With only 7 days remaining until Christmas, actually only 6 shopping days or less in some cases, how many of us are feeling the crunch? I was talking to some of my co-workers today at work and we were talking about the traditions of the Christmas holiday. Both workers were from other parts of the world, and both told me that they have grown accustomed to our traditions here in America of getting excited about all the gifts one might give and receive at Christmas time, but then they reflected on how it was when they lived in their homelands. They both said Christmas time was about spending time with family and friends, and sharing food with others, more than buying gifts. The more I thought about this, the more I saw a similarity, but yet I didn't like how they compared to each other. Here in America, our buying and sharing of gifts, seems to feed our desire or our need for material things. In other parts of the world, and in other traditions, the sharing, the giving of time to be with family, and the sharing of food with others, feeds the need for love, and the need to belong, an emotioanl need that supports the importance of family and friends. It also supports the need for physical nourishment. Which one is more fulfilling? I wish we could find a healthy balance.
Yes, wish we can find the balance. My son will open one present in the morning and use it or play with it all day, even if he has more presents to open. He is in it for the enjoyment of others and not for himself. I am very lucky.
Great shot and I like what you've written. I find we have a balance within my family. It's all about spending time with family, enjoying good family etc, but the presents are fun. It's mostly the kids that get them now as there are 17 we had to buy for, never mind their parents! And it's so exciting to watch their faces light up as they open them. :-)
I like your treatment and agree with your thoughts. My family struggles with this every year. We like the idea of reducing the importance of the gift exchange in theory, but it is hard to give up decades of habit.
This is such a beautiful, delicate shot, Rick. Your words ring true. I look back on my childhood and remember not the gifts I received, but the family dinners together with aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. I think our grown children feel the same - the time spent together is the most important part of every holiday.
When I lived in Switzerland I worked out that it was about family, as it did not feel like Christmas to me at all, without the bickering with siblings. the terrible sweaters from grandma and the yummy fruit cake my dad used to make.. lol
Really nice photo..
I'm with you Rick. Our family has stopped gifts several years ago and now just take advantage of the time to spend some quality time together. We still buy for the kiddos, but that's it. It's also a great time of year to donate some food or even time to your local food bank. For those that have everything, a great gift is a donation made to a needy charity.
I love your photo as a "segway" to this train of thought...I think many of us would like it to be more about family but when family is spread out in towns all over the place it gets harder and harder to do this...and more stressful if visiting involves the time and expense of travel...oh, for the "good old days" (if ever they really existed.;-) I agree we can get caught up in the buying of gifts but that is probably more when we are younger...at least I have come to realize in my ripe old age of ..er, well, let's skip that part....I have come to realize that being with family and friends is enough of a gift for me...and one of the most meaningful ones I could ever receive!
A very good Christmas message Rick. Christmas is for giving love and peace. Its also nice to be able to give gifts, but I think it has become too commercised.
Like your reflection.... I think that the family/friends time is so important.... I have a houseful on Christmas Day - well, only 16 this year.... just love the buzz. A friend over coffee today said that the problems began when folk stopped lighting coal fires! With central heating everyone can go to his or her own space and no longer do we huddle in the only warm room in the house.... I think he's maybe got a good point.
I keep it pretty simple around Christmas. I do most shopping online, save for a few things. That way, I get to spend more time with friends and family. And I actually HATE receiving gifts. I've never been very good at that, it just makes me feel uncomfortable. I think I've passed that onto my youngest, she's not really into "getting" gifts either. Experiences yes; gifts, no. It's a good thing to reflect upon, for sure.
Lovely picture & sentiment! I wish we could go back in time when it was at least somewhat less commercial and materialistic. It's fun to give gifts but the advertising starts way to early t suit me and sometimes it seems it's all about how much you spend & buy and much less about the more meaningful aspects of the holiday.
My little bit to add is that the more we spend on our kids the more they want - the more we buy the more things are made, and the way it has become so commercialised, is heartbreaking. What happened to real meaning of Christmas. You know It only needs a few hundred of us to say No Presents for next Christmas, and maybe we can spread a better message. It's all about Profits in the shops, our shops had post Christmas sales on now because they were not going to have a good Christmas. Bah HUMBUG I bet none of them went out looking for a homeless person curled up in a cardboard box, if lucky enough, to give them a warm jumper or blanket let alone give them a $200 dollars
in whatever money you spend on your child. I have told our family next year I will be spending my money on donating to one of the Charities, I will be listing them during this 2011 year and checking it twice, to see who really passes the donations onwards. You can be sure that many presents are already broken or forgotten in the same day, but the money will still get spent, and do they grow up respectful, and charitable adults , - not from what I am seeing. I think many countries can think they are in the same situation. Let us be the ones to turn the tide away from the Commercialism!!
December 24th, 2010
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Really nice photo..
in whatever money you spend on your child. I have told our family next year I will be spending my money on donating to one of the Charities, I will be listing them during this 2011 year and checking it twice, to see who really passes the donations onwards. You can be sure that many presents are already broken or forgotten in the same day, but the money will still get spent, and do they grow up respectful, and charitable adults , - not from what I am seeing. I think many countries can think they are in the same situation. Let us be the ones to turn the tide away from the Commercialism!!