lot of honey and theirs is so good. They'll give me a bag of variety honeys, whatever they're producing that year. I always make up a bag of goodies for them to take to their ski condo where they always spend Christmas (gourmet hot chocolate mix, a bottle of Baileys, premium snacks, etc.)

I don't need any more candles, bath salts, robes, socks, creams or perfumes. I do enjoy getting new photos of the kids, though.

I give my granddaughter money.

The Spousal Equivalent and I just exchange little things like favorite candies and crosswork/sudoku books.
 
I send gifts to the little kids that are still in my life. If we are going to be together I get something for everyone, but otherwise I don't. My children are old enough that they have everything and so do I.

My favorite gifts to receive are little surprises (things like cookies, breads, herbs a neighbor grew in her garden, etc.) that are accompanied by a visit.
 
For extended family, presents are fine.

For my partner and I? None. No need. Live every day to the fullest, and if you do, a gift on a "special day" isn't required of meaningful. I might buy a gift in June, it's just life.
 
I don’t celebrate Xmas. I celebrate Christmas.

Xmas is what Is often called Festivus by some people. Six to eight weeks of excess spending, stress and problems culminate in a one day blow-out. Then on the 26th it’s back to normal (except for returning/exchanging gifts).

I like to celebrate Christmas which starts on 12/25 and ends with the Feast of the Epiphany on 1/6. By spreading out the season to 12 days one can really enjoy it. No need to rush about. Time with friends and family is more important. Time to share small personal good dead’s is available. It’s much nicer.

Christmas is about the best example of cultural appropriation we have in the USA and other countries. We turn a religious celebration into a stressful frenzy of over consumption. I guess it really should be called Xmas as ‘X’ is often used to describe unwholesome things.
 
Brookswood said:
I don’t celebrate Xmas. I celebrate Christmas.

Xmas is what Is often called Festivus by some people. Six to eight weeks of excess spending, stress and problems culminate in a one day blow-out. Then on the 26th it’s back to normal (except for returning/exchanging gifts).

I like to celebrate Christmas which starts on 12/25 and ends with the Feast of the Epiphany on 1/6. By spreading out the season to 12 days one can really enjoy it. No need to rush about. Time with friends and family is more important. Time to share small personal good dead’s is available. It’s much nicer.

Christmas is about the best example of cultural appropriation we have in the USA and other countries. We turn a religious celebration into a stressful frenzy of over consumption. I guess it really should be called Xmas as ‘X’ is often used to describe unwholesome things.
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The idea of Advent and Christmas is lost on most people. I find both seasons worthwhile and balm for the soul. In our little church during Advent we light the coloured candles that symbolise Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. In the home, it is a time of preparation for the coming of the Christ child with house cleaning and food preparation. I remember my mother taking down all the curtains to wash and the windows were also given a good cleaning. Then the house was decorated. It used to be the time to write and send Christmas cards but I don't do this any more. I just phone people instead.

My decorations are fairly minimal but they always include my little nativity scene and I trot out a Christmas wreath for the front door. My Christmas angel doll also makes a yearly appearance. By Twelfth Night they are packed away again until the next year.
 
Mama and I haven't swapped Xmas gifts in many years but I have been known (out of the blue) to drag her into the jewelry store every once in awhile and let her pick out something nice. :)
 
Warrigal said:
The idea of Advent and Christmas is lost on most people. I find both seasons worthwhile and balm for the soul. In our little church during Advent we light the coloured candles that symbolise Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. In the home, it is a time of preparation for the coming of the Christ child with house cleaning and food preparation. I remember my mother taking down all the curtains to wash and the windows were also given a good cleaning. Then the house was decorated. It used to be the time to write and send Christmas cards but I don't do this any more. I just phone people instead.

My decorations are fairly minimal but they always include my little nativity scene and I trot out a Christmas wreath for the front door. My Christmas angel doll also makes a yearly appearance. By Twelfth Night they are packed away again until the next year.
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That sounds like such a lovely Christmas! I try to enjoy the season in the same spirit of joy, feasting and giving.

Then when the Lenten season comes with it's peaceful period of reflection and fasting, I'm ready and welcoming for that quiet time, too.
 
Gift giving for the little ones is great. For the adults, not so much. For parents was just plain stressful. Instead of buying gifts for parents, we started making gifts or repairing stuff for them. That, they were very happy with. The family get together is always great.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
If you're in your 60s, you have already given your loved ones every 'great' gift you could think of. Plus, your loved ones don't light up when they unwrap six pairs of glow in the dark socks, or a must have melon baller, which you are sure they don't have. Let's face it, a lot of Xmas gifts get stuck in a closet or a junk drawer never to be seen again. Do you think the thought a is nice, but the cost isn't? Would you rather have Xmas with or without presents?
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Without for adults. Just children under say 16 can have gifts.

Just emphasis on food and decorations and being together.
 
Nathan said:
Please, no more commercialized holiday celebrations...enough!
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One winter I was in Lamu (a Moslem town, near the Somalia border), Kenya, Africa; trying to get away from Christmas madness. Oh yes, they had a special Christmas dinner for the tourists. I did not go!

Christmas seems to be a plague that follows you to distant lands around the world. There is no escape. We are doomed due to that fat guy in a red uniform invented by the Coca-Cola company who tries to get us to max-out on our credit cards. Ho, Ho, Ho!
 
hollydolly said:
No-one gives me melon ballers or socks... never have... . I love Christmas gift giving, but equally I love getting gifts too.. I kinda live out my childhood Christmases as an adult after not having them as a child... BUT.. now no-one wants to give gifts.. everyone says just give money....and because they've decided that's what they all want.. then that's what I have to expect in return.. I hate that..I want a gift... I don't see the point of me sending money only for them to send money in return...
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I love giving gifts, too. I don't need anything so I prefer not to receive presents. @hollydolly I have a closet of new handbags. I can send you one for Christmas :)
 
Leann said:
I love giving gifts, too. I don't need anything so I prefer not to receive presents. @hollydolly I have a closet of new handbags. I can send you one for Christmas :)
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awww..you're so kind sista from anotha Mista ...:love: send a few.... :D only joshing.. the fact is I have quite a few.. not as many as I once had, since I donated a lot.. but still more than I can use given I have not gone anywhere worth dressing up for for 2 years... so I have about 8 bags now.. and I use the same 2 over and over just on a daily basis..
 

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