How can I enjoy Christmas instead of dreading it?

Question

Please don't give me a bunch of grief for hating Christmas. I am a Christian who detests the holiday for the commercial/retail event it has become. I really DO want to enjoy Christmas, so help me if you can! I am happily married with young children, and I'm being a total drag for my family.

I feel like Christmas is the season of "should" and "have to." I see people buying each other gifts out of obligation. I see privileged children getting more, more, more and not appreciating it while I know there are hungry and cold kids out there. I see people wearing themselves out shopping and baking because they feel like they have to. We decorate our homes, and go to parties, and perform gift exchanges at work with people we may or may not even like.

I hardly see any Christ left in Christmas, and it's making me very sad. I've read articles that say slow down and don't do and spend so much. That would be fine, but what about my extended family who insists on doing gifts and getting together?

Answer 1

The struggle you are dealing with is not a bad thing. It just means that you see all of the counterfeit celebration going on.

If you are a Mom then you have an opportunity not only to make it a better time for you but for you children and maybe more family members.

Act on the yearning to do something more meaningful with the celebration of Christ's birth. I believe the weight you feel is God trying to get your attention, trying to give you an opportunity to experience more, and share his love with others.

1.Find the hungry and feed or cloth them.

Go to a homeless shelter or women & children's shelter and bring simple things like new underwear or toothpaste. It doesn't have to be expensive - just something we all take for granted that some go without. You could even get family and friends to make purchases for the shelter instead of getting you anything.

2. Find the unloved and love them.

Find shut ins or people in nursing homes and just go visit. Take a child or a pet and just go listen.

There are more options of course. Christmas is not lost. The whole world wont change overnight, God works on us individualy, which is the most special thing about Christmas.

Answer 2

I think just about anyone who celabrates Christmas can relate to what you are feeling. You may not be able to avoid the "commercialism" of it all. However you could start some very meaningful family traditions now. Traditions create great memories and bonding experiences for families. The Christmas season lends itself very well to a variety of traditions. They don't need to be elaborate or expensive, just something you and your family enjoy doing together. Something we started doing several years back that we really enjoy is:
Every Christmas we make a point to choose a new "Christmas book", usually a children's picture type book (any book with an uplifting thought or message that teaches some value.) Sometimes these are specifically Christmas themed, but not always. Then we set aside a special night that we get together as a family we read the book, discuss it's message, sing songs etc. Young and old have all really enjoyed this.
Hope this gets your mind thinking of some ideas that will be meaningful to you and your family.
One other tip, more along the "retail" line. In our extended families we started doing a gift exchange. Each adult purchases 1 gift, within an agreed upon price limit. Wrap it bring it to the gathering. Have a small piece of paper for each adult, number them and put them in a hat. Shake 'em up, each adult chooses 1 paper out of the hat. Once every one has one. The game begins, #1 chooses a gift and opens it. #2 then has the option to choose a new gift or "steal" #1's. If the gift is stolen from #1, then #1 would choose a new gift and unwrap it. #3 turn, he could choose a new gift or steal one from #2 or #1, and so on. This game is actually really fun, most the time it just gets crazy with every one trying to steal one certain gift that is the most bizarre item, it's a great laugh. For our families this activity really helped find a great compromise between those that really liked the "gifts" and those that preferred to not focus on gifts so much. It really created a fun game we could all play together, which also helps bond us in a way.
Good luck to you.

Answer 3

Christmas is a hard time of year for many. Remember to be thankful for what you have, especially for your family. Do you go to church regularly? Most churches get involved with giving to the needy in some way. Maybe get involved.

There's nothing wrong with getting together with family, but suggest that this year, it's done more simpler. Christmas isn't about gifts. Some people just don't get it. Just spending time together is a gift.

I agree that Christmas is getting out of hand. Too much commercialism. Rise above it all.

Pray for peace within yourself and all around you. I wish you a Christ-filled season.

Answer 4

You have to stop worrying about what everyone else is doing and take care of you and your family. You are Christian, so celebrate the season as it was meant to be celebrated. Give to the needy, go to charity events, donate your time if you can. It might help you regain what you lost. Commercialism is the way it is because of people giving into and following the trends of it. Do what you believe in Christ is the reason for the season, so bring him back into your heart and home and you might feel so much better for it. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and you enjoy it with your family. GOD BLESS!!!

Answer 5

I agree with you. The joy of Christmas has been over shadowed as you expressed. If your family insist on doing the " buying for everyone" then approach them with what my family has done. There are children, grandchidren, great grandchildren, need i go on? Someone in the family came up with this idea. Since my one daughter is the shopper of shoppers and watches sales ads and coupons. We set an amount to give to her to buy for each child. She has for the past two years done a wonderful job but, it has to be someone who likes to shop, watches the bargains and such. She does the wrapping and it took a lot off of me. Then a day or so before Xmas we get together the kids get to open their gifts first, each adult brings a wrapped gift no less than $5.00, no more than $25.00. No names are on them. We then put numbers on a piece of paper according to how many are there.Then when all the numbers are pulled, number 1 goes first.Then number 2, then number 1 can take number 2's gift or wait for a better one.It goes down the line and at the end number one if they have not taken a gift from someone, can choose from any of them. Number 2 can take 3 so on and so forth but they cannot take number 1's gift. It is a lot of fun. I did not understand it when it was brought up to me but, the first year we did it, i was ready for next Christmas.That way , you only have to buy 1 gift for one person and the rest of your time and money can be focused on your loved ones and or charities. If they choose not to do this, simply tell them, you cannot afford it any longer.I was stressed every year on what to buy and how i was going to afford it until they came up with this.Good luck and Merry Christmas

Answer 6

You could always change your traditions to "Christmas in July"!!! I find it horrible how the meaning of Christmas has dwindled. I don't know if there's much we can do, but I like to take part in charities. In my hometown, at the human services office there is a Christmas tree with different families names on it and you can adopt a family. Each family on the tree has a small list of items they need. Toys for Tots is a wonderful foundation. I usually see drop boxes for new or clean, used coats for those who need them.. I still think it's nice to have a nice dinner with your family, exchange a gift or two... we can't help what others do, but we can make a difference.

Answer 7

How about giving to needy people. Giving blankets to the homeless or feeding someone in the shelters over the holidays. One Christmas my family got together and put together a Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings and gifts for the mom and kids. We got the name and address from a newspaper that had stories about needy people. It felt really great to give. We dropped it off and they really appreciated it. Make a package up for a lonely neighbor. Someone you have never said HI to but should. CHRISTmas is the season to put Christ back in Christmas by giving of yourself. You can make the difference. It sort of looks like you think its all about you. Give of yourself and you will feel Christ in return. Happiness is in giving and sharing and caring. Have a wonderful Christmas in whatever you chose to do. Smiles to you. Good Luck

Answer 8

Just be polite and bear with it. Enjoy your family's company and blow off the whole fakey Currier & Ives stuff. Give them gifts you made yourself. If you're able, do some volunteer work or give something to an organization that actually helps those you mentioned. Don't forget the after-holidays slump that happens-- you can teach your little ones a valuable lesson about giving not just at Christmastime by doing something in the coldest part of winter, like donating canned goods to pantries or clothes to a shelter.

Answer 9

I'd recommend reading the book Unplug the Christmas Machine. It helps you analyze what is important in your Christmas holiday and how to structure it so you get that. Ask at the public library (they can interlibrary loan it if it isn't in their collection).

Answer 10

haha aww, well i say do it for you and your family, your way, out of your heart. It shouldnt really matter what others are doing after the fact =D take a deep breath and enjoy