Comments on: Creating an enjoyable holiday season

By: Christmas Gifts For The Non-Materialistic | Catherine Lawson

Christmas Gifts For The Non-Materialistic | Catherine Lawson — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:53:20 +0000

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By: Eliza

Eliza — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:44:38 +0000

@Lori – I have always wondered what it would be like to just go away for Christmas and spend it on a beach somewhere. In the past, the idea of not being with the extended family woudl have horrified me. Now, with the kids grown, we are rarely all together on the 25th anyway. I was thinking Mexico, but Hawaii would be even better!

By: Eliza

Eliza — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:42:51 +0000

@Wendi – I am with you on the random ‘I love you gifts’ as opposed to Christmas and birthday gifts. But I am also willing to work somewhat within the established traditions, so twice per year it is. But I rarely have to ask Mr Very Right or my kids what they want, because I am also listening for their needs and desires. It’s like a treasure hunt, and this year’s response from my son-in-law to my daughter was my reward at the end of the rainbow “Wow, your family is so cool and thoughtful.”

By: Eliza

Eliza — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:38:12 +0000

@Cath – interesting how we all feel we need to ‘pluck up the courage’ to say no to gift giving. What do we honestly think is going to happen? That the receivers will think less of us? That there will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth? We all do it. And then when someone does finally speak up and say a firm ‘no more’, others are greatly relieved. And the pouty ones? They get over it.

By: Lori Hoeck

Lori Hoeck — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:16:38 +0000

I’ve done the nothing fer nobody Christmas, the full-on obligatory gift-giving Christmas, and the make everything from scratch Christmas. I would prefer a: Good-bye for the week, we’ll be in Hawaii for Christmas, but we don’t have the money.

I like the sanity of your approach!

By: Wendi Kelly

Wendi Kelly — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:16:39 +0000

I do not love the shopping for gifts either. Or the wrapping. Were it up to me I would banish the obligatory gift giving part of Christmas. Same for birthdays too. On the other hand, friends and family are just as likely to get something from me one any other day of of the year. An Un-birthday or Un-Christmas gift as it were, just because I stumbled across the perfect something.

However…I still have kids. So we buy for them and the grandkids. Everyone else…not so much, unless I find something I can’t resist.

To me the holidays are about spending cozy time with family. That’s what I love the most.

By: Cath Lawson

Cath Lawson — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:43:00 +0000

I hate shopping and I used to get so stressed about all the waste and materialism around Christmas. My ex was very materialistic and the final straw for me was when he forced me to go shopping to buy his presents, the day after I was discharged from hospital.

Since then, I’ve had a policy of no presents for brothers and sisters, unless I can afford it and see something nice. My parents go to Spain for Christmas and insist we don’t buy them anything, which is good.

My husband’s family buy gifts for everyone and he was horrified when I told him a couple of years ago that we weren’t buying them anything – I was skint and I hate shopping anyway. I just don’t go over there on Christmas Day – I have nothing against them, I just find the whole adult mass meaningless gift exchange thing nauseatingly wasteful.

We have five kids between us so it’s enough to buy for. My stepchildren prefer to receive cash or vouchers now, which is nice and easy. Now I just need to pluck up the courage to stop buying for my five nephews and nieces.

Anyway, I’ll get off my soapbox now. This post struck a nerve as I really think the materialism and stress spoils it all. Like you say, having a nice dinner and doing fun things is much more important. Hopefully, if we’re in Canada by next winter, we’ll get to do the tobogganing too.

By: Eliza

Eliza — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:38:07 +0000

@Patricia – I love stockings. Mr Very Right doesn’t do stockings … he leaves it all up to his mother who does EVERYONE. I really missed not being able to pick out stocking items. This year, we are celebrating with my family, so I laid down the the law. My family = Christmas stockings

By: Eliza

Eliza — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:35:34 +0000

@Julie – last year Mr Very Right and I were alone together on Christmas Day. The first time in my life without kids and/or immediate family. And it was actually very enjoyable. We just stayed in our jammies all day, watched movies, and made a nice meal together. Your day sounds equally as relaxing and intimate.

By: Tweets that mention Creating an enjoyable holiday season | Silver and Grace -- Topsy.com

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:02:57 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by UrbanPanther, patriciaswisdom. patriciaswisdom said: http://silverandgrace.com/creating-an-enjoyable-holiday-season very nice post about post materialism celebrations [...]