So, which of us disciples are rejecting the materialism of the "Christmas season?"

[sirach2v4]

Excluding those who don’t have funds to indulge themselves, who HAS money but is sitting out the spending frenzies this shopping season, for religious reasons?

although I think it’s a total distraction from the religious significance, I’ve taken the plunge once again into the spending whirlwind.

It’s one thing to hold back from spending, but a lot of people’s jobs depend on us spending money (and lots of it) at this time of year.

 

[edwest2]

I look at it the way I’ve always looked at it: if I get two gifts, I’m happy. More is fine but I always bring up what I like. Now, I make a list. Even a gift card is fine. I’m comfortable and don’t mind if some get me more or less. Some people have limited incomes.

I’ve never looked at Christmas as just gifts. It’s about sharing, about making others happy and being surprised and happy when I get something I like.

Giving is better than receiving but it’s about bonds as well. Friends.

Ed

 

[pianistclare]

I look at it the way I’ve always looked at it: if I get two gifts, I’m happy. More is fine but I always bring up what I like. Now, I make a list. Even a gift card is fine. I’m comfortable and don’t mind if some get me more or less. Some people have limited incomes.

I’ve never looked at Christmas as just gifts. It’s about sharing, about making others happy and being surprised and happy when I get something I like.

Giving is better than receiving but it’s about bonds as well. Friends.

Ed

Yes. Even the Magi brought gifts. Gifts are a symbol of love.
The best are one. thoughtful. thing.

 

[rcwitness]

The 3 wise men brought gifts to the Holy Family. It’s a reverent gesture. Just like anything else, the focus can be on material above Christ. This becomes ugly, gaudy, empty…

It’s fun to give, and especially to our children. It’s just as important to instill a respect in them for being thankful. It’s pretty cool we have Thanksgiving next to Christmas!

Money is for spending, as long as it’s done responsibly and others are helped.

 

[phil19034]

I think it’s important to give gifts at Christmas. But they don’t have to be expensive. The key is to make it a thoughtful gift, even if it’s homemade or a family photo in a inexpensive frame.

It’s about giving to your loved ones (not receiving)

God Bless!
Phil

 

[Luz_Maria]

The way “the Hispanics” celebrate Christmas is the way Thanksgiving is celebrated here. The gifts are given to the children on January 6 (hidden in the house). Christmas is celebrated on the 24th with a Feast. The emphasis is on getting together, Feasting, sharing, some singing of Christmas Carols or playing them in the background, then to Midnight Mass and everyone goes home. Not much is done on Christmas Day – unless the Family did not go to Midnight Mass!

Merry Christmas!

 

[Mary_Estelle]

What I dislike about Christmas giving is the re-gifting trend. If it is something you don’t want, need or like, what makes you think that I would want them. already a friend is asking if I need sheets or towels which means that she is processing in her mind what to give me. I do not NEED anything other than your loyal friendship. Last year that same person gave me sheets for a King sized bed which I don’t have. So much gifting is thoughtless. I have limited funds so I try to put a lot of “love” into what I give. Peace.

 

[chris62]

I think it’s important to give gifts at Christmas. But they don’t have to be expensive. The key is to make it a thoughtful gift, even if it’s homemade or a family photo in a inexpensive frame.

It’s about giving to your loved ones (not receiving)

God Bless!
Phil

I think you have hit the nail on the head.

 

[Luz_Maria]

What I dislike about Christmas giving is the re-gifting trend. If it is something you don’t want, need or like, what makes you think that I would want them. already a friend is asking if I need sheets or towels which means that she is processing in her mind what to give me. I do not NEED anything other than your loyal friendship. Last year that same person gave me sheets for a King sized bed which I don’t have. So much gifting is thoughtless. I have limited funds so I try to put a lot of “love” into what I give. Peace.

I can sure understand! Re-gifting is horrible! There is no way I would give something I do not like unless I do know that the recipient likes it. I respect different tastes. I also do not like to have “a reason” to give them something. If I know they need/want something, and if I find it and can afford it, I buy it and give it to them. Who cares if it is 3 months before his/her birthday! I just gave a Friend a Christmas gift I made so that it could be taken to the Family and enjoyed for Thanksgiving. They already enjoyed part of it! THAT is what matters!

