Thanks for visiting! If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed or subscribe by email.
Did you miss Gidget’s Christmas Manifesto, Part 1?
When a family close to us decided to stop giving/receiving presents at Christmas a few years ago, I’d say we were surprised (but not really surprised) and in a way, disappointed. Especially me, as my #1 Love Language is definitely Gifts (which means I like receiving, but equally I love giving!). It was hard for me to imagine not getting to pick out that perfect gift for those that we love at Christmas, as we’ve always been conditioned to do. It never dawned on me that perhaps my perception of Christmas was in need of some tweaking.
For this family the decision was simply an outward expression of their desire to celebrate Christmas for what it should be, Jesus’ birth, and not for what it has become, American Consumerism. I definitely could understand this side of the argument, although for me, I didn’t feel like I could give up on the giving/receiving completely.
Fast forward to the present, where I’ve been reading and thinking a lot about simplifying life– in many forms, be it ingredients (real vs. artificial, for example), products I use, space I imagine I need to live in, amount of energy I use, things I own, etc.– basically what I like to think of as a more “green” and simple living philosophy. So in all my research, I stumbled upon a book that caught my interest, Hundred Dollar Holiday: The Cause for a More Joyful Christmas. I checked it out at the library, read it in one sitting (it’s pretty small), and agreed with almost everything in it. I’ll elaborate on this book as I continue this series, but for now, let’s take a quick look at our Christmas priorities…
What are your gut reactions to cutting out gifts at Christmas? Could you do it? Would you want to do it? Come on, be honest… no arguments/judgments, please, just your own opinion on the topic.
Read Gidget’s Christmas Manifesto, Part 1.
{ 3 trackbacks }
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Rachel 08.13.08 at 12:06 pm
Friend of a friend of a friend here (blog stalker, for sure). I am 26 and unmarried (so no hubby or kiddies to share the holidays with yet) - my parents, brother and I gave up presents last Chrismas and I think we’re planning to do it from here on out. Instead, as a family, we “adopted” a family through Connor’s Cause and bought presents for them! We live in different cities now, so over the Thanksgiving holiday when my little bro and I were in town with our parents, we went shopping as a family and had so much fun buying for a family who needed it! In the end, we spent more time being together, more time being grateful for all of our blessings, and more time enjoying the spirit of the season together. Come Christmas, we spent our time baking and having fun together and not feeling at all deprived at the lack of presents.
If folks aren’t yet ready to give up Christmas presents altogether, I think the “adopting” thing is a really great alternative. As you said, the giving part of presents is just as much fun as the receiving - this let us give plenty and receive more time and fun with one another in return!
Angelina 08.15.08 at 4:21 pm
I definitely couldn’t and wouldn’t want to. I totally get (and agree with) that Christmas is over commercialized, however, I think it’s a fun tradition to continue. I also think that we can keep ourselves and our kids grounded at Christmas time just as well as any other time if we continually fall in love with Jesus and model that to our kids.
gidget 08.15.08 at 9:05 pm
@Ang- That’s basically how I feel too, so I’ve figured out a way to modify Christmas as you’ll see in Part 4!
Sarah 08.17.08 at 6:19 pm
I haven’t read part 3 yet, so this may be out of place, but I think the giving of gifts was a great idea…when it still was simple… These days one kid (including myself!) will get nearly 10 gifts from his/ her parents or immediate family! I think it would be cool if we hadn’t gone overboard ad exchanged just one gift with the closest family, and then baked goods with others and friends. What I think is even better (and I haven’t read part 3…) is gifts that are hand made (i.e. not plastic, planed obsolescence type stuff), actually needed, or edible/ plantable… I haven’t had a Christmas like this yet, but I keep thinking about it…. Thanks for doing the series now, so we have time to reflect. Also so we have time to plan what to make (i.e. save things to reinvent new gifts with)!
annie 08.21.08 at 10:31 pm
Homemade gifts are my favorite. I feel the same way as Angelina, and I can honestly say that I can get caught up in the season. There is nothing better than being inspired with the perfect something to make for someone special. I also love to give (and receive) gifts that are needed. I’d rather know a gift is going to get good use rather that end up in a landfill because a trend is over. I shop for, and make Christmas presents all year which I think helps me steer away from desperate impulse shopping in December. It also keeps my costs low because I hit up a lot of sales. This year I harvested what seems like thousands of apricots from our new tree so lookout friends and family…I hope you like jams and butters!