Your view on Christmas, and your age....

[vi edit]

Bah humbug? Or not.

I'm 32 years old and have reached an absolute frustration point with the whole commercialized bastardization of what Christmas is. But no one else in my family seems to hold the same view as me, so I'm the bad guy.

Anywhoo...I've got half a dozen friends/family members that went out Christmas shopping on Black Friday and already gave their "Christmas" gifts and are using them. One instance was so absurd that my step-grandparent was taking one of her grandkids out shopping for *next years* Christmas gifts because she already got an Ipod touch this year. And the kid is like 9 years old.

My wife and I both grew up in fairly modest households and our parents both used Christmas as a way to "make up" for the stuff we didn't get the rest of the year so they went (and still go) overboard with gifts. And they just seem to want to try and outdo the last year.

I'm just sick of it. You get acosted for "Your Christmas List" starting around November and the pressure builds up until you finally cave in and provide something.

My biggest problem is that I'm 32. Not 8. And my wife and I have a very comfortable living that affords us the opportunity to buy what we want/need throughout the year. If I need something I buy it. If I want something I'll save up and buy it. I don't need more stuff and can't seem to convey that to family.

I don't need showered with gifts and guilted into a list because "that's what you do at Christmas".

Now that I have a kid it makes it even more of a challenge. I've got literally a mountain of toys spread across a bedroom and even a dedicated "toyroom". And my wife is still out buying more toys and the grandparents are buying toys...becuase well that's what you do at Christmas right?

And then you have the whole "Santa" issue with my child. I'm not in the same situation as my parents were with me or my wife's were with her. We don't have to make compromises on either eating or getting a new pair of shoes. And she gets plenty of things through the year. I don't want the Santa thing to get over the top. But trying to convince my wife of that makes me out to be the bad guy.

*sigh*

I don't hate Christmas. But I hate the consumerized bastard that it has become. I just want to get together with family and have some good food, drink some good beer or wine, watch some football games, and give out a few small gifts that actually mean something.

But that's asking too much.

 

[HAL9000]

I agree, the comercialisation of christmas sucks, But to me...

When I was 4 my Mum and Dad took me to lap land, we went to a little wooden cottage and met an old man with a long beard who had one of our presents and our letters to him, He was father christmas, so to me this time of year is magical, It reminds me of when I believed something so amazing and had such a wonderfull time.

I'm 22.

 

[Mike Gayner]

I love Christmas. But I mostly ignore the disgusting commercialisation. Me and my SO buy each other presents - typically stuff that is nice but we wouldn't buy ourselves. Eg last year she bought me a $250 pair of sunglasses I've had my eyes on - I love the glasses but would never lay down $250 myself.

This year our family is going to be trying something a bit different with gift giving - we're not sure what yet, but probably something like each person just buys a single gift for another person. Should be fun.

But yeah I agree with OP - people are suckers and idiots. It sucks.

 

[rivan]

I'm with you, though my family's not quite so rabid about the whole thing.

Most people get the kids some presents, but adults get tokens. A CD, DVD, a little gift certificate, etc.

 

[shiner]

 

[BoomerD]

Bah Humbug!

Even though I'm not religious, there's not nearly enough "Christ" in Christmas nowadays. It's turned into a great-big "Me-me-me" festival and Merchant's Holiday.

Christmas is SUPPOSED to be about celebrating the birth of the baby Jesus, not about "what did you buy me this year?"

I'm a sour, cynical old bastard, and the Christmas season pisses me off more and more every year.
(and I married Mrs. Christmas...my wife LOVES the holiday, and most years, the house is fully decorated and every room SCREAMS Christmas...

(I do still like Christmas music though.) ba-dum-de-dum-dum.

 

[dainthomas]

I don't hate Christmas. But I hate the consumerized bastard that it has become

Saturn has always been honored by the giving of gifts. Not sure what your problem is.

 

[rcpratt]

I'm 22.

I love Christmas, but only for the family time aspect of it. The tradition, going out for Chinese on Christmas Eve (yes, we're probably weird) and then going to church (I'm not religious, but I love xmas eve Church). Waking up and eating eggs benedict and junk food all day. Ham for dinner. Mmm.