Luz Maria

 

[Saints_Alive]

For me it’s just the children I concern myself with. I total 12 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. So that’s where my gift funding goes.

Here’s a poem I wrote a few years ago.

The Christmas They Need

How many children have been cheated
Out of the real Christmases they’ve needed
Those ones that some of us recall
With two Grandpas and two Grandmas

Mommy and Daddy both were there too
All the women fixing all of that food
Aunts and Uncles filled every room
So much love filled an afternoon

And after dinner we got so excited
Presents under the tree Grandma lighted !
Wee folks got toys and the teens got cash
Smiles were not lost as the cameras flashed

We never noticed what the old folks got
Much too busy with Our presents they brought
Most are gone and their recipes perished
They made the Christmases I’ve cherished

I guess all I want this Christmas day
Is a family somewhere to find a way
To give a Christmas like mine used to be
To a child or two… the Christmas they need

 

[pianistclare]

I have a friend whose family INSISTS on re-gifting. They are all really into St. Vincent de Paul ministries and they really get to work when they see things going to waste in their own homes that others could possibly use.
If you rec’d King Size sheets and can’t use them…someone who can only shop at the thrift store certainly can. Donate them!
We need not obsess whether the gift is wanted…it’s that they loved you enough to give you something. Be gracious. Re-gift it forward.
It’s fine. We’ll have none of these possessions in heaven. But today, right in our neighborhoods, someone really needs this “extra stuff”.
Go through your home with a critical eye. De-clutter. Purge. GIVE.
Someone has little or nothing. Right around the corner. :yup::christmastree1:

 

[phil19034]

The way “the Hispanics” celebrate Christmas is the way Thanksgiving is celebrated here. The gifts are given to the children on January 6 (hidden in the house). Christmas is celebrated on the 24th with a Feast. The emphasis is on getting together, Feasting, sharing, some singing of Christmas Carols or playing them in the background, then to Midnight Mass and everyone goes home. Not much is done on Christmas Day – unless the Family did not go to Midnight Mass!

Merry Christmas!

I think other historically Catholic cultures might do something similar. Catholic Cultures celebrate the Epiphany secuarly.

However, in the United States and other Protestant Cultures, they are not going to religiously / culturally celebrate too many Catholic Feasts.

Plus, American Protestants do not celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas; and thanks to the Americanism Heresy, many American Catholics don’t either.

 

[Mystrx]

Eh I’m pretty balanced with my gift giving. I don’t usually get to extreme with it. I expect as much the same for this year.

 

[friardchips]

I think it’s important to give gifts at Christmas. But they don’t have to be expensive. The key is to make it a thoughtful gift, even if it’s homemade or a family photo in a inexpensive frame.

It’s about giving to your loved ones (not receiving)

God Bless!
Phil

Nice.

There is something to be said for receiving too. Or, at least, being appreciative.

 

[friardchips]

For me it’s just the children I concern myself with. I total 12 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. So that’s where my gift funding goes.

Here’s a poem I wrote a few years ago.

The Christmas They Need

How many children have been cheated
Out of the real Christmases they’ve needed
Those ones that some of us recall
With two Grandpas and two Grandmas

Mommy and Daddy both were there too
All the women fixing all of that food
Aunts and Uncles filled every room
So much love filled an afternoon

And after dinner we got so excited
Presents under the tree Grandma lighted !
Wee folks got toys and the teens got cash
Smiles were not lost as the cameras flashed

We never noticed what the old folks got
Much too busy with Our presents they brought
Most are gone and their recipes perished
They made the Christmases I’ve cherished

I guess all I want this Christmas day
Is a family somewhere to find a way
To give a Christmas like mine used to be
To a child or two… the Christmas they need

I particularly like from verse three onwards where the poem really flows. Nice message.

 

[corsair]

With 19 grand children and 2 great grand children and they’re being scattered to the 4 corners of the country, it has become just too expensive to do much. The wife bakes sweet breads and fudge for all concerned and we mail it in early December.

