I have heard so many times that Christmas is "for the children"? Personally, I can't think of anything that gets farther away from the true meaning of Christmas than Santa Claus and the "gimme this" or "buy me that" that goes along with the holiday. I understand the joy associated with seeing kids opening gifts and its better to give than recieve - I hear all that. But when it gets down to what Christmas is all about - the celebration of the Incarnation of God...I fail to see how that is, in anyway, related to the gift buying frenzy for toys and gifts. If this were done in moderation, (but what in our society is ever done in moderation), I could see this as an ancillary gesture in recognition of the gift of God's only Son to mankind, but I can't see how Santa and presents can be a proxy for the spirit of the season. So, I'd love to understand why Christmas is "for the children".
2006-12-16 02:05:34 · 14 answers · asked by nj55145 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
Personally, I love to see my daughter's eyes light up in wonder at all things Christmas...and,no, I'm not talking about just Santa and gifts.
We are a Christian family and very much teach our children the meaning of Christmas. My girls love to hear the Christmas story from the gospel of Luke, they thouroughly enjoy the Cantata we have at church every year, and are mesmerized by "living" nativity scenes.
Yes, my husband and I buy our children things for Christmas. I see nothing wrong with it. We buy for them because we love them. We love to see them excited and having fun, and, no , I see nothing wrong with that.
2006-12-16 02:11:54 · answer #1 · answered by Cindy S 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Christmas is not just for children, the generated materialism which floods children's heads with the "buy me that" syndrome can be controlled by the adults around the children to teach them the other values of the Christmas Holiday, the fact that Christ was born on that day and what the birth of the Christ Child means. The values are also the traditions that families make and keep alive each year, the materialistic gift giving has been blown way out of proportion and the traditions and values sit last on the list. So no, I do not believe that Christmas is just for kids and at this juncture it is up to the adults to regroup and reteach, and in their search, may they also again see the values of the traditions that were handed down generation to generation..
2006-12-19 21:50:30 · answer #2 · answered by Bethy4 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We give gifts to remind us of the greatest gift of all Jesus, those of us that are Christian anyway.
We don't go into a frenzy here. We keep the true meaning of Christmas. Before any gift is opened we always put baby jesus in the manager (we don't put him in the nativity until Christmas morning) We then say a prayer of thanksgiving to God.
We also have a birthday cake for Jesus. We don't go overboard with gifts and the childern also use some of thier own money to buy for Christmas angels.
You are ALWAYS going to have people who go overboard on everything. But that isn't true of everyone.
2006-12-16 02:41:43 · answer #3 · answered by Wicked Good 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know I won't win best answer for this but the truth should be shared.
Christmas was moved to the dated it is currently on by the Roman Catholic Church in the 400s to convert pagans who celebrated the Winter Solstice. Also, Janus's birthday was Dec 25th (Roman God) and so they were converting.
That being said I believe the joy for some is not in the "gimme" attitude but also in the surprise. The closeness of family at that time and the joy of watching someone open up and appreciate something you have given them. Does not matter if you are a kid or not.
2006-12-16 02:20:19 · answer #4 · answered by ambr95012 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you. Christmas is about God's love and his awesome gift of his Son to "save His people from their sins." I think we can make Christmas a meaningful celebration in our own homes. We can teach our children the true meaning of Christmas, the wonder of finding God's son, the Messiah, lying in a manger, born to a humble carpenter and his wife; The proclamation of the angels, the joy of the shepherds.
The new movie "The Nativity Story" is a wonderful way to show children (and adults for that matter) why we really celebrate Christmas.
Santa Clause is a lovely fable, and as long as he seen as simply a representation of man's kindness and goodwill, he is relatively harmless. However, what we really need to teach is that we give to those we love, and those less fortunate than us, because God gave the first and greatest gift of all - his only Son.
2006-12-16 02:27:49 · answer #5 · answered by Singer 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think your question is very good. Don't feel bad cuz you think you're a grinch, you're not! Christmas is NOT just for the children...it's for everyone. Giving gifts to each other is supposed to help us get into the giving spirit, like Jesus gave His life and came down as a baby sothat later on he could be crucified on the cross.
If you have children, I strongly advise that you get them in on "buying presents" for the people of your family. Little children, once shown the way, will love to participate in annual giving. Maybe encourage them to save up their allowances or something?
2006-12-16 02:16:33 · answer #6 · answered by ღQueenღ 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, Christmas isn't for kids "you silly wabbit." Its for the retailers. Didn't you know?
Christmas should be for Jesus. For kids and adults alike to learn to love and give - as He did. But it has become a time of stress, credit card debt....trying to out do last years present. It shouldn't be this way.
Don't get me wrong, I love watching my familys eyes light up when they get something special, but we go overboard and we should spend that extra money showing them about giving to the less fortunate than we are. I think in the States, no matter how poor you are-- there's always someone worse off, that you can share something with, if its just a kind word, or caring about them, or listening when they need to talk....These are the better presents anyway, giving of ones self.
We should be learning about selflessness, and teaching that to our kids, instead of teaching them selfishness, ("Give me..., I wanna..., I made a list for santa..."By the way, who is santa anyway, he must be mean, because poor kids don't get as many or as expensive presents...)
I know a kid who asked his parents not to get him anything, but asked for a box of coats. He is planning to take them to the homeless mission. That is the true meaning of Christmas. I think that if we were really in the "Spirit of Christmas," (well of thinking like God would want us to, like this kid obviously is...) we couldn't be in our homes, eating a huge Christmas dinner, without inviting the poor family down the street. (I realize why we don't, and it is a sad shame that the world has gotten to this state. I wouldn't invite the homeless into my home for fear of rape or murder, but they aren't all really like that, I probably wouldn't invite the people down the street, unless I knew them, for fear of them suing me, if my cooking made them sick... you see where I'm going.) But in all fairness, we can safely take them a dinner, too, or work at the mission or at least donate to it... how many of us do anything??? These things are where the heart of God is, and if our hearts are right, we should be doing His bidding, not lining the pockets of rich retailers. Then Christmas would be about children, teaching those who have - to give and share with those who have not, and the world would be a better place to live in.
May we all make Christmas - about the children, even if they aren't our children.
2006-12-16 02:44:49 · answer #7 · answered by savannah 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its all how your perception of Christmas is. My family and I celebrate it as the birth of Jesus. We do exchange gifts, but we also donate time, and objects to those less fortunate. My kids know why and how Christmas came about. My husband and I don't go all out on gifts for Christmas, but the kids are never disappointed at what they receive.
2006-12-16 02:17:01 · answer #8 · answered by Jules 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, Christmas is for the children. Did not Jesus tell us that we are all "to become as little children, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven"? Christmas is about preparing our hearts and lives in celebration of Jesus Christ who came in the flesh into this world to give us the gift of redemption and salvation. Advent is such a precious gift of time to us to prepare for the coming of Jesus into our own hearts. To all His children here on earth...Come Lord Jesus..come!
2006-12-16 02:56:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I made a banner that said " The gifts we give each other are echoes of His eternal gift." Jesus said we must be "as little children" to inherit the kingdom of heaven (which is within) so, Christmas is for the children in each of us, However, we should try to keep its reality in mind and avoid the rampant exploitation..go in peace to love and serve.
2006-12-16 02:19:16 · answer #10 · answered by teetzijo 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