Christmas/holiday traditions

[Jennifer]

As Christmas time quickly approaches I begin to think more and more about what Christmas was like when I was growing up. I'm curious how many people celebrate Christmas (in any form) these days? Do you call it Christmas or something else? What are some of your traditions?

[XXX]

none of that happy holidays crap for me. its christmas and its all about the giving and receiving. no traditions to speak of. well besides the usual fights/ arguments with family.

[tweety]

Well every Christmas we go to my mothers as a tradition for dinner and be with my lovely brother, sister and their families. Although sometimes it might be nice but then to a point it's competition for them. On who got what and how much they spent. So, this year i'm breaking that tradition. I'm staying home for Christmas and making dinner at my home with my children and spending the day with my children, eating, and watching movies. Now as for my daddy's side. We get along much better. I love the way he does his Christmas. He has is Santa hat on and hands out the gifts to us all, and sometimes it's hand me down stuff that belonged to him. I love the way he does it. It's special to me. He gets all the children the same amount and keeps everything equal. We usually celebrate it with him at my gma's building. Last year i made my gma and all of her children a dvd slideshow of her and my gpa in their years with each of their children growing up. I cried and they did to. This year i don't know what i will do since my computer is on the fritz.

Oh and i forgot my husband is a "Scrooge" seriously, he don't like Christmas. Says it's just spending money you don't have for something the kids won't have the following week, cuz they throw it off to the side. I disagree. If it was left up to him, it would be coal for the children. BAH HUMBUG

[Christopher]

Christmas is a phony holiday that Christianity ripped off from the pagan gods of Rome. After the reformation, the majority of Christians who left the RC stopped the practice, except the Lutherans. In fact, George Washington was able to defeat the German conscripts when he crossed the Delaware River because they, being Lutheran, were celebrating Christmas, and his troops, being of the other Protestant faiths, did not celebrate the holiday. Washington and his men shot them all like fish in a barrell.

In fact, Christmas was actually illegal, no not just 'not a holiday', but against the law in New England into the 1800's.

Different Apostolic churches (Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox) all celebrate Christmas on a different day, which is another indication that the tradition has no roots in scripture. If it was scriptural, then all faiths would agree on when and what to do.

Most 4 year theologians know this day is false and has nothing to do with Christianity, but they don't rock the boat because they want to make money and have big churches. Even Catholic clergy know they made the day up and some of them even relish in the fact that 'Protestants' celebrate their day every year.

The day has no basis in scripture at all. Jesus Christ was born in the fall. This is backed up by any number of mainstream Christian writers. The only commandment Christ gave for us to remember Him was the Lord's Supper, which is debated on when to do it, but in my house, we do it annually around the Passover time, which is when Jesus was actually doing this.

Often times people say that if you don't celebrate Christmas, you are attacking Christianity. Well, once we realized that the day was really all about a pagan sun god and not Christ, we had to stop the practice and follow the LORD.

Any of this information is readily available in an encyclopedia or through an internet search. For more details on the pagan nature of Christmas, this mainstream Protestant church has a good article:

http://www.americanpresbyterianchurch.org/pagan_holydays_ii.htm

[MsMommy]

I would have to say Christmas has changed over that last 5 yrs for me. I love to decorate and make Christmas candy to give away :) but now it seems its all about timing and holding off family fighting.

I hate the fact that when it comes to "talking to the public" I have to said "Happy Holidays" not Merry Christmas!! And when I have to help out with my sons school it has to be a seasonal theme i.e. snowflakes or candy canes - No Santa, No Baby Jesus!!

If there was one thing I could change it would be being able to spend more time with my family like I used to. Growing up was great because you were out of school and could spend more time with the family you love!! Now its all about getting money to buy presents, wrapping the gifts, making food, cleaning the house, getting everyone to come by without a fight. Then turn around and clean up all the mess that was made :(

There has to be a good way to make it all simple like when we were young, but I'm sure it's not that easy :(

[Jennifer]

In fact, Christmas was actually illegal, no not just 'not a holiday', but against the law in New England into the 1800's.

Good thing this is the United States of AMERICA not New England!





God Bless AMERICA!


I hate the fact that when it comes to "talking to the public" I have to said "Happy Holidays" not Merry Christmas!! And when I have to help out with my sons school it has to be a seasonal theme i.e. snowflakes or candy canes - No Santa, No Baby Jesus!! Well said!! I too am sick of the Happy Holiday bs.

There has to be a good way to make it all simple like when we were young, but I'm sure it's not that easy :(
I think it was that easy when we were young because we didn't realize what all our parents and grandparents did to make it special for the whole family. Now we've grown up and we're the parents doing all the behind the scenes work to make it all come together. Ahhh the price we pay for growing up!

[tweety]

XXX Merry Christmas to you.:p:p:p:p

[arm53]

Regardless of your faith..........this holiday will be a little lean. :o

[Brainiac]

Christmas is a phony holiday that Christianity ripped off from the pagan gods of Rome.