So its just my wife and sister. We exchange 3 gifts each, in honor of the 3 Wise Men. Then the wife and I go to midnight Mass which is 80 miles away.

Christmas day is very quiet around the place and we eat a nice dinner in the late afternoon.

Getting too old for much more than that.

 

[ThePoorInSpirit]

I have to agree with Sirach2v4, the older I get the more I feel Christmas has become one overrated, secular, materialistic holiday in America. I began feeling this way about fifteen years ago. I have always wanted to give meaningful gifts to people for Christmas whether it cost $1.00 or $100.00 dollars. I always paid close attention to my friends and family. I listened to their concerns and needs and hopes and then I look for the right gift for them. I wanted to see their faces when they opened their gifts; to see that expression that somebody hears them when they say something.
But as the family and friends grew larger and larger, it became very difficult to get or even know what each family member and friend was feeling so as to know what gift would be nice for that person. I began getting gifts cards for everyone for so many years but that starting becoming ridiculous. I would buy these gift cards and then receive a bunch of gift cards from my family and friends. I thought to myself why do we go through all this trouble at Christmas. I even asked my family if we could celebrate “Christmas around Thanksgiving” because I really wanted to celebrate the real reason for Christmas at Christmas. I began to dread the Christmas season till finally fifteen years ago I asked myself why I was getting so worked up over this when I should be focusing on Jesus being born. Now some of my family and friends will celebrate secular “Christmas” at another time of the year and the real Christmas will be celebrated Dec25.
Unfortunately, that only solved part of my problem because I work for the U.S. Postal Service and let me tell Christmas (I hate to say it but) sucks at the Post Office. You really see how secularized the holiday has become when you work in that area. I’ve worked at the Post Office for over 20 years. I love the work 90% of the time but Christmas is a different story. Well, thats enough of my whining. God bless and have a nice, peaceful and blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

 

[pianistclare]

With 19 grand children and 2 great grand children and they’re being scattered to the 4 corners of the country, it has become just too expensive to do much. The wife bakes sweet breads and fudge for all concerned and we mail it in early December.

So its just my wife and sister. We exchange 3 gifts each, in honor of the 3 Wise Men. Then the wife and I go to midnight Mass which is 80 miles away.

Christmas day is very quiet around the place and we eat a nice dinner in the late afternoon.

Getting too old for much more than that.

Sounds fabulous

 

[Mary_Estelle]

I have a friend whose family INSISTS on re-gifting. They are all really into St. Vincent de Paul ministries and they really get to work when they see things going to waste in their own homes that others could possibly use.
If you rec’d King Size sheets and can’t use them…someone who can only shop at the thrift store certainly can. Donate them!
We need not obsess whether the gift is wanted…it’s that they loved you enough to give you something. Be gracious. Re-gift it forward.
It’s fine. We’ll have none of these possessions in heaven. But today, right in our neighborhoods, someone really needs this “extra stuff”.
Go through your home with a critical eye. De-clutter. Purge. GIVE.
Someone has little or nothing. Right around the corner. :yup::christmastree1:

I did donate them a while back. Hopefully someone had a need for them.

 

[pianistclare]

pianistclare;13460605:

I have a friend whose family INSISTS on re-gifting. They are all really into St. Vincent de Paul ministries and they really get to work when they see things going to waste in their own homes that others could possibly use.
If you rec’d King Size sheets and can’t use them…someone who can only shop at the thrift store certainly can. Donate them!
We need not obsess whether the gift is wanted…it’s that they loved you enough to give you something. Be gracious. Re-gift it forward.
It’s fine. We’ll have none of these possessions in heaven. But today, right in our neighborhoods, someone really needs this “extra stuff”.
Go through your home with a critical eye. De-clutter. Purge. GIVE.
Someone has little or nothing. Right around the corner. :yup::christmastree1:

I did donate them a while back. Hopefully someone had a need for them.

Good for you! That’s the spirit! God will bless you for sharing. What is not a blessing to us might just be a great blessing to someone else in need.

We might all remember to give great thanks this week for our many blessings.