Christmas shopping

[bilbous]

Merppy Chruanzauka! 

[Kalika]

So, when do you start Christmas shopping, Some people are insane and start in january, while some are equally insane and start on 23rd of December. I try to shun Christmas altogether because im a scrooge and just figure that every Christmas so far has been an anti-climax so why should the next be different.

Well anyway, what are your views on Christmas in general?

 
well i jsut got done from a 2 day shopping trip type thing with my sister. we bought her daughter lots of cute and pretty things.

i like the idea of presents but it makes me sad seeing ao much money spent at one time, like its wasteful or something cuase...ooo im gonna start rambling ehehe

i also wish it wasnt so religious, but meh, it doesnt hurt anyone so im oks with it . Ooo and i like christmas trees, they sure are pretties with and without the decorations

[LARAGORN]

I have a tradition that I have done since I got my driving licence, whether i am alone or with family, at least twice a week I drive around looking at all the decorations people have put up. To me it synbolizes the largest demonstration of peace and good will the world over. Regardless of the varrying beliefs of this holiday, it seems the general attitude is much more positive. I do know people of non christian religions who put up lights soley for the beauty of them. I do agree with others that it seems senceless to only be good to your fellow man only during the Xmass holidays, I do try to follow that year round, and I will take what I can get out of the rest of the world.

As for my family traditions, we usualy spend Xmass eve with my family (all 200 of them), then Xmass day is spent at home with the misses and our kids , then on to boxing day with my inlaws. It can be a little hectic at times but it is worth it.

Shopping ?  well, I do keep an eye out year round for the misses, tomorrow I am going to test drive her present   I am prety sure she is going to like it. I do however usualy end up rushing at the last minute for one or two presents.

Happy Holidays to all of the PS world

[Malfini]

I celebrate Christmas for what it truly is, the celebration of the birth of the Son of God on Earth.

I also celebrate Christmas as a celebration of the birth of the Son of God and messiah Jesus Christ.

[eldoth_terevan]

The gift thing to me at Christmas tends to be a bit much. I mean, I don't want my friends or family to feel that they need to shell out cash to give me something. Christmas (for whatever reasons we celebrate it) is about enjoying being with friends and family. That being said, I usually pick up small gifts for people all year long. I try to go for lower-cost, hard to find things that I know someone will like... and I try to discourage anyone from giving anything to me. I dunno, just some random Christmas shopping thoughts...

[Malfini]

Yeah, I think that gift giving for Christmas is kinda stressful and can cause someone to feel guilty if someone gets them something and they don't get them anything or if someone gets them something more expensive...

[bilbous]

There are really two kinds of Christmas, at least in North America. There is the secular christmas with Santa Claus, etc., that the capitalists have forced on everyone regardless of belief. It doesn't have to be participated in but it is imposible to escape. Then there is the religious Christmas which happens mostly in a church and which should not really offend anyone unless it is shoved in the unwillings face. I don't particularly care what any of you believe that is between you and your conscience. Just don't try to tell me what to believe (nobody is doing that here, I think).

[eldoth_terevan]

Christmas has become way overdone in the US, though. Seriously, I used to live in an apartment on the main street in a burb of Chicago that pumped Christmas music onto the streets 14 hours a day. I could not escape it. I heard it all the time. THAT was offensive....

[Karyuu]

I have cleaned this thread up some - please avoid arguing about this. Christmas is celebrated by various people for various reasons, and the only types of religious posts that are not welcome in this forum are debates and arguments between different faiths. We don't moderate this board to eliminate all references to religion, so don't worry if someone brings it up casually. Needless to say, talking about Christmas and expecting a completely secular thread is rather unrealistic.

[Kiirani]

Personally I'd rather not have to do any christmas shopping.. I'm happy to get people things if I know they want them, but I fail at picking presents, and would prefer to treat myself to something I otherwise wouldn't get because it's too frivolous and/or costly, and do celebrations with family and friends for the actual holiday. I also don't want anything given to me ^_^ apart from maybe a good meal.

[Idoru]

I dont buy presents for people at all, I really dont like the idea of exchanging gifts like that. I do have one particular friend who insists on buying me a gift each year, and that just makes me feel crap. I warn him every year that I wont get him one and he still gets me one. Its nice but makes me feel terrible, which he always  claims is the opposite of his intention 

I think it is far too comercialised, and a time for pointless competition, around here people compete with christmas lights covering their houses, normally starting in early November.

The one thing I do like is the food...... thats another question. What do you traditionally eat at Christmas?


[thank you for the cleaning up Karyuu  ]

[Thyme]

I do have one particular friend who insists on buying me a gift each year, and that just makes me feel crap. I warn him every year that I wont get him one and he still gets me one. Its nice but makes me feel terrible, which he always  claims is the opposite of his intention 

You could always do something that costs very little but that you made yourself... like making him a mix-CD.

The one thing I do like is the food...... thats another question. What do you traditionally eat at Christmas?

I'm not much of a fan of celebrating religious holidays, but I really love my family's tradition of cooking a huge lebanese feast. When I was little, my grandmother would always host it, and her and my mother would spend the week before preparing food and ordering special treats from the bakery.  Since my grandmother passed away, I've kept up with this tradition and usually do most of the cooking with some help from my family, and we've opened it up to inviting other friends and relatives over.  My mom really likes turkey dinners, but I'm not such a big fan, so for me, having a lebanese dinner is what I enjoy the most.

[Monketh]

I celebrate the captialist Christmas because, hey, I want to give and receive gifts.  Nothing beats the look on someone's face when you picked (or made) the perfect gift.  (In general, the emotional or pragamatic value of a gift is the most important.)  If you can't give a thoughtful gift, should you be giving a gift?

Christian Christmas, well, I'm pretty much an agnostic deist, so I go through the motions.

[zorbels]

To me it synbolizes the largest demonstration of peace and good will the world over.

To me as well. We have this street in Edmonton called Candy Cane Lane. The whole street every year puts on a show and they decorate their houses to the fullest. I believe it started in the earily 1970's and has been going strong ever since. Most of the owners of these homes pick a theme and begin putting up their lights in the middle of november. The power company donates the funds to the home owners bills for the month of December so that all who live on the street can participate. It is a tradition that I hope will continue for generations to come. I posted some picture's below.  

   

[Nurahk]

Christmas is a time to celebrate the god of alcohol, turkey, egg nog and an assortment of illegal substances.

I'm sure there is some other odd reason to it...but ... come on.... ^^^Just look at that reason

I like christmas but my favourite day is remembrance day,  remembering is something we don't do enough.


December 25th, the Good, the Bad, and the ugly.

Note: May not want to read the ugly one :\

As for shopping, we do something new every year.  Usualy only one present each and then trade until you get what you want

So I  don't do shopping until December atleast.