Christmas isn't Christmas Anymore - The orginal meaning is gone!
By diamania
@diamania (7011)
Netherlands
December 25, 2010 11:15am CST
Maybe it's just me but for me it feels that Christmas isn't Christmas anymore. I thought Christmas was a meeting with friends and family, gathering around a table with all kinds of delicious foods and drinks.
For others christmas has to do with religion but for me it's just two days of showing love, respect and being there for each other.
But it's not reality anymore everything is overshadowed by consumerism, commercial emporiums and money, lots of them!
Why can't we just go back to the basics and be there with friends and family without all the gifts and everything?
Or do I sound too much like reverend Billy Talen now?
1 person likes this
10 responses
@mysdianait (66005)
• Italy
25 Dec 10
Not to mention all the food! There were eight of us together for Christmas lunch today and there was enough food for at least double that number. We will be eating left-overs for days! With so many hungry people in the world this is not right, and at Christmas too 
I too remember Christmas was different when I was younger. There was much more thought, care and love given to choosing (or even making) the gifts that we gave each other. Now it seems to be all down to getting the latest gadgets with no thought as to whether the person we are giving it to really needs it.
I too remember Christmas was different when I was younger. There was much more thought, care and love given to choosing (or even making) the gifts that we gave each other. Now it seems to be all down to getting the latest gadgets with no thought as to whether the person we are giving it to really needs it.
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
25 Dec 10
hi diana I was just thinking of somehting like your last sentence
'this morning when I got up and decided not to use the new expensive
handbag given to me by the council for aging. look its very pretty'and all but I walk with a quad cane as I have a balance problem due in part to my diabetes also my left leg is in a brace.So i have always used a shoulder bag so my left arm is free. I tried very hard to use the new handbag but its not fitted with the over the shoulder straps like my own handbag. I carry a shoulder bag just for the reason that my left hand and arm have only limited use. I had to have a shoulder joint replacement due to a fall and smashed left shoulder three years back. so the shoulder bag is perfect for me as I sling it over my left shulder and have my left hand free to hold onto the railings as I walk down the halls here. well this new bag demands I have to hold onto it with my left hand which is very awkard. I felt like a heel for not using it. then I realized hey its my problems and I did not ask for this expensive but hard to use bag so I am not hurting a soul by using my own old shoulder bag. so I took out all the stuff from the new bag and put it all back into my shabby but comfortable shoulder bag.You see I was just a number to the council on aging and a name so I do not think I should feel guilty about not using it. I appreciate that they thought of me and sent me a gift.It is my own business wheher or not I can use it.lol Talking about food I was happily surprised as for lunch today we had candied yams and ham with raisin sauce and fresh green bean and chocolate cake. so the small Christmas kitchen staff still gave those of us stuck here at Christmas a lovely tasty delicious lunch.Merry Christmas Diana and happy New Year and as always Happy Mylotting lol lol.
@Xansus (946)
• Bulgaria
25 Dec 10
Don't know about the rest of the world but i was with my family filled my stomach with so much food i could not sleep :D but it was fun and i was with the closest people for me ;)
I'm not religous but i prize all this time for all the delicious food and my family that i love and care :)
@teamrose (1492)
• United States
26 Dec 10
Christmas is what you make it. Do you avoid the malls and gift shopping and concentrate on family and fun? Do you establish family traditions in you home? How do you respond to gift exchanges? Personally, I enjoy giving and receiving gifts. It is not the cost, many gifts are handmade or baked goods. I love the trimming of the tree, singing of carols, going to church and spending the day with family and friends.
@hardworkinggurl (37062)
• United States
27 Dec 10
In my home diamania it still is like it use to be. As we get together to enjoy one another company, open gifts, enjoy feast and share the wonderful quality time.
We do this often anyways but something about Christmas that we still enjoy being together on this wonderful day.
I sure hope you had a lovely Christmas, and many blessings to you for the New Year!!!
@yumcookie (146)
• United States
25 Dec 10
Christmas holds different meanings for everyone. There is no right or wrong reason to celebrate Christmas. Some celebrate it for religious reasons, other see the family value, few see the money signs to be made off of other. The "original" meaning of Christmas was actually religious by the way, well sort of religious. If anything was nothing but a pagan holiday before it became what we know it as today. In the end the "original" will turn into a new "original" for each and everyone of us. What is our "original" might not be the same for the next person and that's okay because there is no right or wrong reason to celebrate Christmas.
@sid556 (30953)
• United States
26 Dec 10
I see what Yumcookie is saying. The original meaning has not been practiced in my lifetime and I am 54. I don't see it going back to being just a Pagan holiday. Since I can remember, it has always been about a variety of things and every family has their own traditions and ways. It's all in what you make of it.
@visavis (5934)
• Philippines
26 Dec 10
My friend I just curious about your response that there is no right or wrong reason to celebrate Christmas since you know that celebration was adopted from pagan celebration meaning from the beginning something wrong we cannot ignore that. see you around
@sid556 (30953)
• United States
26 Dec 10
Hi Diamania,
Christmas is all about what you make it to be. Everyone has their different traditions and ways and beliefs etc. We can't control how everyone else spends their holiday or what is important to them. Yes, there is a lot of commercialism in Christmas and truthfully I think it has been that way for years and years. I know when I was a kid, my parents put so so many gifts under the tree. Still...we had other traditions that stood out more in my memory than any of the gifts and that is what I held on to to pass down to my kids...the memories. I wan never able to provide all the gifts that my parents did but I could take them around to see the beautiful lights, Christmas bazzaars, nights gathered together to make special gifts and all the baking together in the kitchen...fun stuff! Then there are the get-togethers with family and friends. We do have gifts but our Christmas isn't focused on the gifts. This year my 16 yr old had her first job. She started shopping over the summer and handed out more gifts than anyone. She went a little crazy with it but she had so much fun doing it. My 24 yr old is struggling terribly and did not by any and that was just fine too. It still is about family and friends. In my house it is anyway. You really don't have to give in to all the commercialism and all that. You can go back to basics if you really want. The only one stopping you is you. Merry Christmas!
@jahernandezrivas (11287)
• United States
25 Dec 10
Well I am not sure what to say to you? I just hope that you have a Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year, I am older now and I used to enjoy it and I still do {Christmas}It just is not like it used to be when I was a kid because I am much older now and my daughter is grown now, but I have to say that Christmas is still one of my favorite Holidays, even though it isn't like it used to be. Well Merry Christmas1!!
@starrose_ara (784)
• Philippines
26 Dec 10
Well you do sound preachy. Anyways, it is all up to you on how you view it. Business persons do see business in everything and who can blame them? For those who are in for a yearly family reunion then Christmas is worth something. For me Christmas can be experience daily as long as we do not lose sight of its true meaning. Save some quality time for my daily meditations on the word of God and what changes I need to do in my life. A sort of spiritual journey and inventory for me.
@visavis (5934)
• Philippines
26 Dec 10
Hello friend I like your topic title Christmas isn't Christmas Anymore - the original meaning is gone or are gone - why I said that? Because the reality or the essense of Christmas from the start are no bases. It is a traditional festival only which adopted from other country but not mentioned in the bible. If the real essense of Jesus Christ birth is concern EVERYDAY will be seen the essense of love to each other, respect, and kindness, sharing not only for this season... see you around
