Ba Humbug!

I always have felt this way about Christmas. The feelings I remember were guilt as a child knowing that my parents could not afford presents and that they took on debt to get us things we wanted. I have two children now and feel different about it. I love to have the holiday spirit in the house and use it as a time to connect with family rather than give useless presents. We do give presents but they are small and within our budget.

Well I can see how Christmas has bad memories for you but I have to say as someone who does go to church both Christmas eve and morning. We do celebrate the actual reason for the holiday. Our family also only does hand made gifts with just a few things from Santa for the fun of it.

Hi bluepacker, if it bothers you so much why are you complaining about it in October. It is nothing more than you started off by stating, mass commercialism gone wild, and there is no need to conform at all to joining in the debt brigade, but why bring it up in October. On your other post about christmas though you mentioned going to two nice parties at work where you would get a gifts so really it sounds like you do like the commercial aspect of it after all. But as for pushing it early I quite agree which is why I am already tired of seeing endless discussions about christmas and you have already put out two in two days.

Sorry you feel that way about the holidays. Actually the retailers are just doing what they do best....trying to get our money. We really can't blame them. They don't force people to feel pressure to buy or to go into debt trying to buy things that they can't afford. Not everybody buys into all the commercialism and not all people even those that do buy into it...get all stressed out over it. Some people ....many people actually love the season for many different reasons. For our family it is a time to get together and enjoy each other's company. Yes, there are gifts but they are not the big focus of our holiday. We have a big party and all get together. Everyone brings food and we just have a great time. I really don't care how other people go about enjoying or not enjoying the holiday. If they feel pressured and stressed then all I can say is that is their own doing. Some people just really don't like the holiday at all. You sound like one of them and maybe you have good reason. It's ok not to celebrate if you don't like it. Just don't let it get to you.

To be honest, I have had my fill of xmas this year already, and I did a post about it just to get it out of the way.
What does xmas mean to me, well the stores are closed!!!