I couldn't care less about the gift giving and receiving. In the past few years I have found myself needing or wanting absolutely nothing. I'll probably ask for some clothes this year, since I'm still building my work wardrobe and hate spending money on that. Other than that, I'll just ask for cash or gift cards, which I hate, but I'm not going to ask for something that I don't want. I think I lost my gift-receiving status from aunts and uncles after graduating college this year, though. Which is fine with me.

My family doesn't sound nearly as ridiculous as yours with the gift-giving, though. Giving gifts before Christmas, except in seriously special cases, is retarded. Shopping for next year's Christmas might be the stupidest thing I've ever heard. But I'm probably too logical.

 

[Platypus]

Christmas has become more and more a disgusting exercise in commerce that I want no part of whatsoever. I buy toys/games for underprivileged kids and I'll send my young cousins something cool but other than that, I find what the whole thing has become quite repulsive.

 

[AreaCode707]

27. I'll probably get my husband a gift, and I'm getting my 15 year old sister a big piece of cork for her bedroom wall because I know she wants it. (I didn't get her anything last year and she didn't care.) Found a novelty gift for my roommate. That's about it. I don't expect/want/need anything.

I like having a tree though.

 

[MotF Bane]

I'm 21, hate Christmas, and work in a Hallmark. We started receiving Christmas supplies in August. My hatred for the holiday has gone up since I got that job.

 

[vi edit]

Most people get the kids some presents, but adults get tokens. A CD, DVD, a little gift certificate, etc.

I'm hoping at some point my sister has a kid and we can finally right this ship and do a similar thing where the "adults" aren't being showered with gifts and it's more something for the kids.

 

[shiner]

I'm 22.

I love Christmas, but only for the family time aspect of it. The tradition, going out for Chinese on Christmas Eve (yes, we're probably weird) and then going to church (I'm not religious, but I love xmas eve Church). Waking up and eating eggs benedict and junk food all day. Ham for dinner. Mmm.

I couldn't care less about the gift giving and receiving. In the past few years I have found myself needing or wanting absolutely nothing. I'll probably ask for some clothes this year, since I'm still building my work wardrobe and hate spending money on that. Other than that, I'll just ask for cash or gift cards, which I hate, but I'm not going to ask for something that I don't want.

My family doesn't sound nearly as ridiculous as yours with the gift-giving, though. Giving gifts before Christmas, except in seriously special cases, is retarded. Shopping for next year's Christmas might be the stupidest thing I've ever heard. But I'm probably too logical.

Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my son. I reached for the last one they had, but so did another man. As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way.

 

[AreaCode707]

I'm hoping at some point my sister has a kid and we can finally right this ship and do a similar thing where the "adults" aren't being showered with gifts and it's more something for the kids.

Oh yeah, forgot that. My in-laws keeping popping out babies like nobody ever invented an alternate form of entertainment. I'm getting one present per household for the kids, something they can all play in and share (collapsible tent thing). If I spent $20 per kid, I'd be broke.

 

[BoomerD]

I'm hoping at some point my sister has a kid and we can finally right this ship and do a similar thing where the "adults" aren't being showered with gifts and it's more something for the kids.

We did that several years ago...much to the dismay of our adult children...The grandkids get lots of gifts...the adults get one gift each...and it's NOT anything extravagant.

 

[vi edit]

And the thing that's frustrating about "lists" is that I've got specific things that I want or need. And I find them worthwhile at certain prices. Sure I'd like an Ipod touch and the Amazon deal for $200 and a $25 rebate was good buy. But I'd be sick to my stomach if my Mom went out to Walmart and spent the $225 MSRP on it.

Same thing with lots of movies. There's piles of them I'd buy/like at $8-$10 when on sale/special. But if you don't get them at those times they are like $15-$20. It's the cheap Irish roots kicking in. Lots of those things I'd rather just grab on sale at this time of the year than try to put them on a list and hope somebody gets a good deal on them.

 

[roguerower]

This year is going to be kinda strange for me and my family. I just graduated and live in TX, my sisters are both attending VT in Virginia, and my Dad & Mom are in Okinawa, Japan since that's where he's stationed. My sisters are flying over there for C-Break but I'm staying here for work (me and my QCM went home for T-break, PM & supt get to go home for christmas) so it will be my first christmas alone. My girlfriend is working as well so she can't come out either.

