Is anyone else tired of seeing the celebration of Jesus' birth turned into a money and gift oriented circus?! Kids are getting way too much stuff,people are overspending,there is so much hype!! I try to keep it more simple every year,but my extended family keeps turning Christmas into something unpleasant.There is so much focus on material stuff. Any good suggestions to help combat this yearly battle that should not be?!
2006-12-05 02:25:08 · 9 answers · asked by karen p 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
I'm fully aware of the historic origins of Christmas... I know it is actually from a pagan winter solstice. The issue is that you can keep things in your own home a certain way,but it's dealing with the rest of the other family issues that is difficult. Everyone has their OWN idea of what Christmas is reguardless of you!
I appreciate the ideas..I do try to start in my own home and I emphasize That Jesus is to be honored all year and not just at Christmas. I'm open to more suggestions!
2006-12-05 03:05:09 · update #1
One of the things I try to do with my kids is to spend time in prayer for those who are missing the true meaning of Christmas. The kids are going to see it and they are also kids and will be excited about the extra gifts but when it is quiet time use that to talk about how empty someones life must be if they have to fill it with worldly things. I am sure that you arlready do this but remind them that when you have Jesus in your heart you do not need all of the other gifts (although some are a nice way to show our love to one another.) Help them use their spiritual gifts that God gave them to bless others.
Examples: Christmas caroling at nursing homes. Cooking and/or serving food at shelters. Cleaning up peoples houses or yards for the holidays. Helping neighbors to decorate. They can also use this time to minister to people who may have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. God Bless and Merry Christmas!
2006-12-05 03:38:12 · answer #1 · answered by barksabit 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We plan to go to a Candlelight service Christmas Eve. We started doing this last year and it is a very god way of putting things in perspective.
To combat your unpleasant extended family you could suggest a gift exchange. Everyone pulls a name out of a jar and there is a set spending limit. That may turn some of the focus away from the material aspects.
2006-12-05 02:36:04 · answer #2 · answered by theoriginalquestmaker 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Clearly, much ungodly conduct accompanies the holiday season. As disturbing as this is, some may feel that they should observe the celebrations out of respect for God and Christ. A desire to please God is commendable. But are God and Christ actually pleased with the Christmas season? Consider its roots.
You may find significant what that encyclopedia accurately points out: “Christianity of the first centuries did not know the celebration of Christmas. . . . From the middle of the fourth century, Christianity assimilated the celebration of the winter solstice from the worship of Mithra, turning it into the Christmas celebration. The first to celebrate Christmas were the religious communities of Rome. In the tenth century, Christmas, along with Christianity, spread to Russia, where it became fused with the winter celebration of the ancient Slavs, honoring the spirits of the ancestors.”
Don't celebrate Christmas
2006-12-05 02:29:56 · answer #3 · answered by True101 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
good luck with that! I have had this same problem for years!! now i am about to have a little one and it is the first baby in 14 years on the father side. It will be spoiled by my family but his too will go over board. I would say, try to teach your children in your home. still show them how to be humble and what christmas is all about. even though it will not register to them until they are older, it will register. thats what my parents did and i thank him for that. my youngest sister didnt get the message but the rest of us did (there are 6 of us).
so do what you are doing, you cant change whats going on outside of your family, only whats going on inside.
2006-12-05 02:29:31 · answer #4 · answered by kellieghr 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It never really was the celebration of Jesus' birth. It was just a scheme by the Catholic Church to hide the pagan holidays. But if you want to slow down the corruption and greed of the holiday, teach your kids that the gifts aren't what matter, it's seeing family and friends, helping others, and giving.
2006-12-05 02:29:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Start in your own home. You don't have to buy into all the hype. Keep the season focused on Jesus. Merry Christmas.
2006-12-05 02:27:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Inform your family that you will gladly donate all the excess presents to needy children. When they know that it will be given away they will likely agree with your limitations. Also, you might recommend the family combine their efforts and purchase a family present instead of individual stuff nobody really needs. Memberships to local zoos, museums, even season tickets to sporting events for the family would be a very memorable present that will be appreciated by the whole family.
2006-12-05 02:30:00 · answer #7 · answered by Boilerfan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I feel the same way. I was going to post a question about this same topic. I just feel like finding a place out of town for me and my son to go for Christmas so I don't have to be with my family. My sister has pissed me off and my dad died last year and his family didn't even call to ask me to Thanksgiving but they called my mom but she was going out of town to be with her new boyfriend's family. Sis kept calling me to get my son and neice's pictures made b/f thansgiving, when we were fixing to get back there after a long wait, she got mad and left me and my brother in law there. I had gotten some just made of my son by himself too. They picked all the pictures up and everytime she comes by she forgets them and she lives an hour and a half away. I told my mom and she's like "Maybe she don't know you paid for half the pictures". I'm like why would I get my son's picture made by himself and expect them to pay?? Everybody is just pissing me off so bad!!! If it weren't for my son, I would just disappear!
2006-12-05 02:33:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it starts with you. keep reminding everyone of what christmas is about, and tell them to have a blessed christmas, when relatives ask what you want for christmas tell them your not concerned w pressents but with celebrating the birth of jesus as a family.
2006-12-05 02:34:34 · answer #9 · answered by lil a 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