Christmas: what does it really mean to you?

[Summer Moghamis]

Everyone gets that same picture when they think of Christmas. Running down the stairs in the morning, finding that Santa ate your cookies and drank your milk, ripping open the presents that Santa knew to get you, and looking for traces of Ruodulph outside. It wasn't always like that though. Christmas is celebrating the birth of Jesus, and I think that a lot of people have forgotten that.

 

Not that I am 100% religous, but religion does play a role in my life, and I think that over the past years, Christmas has become more of "what should I get her?" and "I don't have enough money for that!" rather than thanking for all that you have.

 

 

I don't want to turn this into a whole religious rant, because I should not be the one doing that, but my point is that I personally think people should take a step back from the extrodinary, out of the norm gifts, and be grateful for the people around you. Not everyone has a roof over their head, clothes on their back, food in their stomach, and people who care. If you are fortunate enough to have all of those, then take the 25th as a day to thank everyone for being there for you. As to the present situation, if you are really worried about if that person will like it or not, well don't. If they don't like it, obviously they weren't worth the money. It's the thought that counts, and I really believe in that! I am usually the gift giver of inside jokes. If we have an inside joke, you better believe that I am going to get you something funny and practical that relates to a joke somehow.

 

 

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year to all! 2011, here we come!

[Dominika Daniel]

I agree with summer. This holiday has become very commercialized/materialistic. It shouldn't matter what gift you give people but about spending time with the people you love the most. Yeah everyone likes getting presents and shopping for them is fun too, but the stress level for some to be able to get/afford everything that someone wants is at an all time high. People constantly complain there isn't enough time to get everything done for the holidays or stores run out of a certain product. Stress over money is also a big issue during this time. But if people just took a step back and looked at the bigger picture they would realize presents shouldnt be the first thing on their minds during this time. They could do other stuff like start a new tradition to help with stress.

[Darby Douglas]

I totally agree. People dread the holidays (a time of celebrating what and who you have) because they stress over what gifts to buy people, whether a certain gift falls in their budget, and so on. When I was little, I didn't even care about gifts as much as I do now. All I was concerned about was beating my cousins down the hill when I sled, making the coolest snowman on the block, and decorating the tree. 

 

My friend made me a gift for Christmas. It was a collage of us. Our stupid quotes and pictures and whatnot. I absolutely love it. She put so much thought into it. My cousin bought me an expensive scarf. Even though it's a pretty scarf, I'd take the collage over the scarf. 

[Rachel Izydorek]

i completely agree.

while gifts are great and all, giving something more than a gift is the best part of the holidays. Like i gave a pair of my old dance shoes to a girl i babysit because she had never seen a pair before and the look on her face was the best gift i could recieve. She dropped all her toys and her eyes lit brighter than the tree behind her.

Sometimes its the simple things that people appreciate more than the big expensive things.

I didnt know what to get people for christmas this year, im 17 and i dont have a lot of money so instead of paying for gifts i wrote a letter to some of my family and friends. I just wrote about how much they mean to me and i told them the things i think, but never say.

While im sure my sister would have loved a new shirt, words last longer than material objects.

I think that this Christmas was a great eye opener in that respect.

[Summer Moghamis]

i agree with everyone! i have another thing to add, after i got my presents this year, i wasn't as...enthustiastic as i use to be. it was more like "oh..yay..another gift card.." but i had so much more fun messing around with my cousins and aunts and uncles and i would rather do that again then get more gifts! but i hope everyone had a great Christmas and hopefully 2011 brings more hope and happiness :)

[Dominika Daniel]

(Adding to the gift comment) I went to the mall today and ran into a few people I know returning a few things they got over the holidays for many different reasons either they didnt like the gift or the size was wrong or something. This just shows that gifts shouldnt be the first thing people's minds. Buying gifts is stressful enough, but returning them is a whole other story. Some places have ridiculous policies with returns and exchanges. And knowing that some people might return whatever it is you got them makes some wonder what the point of buying the gift was in the first place. Adding stress. Basically I'm just trying to support the whole making memories with family instead of buying gifts idea.  

[Summer Moghamis]

I did the same exact thing yesterday and today! It's so annoying! And seeing that the mall was so crowded makes me feel like everyone else is returning gifts too! So yeah, I 100% agree with you!

[Alanna Krivanek]

I agree with this 100%. I am not religous at all but I do think that Christmas is so much more than just getting a ton of presents. If you asked me this 10 years ago I would've said it was just for the presents, but as the years go on I get less and less into opening presents on Christmas morning, and more and more into spending time with my family. But don't get me wrong I still enjoy presents :)  I also think that the holidays are a great time for family traditions, which is another reason I love the holidays, traditions give me something to look forward to. I just love the holidays :)

[Abby Muller]

I totally agree with you on all of your opinions. Christmas for me has always been about the birth of Christ. Ever since I was little my family would all get together on Christmas eve and read this Christmas story. It's always a good reminder and a great feeling that a savior was born on this day.

[David Madden]

I agree with this to an extent. I really love going to church on christmas eve and singing carols with my congregation, but I think Christmas is much more than just religion or commercial benefit. I think Christmas is about spending time with your family, and having a holiday to be together.

 

However when you say, "people should take a step back from the extrodinary, out of the norm gifts, and be grateful for the people around you," I really disagree because I absolutely try my hardest to get the best gifts for people because I love to see the happiness on the face of those I love, but I do think people should always be grateful no mater what gift you give them.

[Haley Bohl]

It was actually found out that he was not born in the winter he was born in the summer based on the way the stars were and the sun so christmas is actually not a holiday based on religion any more. it has become very commercial but i think it is a good thing for children and to get with family.

[Lauren Hurst]

I agree with the fact that Christmas has become more about gifts and money, when we should be focusing more on family, or religion.  The gift isn't what should matter.  Spending quality time with those you love most is really what the holidays is about, and I believe that many people have forgotten that.

[Austin Smock]

I mostly agree with what everyone has said but to be honest gift giving is my favorite part about Christmas and it wouldn't be the same without it. The point in gift giving is to think of the others your getting gifts for. In my opinion without presents it is much harder to have christmas. I dont think that christmas would be lost without presents but i dont think that I would have the same christmas spirit without them.