I won't buy anything since I've got everything I need and as a single guy living alone I can afford to buy what I want or save up for it. I took care of my sisters by giving them cash since its liquidity gives it far more value to a college student than any gift. I've figured out my dad's gift, just have to buy it and mail it, same thing with my mom.

I guess I'll just build a festivus pole and stick it in my living room.

 

[Homerboy]

Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my son. I reached for the last one they had, but so did another man. As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way.

It was destroyed. But out of that a new holiday was born: a Festivus for the rest of us!"


As for the OP. Yeah the commercialization of the holiday blows. But its what YOU and your family make of it. We have two little ones, so the commercialization still plays a role in it all of course (hey, kids love presents) but they also undertand that its about giving too (they have to buy for people) and spending time with family and friends.

My family (4 brothers and sisters, all married and all have kids now) has finally started just pikcing names for adults (I think it makes it way more fun and personal versus just buying something crappy for everyone) and all kids still in HS get gifts from all the families. It really works out nice for everyone we've found.

Like I said though, it's just what you make of it. I'm glad that everyone in my family, all across the board, gets the true enjoyment of the season.

 

[Dirigible]

I'm 38. I love Christmas. I don't get the whole "OMG, it's all commercial and nasty" aspect. Maybe I'm just not exposed to it somehow. I order gifts for my children and my wife and my nephews. But for me the holiday is dominated by spending time with friends and family, decorating the tree and house, and cooking and eating good things.

In summary, Christmas is awesome!

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I agree with you. My wife and I live well and if we need something throughout the year, we generally just buy it. Fortunately, we don't have many people to buy for (her parents, my mom, my brother, and young niece and nephew) but increasingly, I am getting fed up with the commercial aspect. I don't mind buying for my wife or my youngest brother in college, but don't think we need to spend big sums of money on other people.

I enjoy buying gifts and seeing people smile when they open them, but I seriously think that next year, we just need to set a limit on what we spend on each person. My wife and her family are really into Christmas, so I think that will be a tough sell. Last year, I said I didn't want/need anything and that if they felt compelled to spend money, donate it to less fortunate kids in my name. They made fun of me for that.

 

[Homerboy]

I'm 38. I love Christmas. I don't get the whole "OMG, it's all commercial and nasty" aspect. Maybe I'm just not exposed to it somehow. I order gifts for my children and my wife and my nephews. But for me the holiday is dominated by spending time with friends and family, decorating the tree and house, and cooking and eating good things.

In summary, Christmas is awesome!

100% agree with this. It's all about making memories. Especially if you have little ones. I make sure we have exterior lighting, getting the tree is an "adventure", decorating the tree is an adventure, we go to Grandma's to help her with decorating too. Wife and kids bake cookies, gingerbrad houses. We even will get gifts for the cats and neighbors too. It's all about the FULL "experience" that can last the full month IMO.

At my moms on Christmas day we play games, sing songs, the whole nine-yards. If all my family weren't such bull-headed a-holes, it could almost be a Rockwell Christmas.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Christmas is fun, and "I hate Christmas" is the most overused phrase ever. No one cares if you hate Christmas, you buzzkill.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Oh, and FWIW, I always loved Christmas when I was a kid up until I was about 16 or 17. After that, it just didn't seem the same though. Now, while I enjoy the traditions around the season, I mainly use it as a time to reminisce about Christmas when I was a kid as those times were awesome.

 

[anxi80]

Ooo thanks for reminding me that I have to make my annual donation to The Human Fund!

 

[MrX8503]

I love Christmas, the Spirit of Christmas, and spending time with family. What I hate are damn whiney kids who think they are entitled to a million gifts and don't appreciate the things they have in life.

I have a butt load of nieces and nephews and every year I buy them gifts for either Christmas/Bday and they never play with the toys for no longer than a day. The toys are then chucked into a bigger pile only to be forgotten and increase their landfill of toys.

I'm 25 and I'd be happy if I didn't receive gifts at all. When I do receive gifts, I'd take a sentimental one over an expensive gift any day.