About 4 years ago, my entire family stopped giving x-mas presents because we didn't care about the holiday and we're not christian. Interesting to see that a movement is underway to remove the materialism from the season... http://www.buynothingchristmas.org/
Christmas...... People spending money they don't have To buy crap no one would really want For people they don't really like And who don't really appreciate the effort . Stop the Madness.
Why were you ever exchanging gifts if your family wasn't Christian? Did you just feel the need to celebrate during the 4th week of December for some reason??
We're not Christian and we still celebrate Christmas. It's hard not to get into the spirit when the whole city is lit up and everyone around you celebrates. Its just fun! We do lights, we have a Christmas tree, turn on 99.1, we have presents and all that. It's fun!
Because my parents raised two children in the United States with tons of friends who all got gifts for xmas, so we did the same. When you're 10 years old, you don't give a damn about the spirituality of the holiday, you just want gifts. Once both of their children got to college, we realized we had no need for xmas.
I'm not Christian either, but I was always under the impression that Christmas was about making it fun for the kids. However, things have spiraled out of control, with the madness going on at the malls this time of year. In fact, I needed to pick up some winter clothes, so I hit up the mall on Friday afternoon (vacation day) rather than try to brave the crowds this weekend. Also, FWIW, if you're in a Muslim country, the malls are equally crowded during the week of Eid.
freaky. and to continue answering t_j's question... If i ever have children, I will continue "celebrating" christmas with them by putting up an xmas tree, giving them gifts and listening to xmas music on 99.1 (which I actually do enjoy doing right now)
I think my family is going to do no presents this year which is fine with me. But I can't speak for my sister, though...
The Christmas consumption hysteria foisted upon on Americans has long since left any religious context behind. It's pure commercialism promoted by huge, huge advertizing campaigns. The fact is a large percentage of American businesses make all of their profit on Christmas sales, just breaking even the rest of the year.
Well then, you'll be happy to know that my favorite xmas song of all time is Wham's "Last Christmas" God I love Wham!
I am Christian, and I've thought long about this as well. We don't do huge Christmas gifts in my family...my parents do HUGE Christimas...they're all about it. But I'd rather not do that with my kids. That's not what it's about to me.
If that's your opinion, fine. But if you think everyone should feel that way...I call bullsh!t. Christmas is a wonderful time at the Behad household. I love buying gifts for my kids, I love the parties, the festivals, the family get-togethers. I even love (despite my joking otherwise) the lights on the houses. Lighten up, Scrooge.
Many people argue the holiday should focus more on the religious and less on the economic. I disagree. Gift giving is now such an integral part of the celebration, you can't separate the consumerisim without losing the experience. It's fun to give gifts. It's fun to receive gifts. It's good to have a reason to make the economy grow. It's good for children's experience to have a "Special day". It's good for charities (when was the last time you bought toys for needy children on a whim?). It's good to get paid without working. Im not religious and if Christmas was more religious based, I would not enjoy the holiday. Christmas consumerism is a good thing for everyone.
it's not celebrated this way by Christians around the world. it is largely a consumer event in a consumer-driven society that has consumed the meaning of the day. i personally draw sharp distinctions between Christmas and what most Americans celebrate. somebody cue Linus to tell us what Christmas is all about!
The holidays are irritating. If I didnt have kids I wouldnt give two ****s about them. It is just a waste of time and money.
Speak for yourself. I gave myself a great 53" HDTV, stainless steel Jennair grill, and a new leather club chair for the office - all at discount prices.
