Have you started yet...........

[2106greencat]

It is only 45 days now.......

[imastawka]

           'Tis the season to be greedy........fa la la la la..............la la la la

[lind9650]

Had a phone call tonight from my youngest son. Xmas Eve celebrations at his place again. My DIL is a very beautiful woman, inside and out, of Dutch heritage and loves having family and friends for special occasions. There could be anything between 15 and 30 people there that night. She caters for an army every time and loves it.

No worries about presents. There will be a Chris-Cringle. Everyone gives one gift and everyone receives one gift. Maximum cost $50.00.

We are a very large family. Some earn a lot of money, some are just getting by financially, so several years ago we stopped buying gifts for everyone and declared that whatever you can afford to spend, spend it on something special for yourself. That way nobody will feel embarassed or guilty of not measuring up to others, and nobody will get themselves into debt to pay for the next 12 month.

I hope everyone will have a very happy and joyful Xmas.

Erica

[boris1gary]

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@iapetus_rocks wrote:

And so it begins again. The race to buy as much as possible, in order to consume as much as possible on one particular day.

One is supposed to be honouring the birth of Jesus in this season, but by demonstration, it has turned into an orgy of consumption which would be more appropriately dedicated to Mammon.

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I love xmas, Jesus has never had a mention in my families xmas. Santa Claus is number 1, then Frosty. Don't spend vast amounts but I do like to give gifts. Love the tree and the decs and all the other bits and bobs.  

[lyndal1838]

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@2106greencat wrote:

It is only 45 days now.......

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Wash yer mouth out young lady!!!

It is NOT December yet!!!!!!

[iapetus_rocks]

Boris wrote: - "I love xmas, Jesus has never had a mention in my families xmas. Santa Claus is number 1, then Frosty. Don't spend vast amounts but I do like to give gifts. Love the tree and the decs and all the other bits and bobs."  (my bold)

Do I really need to add further comment here?

[boris1gary]

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@iapetus_rocks wrote:

Boris wrote: - "I love xmas, Jesus has never had a mention in my families xmas. Santa Claus is number 1, then Frosty. Don't spend vast amounts but I do like to give gifts. Love the tree and the decs and all the other bits and bobs."  (my bold)

Do I really need to add further comment here?

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well obviously you did feel the need

[boris1gary]

I suppose it's a little early for the tree. Getting excited now. This is from last xmas

[bluecat*dancing]

My family is small now and, including extended family and partners. totals 9. I have a couple of close friends who I consider to be family but other than that, that's all.

I love giving presents, the company, the smell of the xmas tree, the food, the decorations and fun. Being an atheistic family, we don't celebrate the birth of Jesus, especially since he was apparently not even born in December. Santa rules in my house and I give a nod to my wiccan past by having an extended Litha.

Rituals are important no matter what you believe or don't believe in because they add to the sense of identity.

This year, we'll be celebrating xmas on xmas eve so that the following day is not so hectic for my girls who have to fit in their father's side of the family  as well as their partners families.

[tasfleur]

"And so it begins again. The race to buy as much as possible, in order to consume as much as possible on one particular day"

It's not like that for everybody though I would argue.

We don't "do" the super-duper commercial Christmas thing, but what we do in this house is make practical helpful gifts and bake to share with all our friends.   We also have a big  gathering day in early December where we decorate a part of the house and have a wonderful afternoon.   The guests bring food to share for afternoon tea and we provide the music.   That's it!

For all our overseas friends, I sew placemats, table runners and tablecloths.

We're not "christians" or "churchians", but we do like the so called 'spirit' of it.

[tasfleur]

We do recognise the person of Jesus though and why/how Christmas may have come about, but don't believe that he was the son of god or was raised from the dead.  He must have been a great man for his time.