I used to hate the holiday season. Like a lot of us, the excessive materialism would leave me feeling more cynical than celebratory.
And (as noted way too many times by me, I promise to stop), I live in a tiny house. I have no space for extra coffee mugs, candle holders, and the novelty picture frames that seem to be the ubiquitous gifts among women in my family.
So, about five years ago, I asked my family and friends to please stop giving me gifts. I also told them that, in lieu of my giving gifts to them, I would instead be spending my holiday budget on a family in need.
Ever since then, I have loved the holiday shopping, the wrapping, the delivering.
I should find out who my family is next week.
Happy Holidays! ; )
5 Comments
If theres one thing that irritates the hell outta me its hearing Christmas carols in November! Thats nearly two solid months that we have to be forced into hearing those merry little jingles every time we run to the store for milk and bread?!! Grrrr. I do love the holiday season for the sake of giving (especially to those who don’t have much)but all of the hocus pocus commercialized crap is for the dogs! Shame on the big box stores for turning the “need” of the season into “greed”.
I LOVE your idea of giving to a family in need Jennifer! Good for you for truly understanding the MEANING of the holiday season! *cheers*
Jennifer, I too, used to hate the gifts given (would rather have gift certificates), I mean how many pairs of socks can you have?
Christmas has become all about the presents, and not about the deeper meaning.
Sad but true.
In my house, it’s understood that I buy my son things all year round, so choose not to buy him a gift at christmas.
I think in doing this, he understands that and appreciates the deeper meaning of christmas by our going to church and delivering gifts to needy families.
I remember this one place I worked a few years back the co-workers “gave” gifts to each other on a secret santa basis, and you wrote a poem about that person and found a toy that was like the person you were buying for.
Then at the office party, we had pot luck and took the wrapping paper off the gifts.
The neat part was that after all the gifts were “opened”, some of us with trucks loaded them up (still in the boxes) and took all of them to Santa’s Anonymous where they wrapped and gave them to needy families. As they were all toys for all ages of kids, and boys and girls alike, they were always thrilled to see us dawn their door with these gifts.
Then on the following Saturday, we would head back to Santas Anonymous building, collect a bunch of gifts and addresses, deliver toys to needy families(I have a truck so we could do alot of trips in one day and deliver larger things like bicycles).
I never felt better about the holidays as I did when I was buying a gift knowing it was for someone that otherwise may not have had one, and delivering gifts for kids that may not have had a christmas without the generosity of people.
It still brings a tear to my eye thinking about it.
I now work for a different company, who does not practice this “gift buying” however, we still deliver for Santa’s Anonymous and feel pretty good about it.
I really believe it’s a good lesson for my son as well, to bring him up knowing that there are lots of children out there that aren’t as fortunate as we are.
I think this year, I will also adopt a family and make their whole christmas complete.
Great post!!
Dear Angie, I am glad to hear you feel the same way! Maybe it is a trend? It seems like it might be – especially after this year.
Dear Karyn, I *love* that spin on the secret Santa exchange. I am going to remember that one if I ever have another secret Santa group…
Thanks for the comments!
Jennifer
You’re drifting into a Tioga George Post
.
‘Fuck It’ was a great post – and I’m a birder.
John
Dear John,
Glad you liked the ‘fuck it’ post. That photo really captured my feelings that day!
I haven’t read Tioga George yet. Does he adopt families?
Jennifer
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