My parents have had a really rough year and cannot afford to buy ANY Christmas presents this year. They will be lucky if they can afford the mortgage this month. They of course will not accept any presents either because they are so embarrased. I am trying to figure out a way to spend Christmas with my mom and brother mainly without opening gifts or anything like that. Christmas is a HUGE deal to us and we have decorated the entire house with lights and gotten a tree already, but no presents will be under it. However my brother and I will buy eachother gifts and we will have to exchange with my extended family at some point as well. Any suggestions or advice on how to spend christmas day?
2007-12-04 05:58:28 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
In all the tinsel and advertising the true Spirit of Christmas has been lost. The Spirit of Christmas isn't determined by how many gifts you receive or how much money you have; it is measured by the amount of Love and Faith you have. The biggest gift you can give your parents is spending Christmas with them. So many families are torn apart; their sons and daughters can't/won't be home or will never be with them again. Celebrate that you have each other: Have Christmas dinner together no matter what is on the menu, sing carols together, watch a Christmas movie together, go for a walk, Pray together.
"However humble the home may be,
Or tried with sorrow by Heaven's decree,
The blessings that never were bought or sold
And center there are better than gold."
___Father Ryan
2007-12-04 07:08:55 · answer #1 · answered by Country Hick 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am sorry that your family is having a rough time this year. Christmas does not and should not be just about recieving gifts. While you are having hard times, your family still seems to be in the spirit. You could bake cookies, watch christmas movies, drive around and look at christmas decorations. These things are all fun things you could do as a family.
May I suggest that you and your brother either not buy each other christmas presents or not exchange them in front of your parents, this way that might not feel as bad. I am sure that this is awful for them. You and you brother should keep and very postitive attitude and try to have fun...you will soon see how fun christmas can be without presents!~
2007-12-04 06:14:18 · answer #2 · answered by Teakatoo 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hey, sorry to hear your family's having a rough time :( I would suggest just spend time together on Christmas day enjoying each other's company. If no new gifts will be coming your way, why not dig out a few old ones that the whole family can enjoy? Board games and jigsaws are pretty good for that sort of thing.
If you really want to get a gift for your parents though, how about something creative? Get copies made of old family photos (most supermarkets can do this now pretty cheaply) and make a scrap-book/album of Christmases/birthdays/holidays past. Your parents would, I'm sure, appreciate something hand made more than anything you could buy.
Good luck, and hope the season goes well for you.
.x.
2007-12-05 20:22:05 · answer #3 · answered by sedahren 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sigh. I'm so sorry your family is going through a rough patch.
But no gifts doesn't mean "no Christmas."
Christmas is not about gifts - really - despite what Macy's and Wal-Mart would have you believe.
Christmas is about the love you have for those closest to you. And that isn't something you can buy in a store.
You don't have to exchange with your extended family - they should be aware of your situation and not expect gifts. AND this should be a good time to stop the whole "he who has the most gifts at the end of the day - wins" attitude.
Christmas day - go to church - sunrise services are awfully nice.
Read to each other. Or watch your favorite movies on the tele.
Play board games - or card games.
Say your prayers - and tell each other that you love them.
One thing NOT to do - is being jealous of what others may have gotten in their stockings. Be happy for them - truly happy for them. And rejoice knowing that nothing - even bad patches - lasts forever.
And when times are better - you might want to keep Christmas smaller anyway.
God Bless.
2007-12-04 06:15:43 · answer #4 · answered by Barbara B 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Watch Christmas Movies
Listen to Holiday Music
Bake Holiday Deserts
2007-12-04 06:02:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
My family had MANY slim Christmas seasons growing up. The ones I remember the most included time spent together making a big pot of chili (very inexpensive) and some homemade cinnamon rolls for dinner.
Later in the evening, we sang lots of carols and made a big pot of hot chocolate for sharing with the friends we invited over to sing carols with us. Sometimes we even caroled the older folks in the neighborhood we knew would enjoy the music but couldn't get out.
Next year, my family will be serving the homeless dinner at the local shelter for Christmas. This is a great way to show the real meaning of Christmas. We also have donated what we would have spent (even if a mere $20) towards a charitable organization. That always leaves a very warm feeling in your soul!!
Good luck and enjoy time spent with family and friends.
2007-12-04 06:08:40 · answer #6 · answered by Mom of Four 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think you should a nice big holiday dinner.. with all the fixins.. and then wrap up some "future gift certificates" that you make on your computer in MS Word.. of fun things you can do together in the summer.. like a trip to Disneyland or the Mountains or something.. this won't cost any money and it's a simple way to make Christmas fun. Keep in mind that Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Christ and it's not always about the gifts. Some of the best gifts in my opinion are the times spent with family.. to me that is priceless. Your parents should never feel embarrassed because life happens. My heart goes out to your family this holiday.
2007-12-04 06:10:13 · answer #7 · answered by Cupid 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas is about Christ and what He gave us as a Gift, not what we give each other. People have forgotten the true meaning. when we were children growing up if there were gifts we made them , and it came from our hands, and was made with love. Put up a tree decorate it with all home made ornaments. Dedicate this Christmas to Jesus and what Christmas was intended for. Tell them this is your wishes. Make a meal together, pray over it, and ask for financial help from our Lord. Go as a family to church, and thank Him because you have a caring and loving family. I will keep all of you in prayer. Have a very Merry Christmas filled with Happiness, Health, Wealth beyond your wildest dreams, and remember to pray for our troops, and light a candle for those who can't be with us. God Bless!
2007-12-04 06:15:49 · answer #8 · answered by mandm68 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We like to do a secret santa gift exchange with my extended family, so we don't have to buy everyone a gift.
One of my daughters manages it. She randomly assigns a relatives to buy for another relative. No one knows who their secret santa is (supposedly) until Christmas day. To assist the buyers she asks each person submit a three item wish list. Gift values are $20 or less.
Also, we do a fun WHITE ELEPHANT gift exchange! Everyone just brings some items they already have from home that are wrapped up. We each take a turn picking from the gifts which are in a pile in the middle of the floor. Then we can exchange them forcefully on our next turn with some of the more desirable gifts. It is hilarious what some people give!
2007-12-04 06:37:11 · answer #9 · answered by cashew 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe have a big dinner together (be sure to ask you mom to come early and help you make her special dish because"you just cant get it to taste like hers")
maybe a local church is doing a Christmas pageant or live nativity you could go see together? Or a tree festival downtown? Or volunteer as a family at a soup kitchen (my husband's grandmother does that every year)
Just being together to celebrate the birth of Christ is the most important part.
Christmas is about GIVING not just material things but giving of yourself!
2007-12-04 06:07:28 · answer #10 · answered by avz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