Are you shunning the whole christmas enduldgence thing?
822214
Well, here in America, there is a movement afoot to return Christ to Christmas again. In Portland, Maine we are having an argument about what to call the Christmas tree in our town square. The city fathers insist it is a holiday tree, so as not to offend anyone, but of course all the Christians are offended because they know it's a Christmas tree. Great attitude to set the stage for a happy Christmas, huh. And so it goes. I just spent about three hours up in our attic trimming down all our Christmas things and I brought it over to the waitstaff where we have our lunch every day - Newick's Restaurant. Now I have just TWO boxes of things as compared to FOURTEEN boxes a year ago. You have to get the whole thing under control or you will knock yourself out for nothing all over again. Every year is the same. But if you take it all apart before the season "kicks in" (gets under way), then there is a good chance you will be able to get it under control. But you have to be determined. Some people go all out at Christmas, and they also decorate their homes with millions of lights. My partner and I have been together for forty-seven years and we are very modest now in our celebration of the season. We have a four-foot little tree with lots of little coloured lights that twinkle in the darkened living room, and it looks just lovely. Between the two of us we send about forty cards. Three gifts. And that is it. I like to meditate on Christmas in complete silence, because that is where I find the real meaning to me of what Christmas and Christ are all about. By the way, Merry Christmas to you and everyone reading this. Sent with happy energies from Chris in South Portland, Maine, U.S.A. (I am 63 years old.)
731821
You have an awesome point!!  It's ridiculous how you can't say Merry Christmas anymore because then you could get fired.  It's just crazy.  We wouldn't have this holiday if it weren't for Christ's birthday!  Of course it is a MERRY CHRISTMAS!  Jeez.  This country was founded on Christian beliefs, why now are we going to change it?  Because people are getting offended because of a lifestyle they have chosen?  I think not!  Get over it.\n\nGood question!
710045
i say merry christmas.  we're not religious people, so we celebrate it as a family holiday.  we get together with all of our family members to eat and exchange gifts, and we do santa for the kids.  i can understand the whole pc happy holidays thing, but i don't think people of other belief systems should be offended if someone tells them merry christmas, they're just trying to be nice.
353961
I like Christmas. Not because of the Santa thing, that's all commericalism to get us to spend money on worthless BS. And not because of the Jesus birth thing either, because I don't buy into that mythology. But oh, man, a lot of people do! Which means that I get the most time off for this holiday. Very, very important.
735953
I agree. You know, it used to be that everything, was special, especially Christmas. Now a days, you see Easter trees and Foth of July lights, I dotn know what to think.\n\nIt makes Christmas less special if you do it too early, and before Thanksgiving is way to early. I think one should deffinatly wait till December. My family usually has ours out late in december, but we get into the spirt as soon as December 1st comes! \n\nEven though Christmas is fun and magical, if you dont wait and you treat the whole winter season like Christmas, it loses its charm.\n\nAs for stores, I think it takes away from the charm, but they have to do it. it is a business and they have to sell the stuff, because they know for the season,they have to stock early.
932335
I am sorry...\nIt can be a tough time.\nI don't know if you are inclined to but read about Christmas or visit a church you feel comfortable at. It is one way to deal with Christmas.\n\nAsk God to reveal himself to you and touch your heart - he will.
751100
Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?  Why do people take offence to one or the other?  Can't we all just be more tolerant and learn to respect our differences?
703977
I out-grew the present receiving in my teen years learning that it is better give then to receive. I don't look for presents and haven't for many years but yet I still receive presents from my children and also give to them. I retain the family tradition of giving presents to my grand-children but stop giving once they graduate from High School.\n  Christmas to me is my religious teaching that it is the birth of Christ, and that still remains my thoughts of the celebration, and other religions celebrate in their own ways.\n  So it is not just another day to me but the day we worship the birth of the Christ child.
912798
I think christmas is nothing more than crass commercialism masquerading as holiday bliss!  But it gets me some paid vacation time.  I really don't want to celebrate it but I will give presents to the kids.  However I would not lie to my kids about santa claus.  I think they need to just know the truth from day one.  I want my kids to be able to think intelligently and be able to see past their surroundings.  I believe that this skill needs to start developing as soon as possible.
