Christmas Without Commercialization - possible?  

I share the same view with you regarding Christmas that everyday can be Christmas day if Christ is in our hearts. Sadly Christ is being left out and the commercial aspect of this day is emphasized. Santa Claus is being put on the pedestal, what a deception

You have a point, most people do that, they make santa clause as the star of the day,but there's still having a family that Christ is the center of all and Im one of them. We cant junk commercialization, people need that, its a part of business and sad to say that we cant control that because the tycoon have their money to manipulate everything..its so sad.

Yes you're right. Commercialization of "Christmas" cannot be stopped since some businessmen used the opportunity to gain more profit and I don't blame them. It is just many so-called Christians today think they cannot do away with these stuffs and it adds to their frustrations when they receive no gift on Christmas whereas others receive much gift while the real "birthday celebrant" (if that date is really His birthday) was being left out on this day yet they call themselves Christians.

Actually if we will just look back into the original Christmas day, its' very simple. Jesus was born in the manger (a very unusual place the Son of God could be born but He chose it). Shepherds and wise men were His guests (very unusual indeed instead of wealthy Jewish officials, kings, and prominent people).
Good for you, you are celebrating it the right and simple way. Some people make life complicated for them. Celebrating Christmas with simplicity can help us avoid the stress accompanied by the false commercialization aspect of this day.

If you think about the whole manger thing, though, it makes sense. Sure, people expect gods and people of royalty not to be born in a manger but somewhere extravagant. If you try to link Jesus and extravagance, it doesn't work. He was a humble man, always dining with the poor and sick, lived amongst the not-so-wealthy, etc. In a way, I think Jesus was born in a manger to signify what He really stands for. It's not the rich, necessarily, who make the best Christians...who try the most at being good. If Jesus were to be born in a palace I don't think most of us could even compare ourselves to Him to try to live like Him...after all, who here was born in a palace?

Thank you for your comment. I just think society has lost out on this one...even for the non-Christians, who is to say that Christmas is strictly commercial? That Christmas means Santa, reindeer, and going into debt while worrying how much isn't rude to spend on someone? Even growing up in a Christian household my parents taught me about Santa...after realizing he wasn't real, I wondered...why teach me that? Not only are you directly lying to me but instead of teaching me the true reason behind Christmas, what to truly look forward to, you give me some story about a big guy that has nothing better to do than break into people's houses to give their kids expensive presents? And as a Christian, isn't that a little sad? To ignore Jesus's coming and put light on a person who focuses on materialism...something that isn't highlighted so beautifully in the Bible?

Here I go on a rant. Thanks again for the comment. It's good to hear someone else does understand where I'm coming from. It's so sad how blown out of proportion this whole Christmas thing is.

Thanks you too for that. Before I also joined my relatives when they celebrated this season. We had this Christmas tree, lights and all these christmas decors including the one we call "parol" in our country -- a decor in the shape of a star. We have family reunion but Jesus is never mentioned on this day although they know about it, in the mass. But He is very, very seldom talked about. That's why I became sad and from then on, I no longer joined them celebrating this occasion. Anyway I see their joys and laughters are just on the "surface." I just thank the Lord that this day arrives; what I'm really grateful is that aside from He was born to save us, that salvation became so personal for me and made an impact when I came to know and accept Christ as my Lord and Savior in my heart -- this means more to me and Christmas has become not only a one-time event but an everyday experience since making Him as my Lord and Savior.

You make a good point when saying everyday is a celebration once you take the commercialism out of what used to be meaningful. When everything is simple everyday life seems more beautiful.

The strongest, most faithful Christians I have ever met have been ones who do not get into the commercialism of Christmas (or other Christian holidays, for that matter). I have a friend who is in her sixties...she has cancer and other than her son who must take care of her (she's physically disabled as well), she lives alone. She doesn't celebrate Christmas in a big, commercialized way...and when I asked for her opinion on me stopping the celebration as I've always known it a while back...she encouraged me. She doesn't buy gifts or expect any. She does send out cards. She spends time with her son on Christmas and it's kind of like a Thanksgiving to them. The more a person's relationship with Jesus grows, the more they realize what truly is worth worrying about in this life.

I must ask: did your relatives get mad or suspicious when you stopped celebrating in the commercial sense? Last year I didn't celebrate but I did stop over for a few minutes at both my family's and my husband's family's celebrations...only to see a dull, on-the-surface happiness, like the one you mentioned. This year I let them know I'd be visiting before or after...but I don't want to dim Christmas by acting like I'm celebrating the commercialism of it. Needless to say, they're angry and "hurt," although one person can never force another to feel any such way. For quite a few weeks they've been trying to guilt trip me into it. Did you have a similar experience?

Sorry, I just respond just today since we have time differences. Back to your question, most of my relatives encourage me to join them but they can't compel me if I don't want to. Of course they feel a little bit sad and they think of me as being "killjoy" and that I act like I'm not part of the family but i respect their celebration the way they like it. Anyway, I have been helping them cleaning the house and arranging the decors so, I think, it's enough I have shown that I'm still part of the family except on December 25.