782971
Hayden, i am a religious studies major and among the things i am looking into right now is contemporary Christmas as compared to biblical Christmas.  it is so hard to know with the Christian bible if ppl mentioned are actually in it b/ of the translations..... as of yet, i have read nothing of Jeannette or Isabelle.\n\n**In its original form i have great respect for Christianity (although i am not Christian), but so many things have been lost and others picked up form diff cultures. the tree and the date are specifically from paganism. the snowman and such (wintery characters) actually originated here in the West. aside from the nativity scene which would be grossly incorrect historically, very little is taken from the bible.\n\n i would urge today's Christians to resume Christmas as it was intended. i think you have a beautiful faith and if you believe it to be from God then changing and adapting should not be necessary. moreover, Hayden may be slightly bold in the way he addresses his topics, but his challenges should only allow true Christians a chance to really learn their bible. It is a shame how much is believed by the majority of Christian ppl that is in fact untrue.\n\npeace and blessings to all\n\nps in response to your question....it was scriptural. and if you find anything interesting or if you'd like to see any of my research feel free to email me.
933388
I think it is fine and dandy that you say Happy Holidays as opposed to Merry Christmas but I will say Merry Christmas as opposed to Happy Holidays. Why? Because I grew up with it being Christmas... Christmas vaction, Christmas caroling... ect. I was Catholic but now I am one who follows no particular religion and I have no religious conotaions to my message. It is just how I extend my wishes to others... and that's that. I have no issue with whatever greeting people choose. I do have a problem when... say a Walmart greeter gets sued for saying "Merry Christmas". That is just low and petty. And it makes me all the more defiant about it... so this year my "Merry Christmas's" may be laced with a little acidy hiss that may even make Santa cower... (kidding by the way)
620636
The negativity associated with the Craft is historical and passed down through generations like any other social conception.  I don't let it bother me because I will let my actions and kindness speak what words can't.  Not every religions holidays are 'recognized' and personally I'd rather not see ours that way.. they would end up becoming commercialized with Hallmark cards like the rest of them.\n\nI don't mind being told Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and the rest.  I will not think of people being cynical first and foremost...I think people are merely being pleasant and I will be pleasant back.\n\nI do not nor have I ever hid that I am a Wiccan and that I practice the Craft.  Some have harassed me because of it; but I have found a lot of acceptance not only in my own family but in the community at large.\n\nBlessed Be.
789161
How rude......you don't return gifts. If you really don't like the gift & what it stands for, put it away and only bring it out when the gift giver visits. \n\nOr you could re-gift it to someone else.....Christmas is coming.
1168314
I would chear. Christmas is stupid. Where in the Bible does it say Jesus was born December 25? It's a big lie.
723555
Hey, Thanx!!Merry Christmas to you too! Although i dont celebrate christmas(I'm Muslim) I wish all my christian friends a very  (early) merry christmas.......\nall i'm asking for is sum peace of mind , throughout life.....
815477
No, no. I was just thinking about this today actually! I really dislike this holiday. Thanksgiving, I can take. Christmas, I hate Christmas. I hate sappy Christmas music played up until Christmas Day --and then sometimes afterward as well!! It's like Chinese water torture all the way up until Christmas Day. I was in Borders, Old Navy, Barnes and Noble, and Atlanta Bread Co. today, I could not escape the Christmas music!! And it's still November. I hate when crossing the street people nearly mow you over in their SUVs, with a fancy little wreath attached to the grill!! I hate how people sack the stores searching for gifts for people they would otherwise ignore the rest of the year. I especially dislike how people decide that Christmas is the one time to buy people they love meaningful gifts. Love and meaning should infuse everyday of one's life. Not just one day out of the year. If I see a coat or a scarf or a toy that I know a member of my family would love, I buy it then and give it to them. I don't horde it for weeks or months and then shove it in some wrapping and slap it under a tree. :( But that's me!
949842
Been there done that.  I had a job loss a few years back and things were tight that year.\n\nMake two things positively clear:\n\n1)  You are not giving gifts. \n\n2)  Make it equally clear that you absolutely positively will not accept a gift this year since it is not in your power to reciprocate.  \n\nThe only one who got it all mixed up was my father.  He had bought some pajamas for me.  I ended up taking them because my birthday is around Christmas and he just substituted it for then.  But everyone else understood what was up.\n\nIt was an awkward Christmas I have to tell you.  But the real meaning of Christmas is celebrating the the birth of Christ, so I just focused on that.  Even though I felt like a loser for not being able to give and receive gifts, it was still nice to be around family.\n\nGood luck.