Bah, humbug. You need to lighten up a little there, Chris.

http://www.affordablehousinginstitute.org/blogs/us/Magoo_humbug_scrooge_small.jpg

[Believer4Him]

XXX Merry Christmas to you.:p:p:p

Back at you tweety :)

[VoVo]

It's about the children, family and fellowship. No gifts for any family members over 18 years of age. It works very well.

[Believer4Him]

It's about the children, family and fellowship. No gifts for any family members over 18 years of age. It works very well.

We only do presents for the kids, but then again that's mostly because we are BROKE...lol

[Beancounter]

In fact, George Washington was able to defeat the German conscripts when he crossed the Delaware River because they, being Lutheran, were celebrating Christmas, and his troops, being of the other Protestant faiths, did not celebrate the holiday. Washington and his men shot them all like fish in a barrell.

I can't tell you how hard I laughed when I first learned that in history class. Classic!

Most 4 year theologians know this day is false and has nothing to do with Christianity, but they don't rock the boat because they want to make money and have big churches. Even Catholic clergy know they made the day up and some of them even relish in the fact that 'Protestants' celebrate their day every year.


The day has no basis in scripture at all. Jesus Christ was born in the fall. This is backed up by any number of mainstream Christian writers. The only commandment Christ gave for us to remember Him was the Lord's Supper, which is debated on when to do it, but in my house, we do it annually around the Passover time, which is when Jesus was actually doing this.

I just learned all that recently, which answered a lot questions for me. I no longer feel guilty for not attending church at Christmas, which is how I was brought up. Christmas is one thing. The birth of Christ is a whole other thing.

Growing up, Christmas was wonderful except for going to church. When we were young we went to a children's service in the early evening of Christmas Eve. Then we'd drive around looking at all the Christmas lights strung up on houses. We'd go home, try to sleep, and then my dad, who worked odd hours, would come home and they'd awaken us saying, "Santa came! Santa came!" We'd rush downstair to the tree and celebrate the commercial Christmas. Christmas day was all about food and family.

Now that I no longer celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas, I still don't feel guilty about celebrating Christmas as a holiday. I have no problem calling it Christmas, I just recognize it for what it is. My kids wake up Christmas morning, get me up, and we go open presents. The rest of my family comes over a little later where we exchange the presents we have for them. I have young neices and nephews, so with my 3 kids it's a lot of fun. We usually play games that my kids are old enough to play also. Christmas for us is about stockings, candy, presents, and the warmth of good food and good times shared with family.

[Alix]

none of that happy holidays crap for me. its christmas and its all about the giving and receiving. no traditions to speak of. well besides the usual fights/ arguments with family.
Ah, we must have had the same family. :( As a child, bringing the family together usually ended up with a fight.

Over the last few years, I've grown disenchanted with the whole commercialized Christmas. We mostly center it around Jesus with a smaller Christmas tree with mostly Christian themed ornaments. Santa has been virtually removed from the tree as well. Whylie to the kids! Oh, and the nativity scene stays up all year round. And we try to stress more on giving to those less fortunate than receiving more junk for ourselves that we will grow tired of and dispose of is some form or fashion.

[twila]

We celebrate Christmas but I am sick and tired of the stores and how they begin ramping up to it beginning in July. All the TV commercials especially on the kids channels. Takes so much away from what is really important.
I love being with family and friends and the small things mean the most. A friend bringing some cookies or helping children make little homemade gifts. It makes them feel good to do something for someone else and they are the gifts I most cherish. Filling boxes with food or small gifts for the needy puts life in perspective and reminds us of what we should do for others Christmas or no Christmas.

[Beancounter]

We celebrate Christmas but I am sick and tired of the stores and how they begin ramping up to it beginning in July. All the TV commercials especially on the kids channels. Takes so much away from what is really important.
I love being with family and friends and the small things mean the most. A friend bringing some cookies or helping children make little homemade gifts. It makes them feel good to do something for someone else and they are the gifts I most cherish. Filling boxes with food or small gifts for the needy puts life in perspective and reminds us of what we should do for others Christmas or no Christmas.

Amen to that. What my family wants for Christmas more than anything is original artwork from my kids. One year I had some artwork framed for my parents and they couldn't hang them in a prominent place fast enough. They loved it and my kids loved it. That's Christmas.

My oldest daughter asked me for a donation for her Christmas "cause". She wanted $20 so of course I asked her why. She and 2 of her friends are all asking their parents for money so they can go get some new clothes for another girl they're all friends with whose mom is a nutjob. She really is, and the girl has it rough. The 3 of them want to get her some "cool jeans" so she can feel better about herself. That's Christmas.

Every year, my former in-laws take my kids to Oak Park Mall where they take an angel off the big tree there, shop for that needy child, and put the presents under the tree. They come home so excited about what they got and how that child is going to love it, etc. That's Christmas.

[twila]

Sounds like your daughter and her friends have their priorities in order. It's great hearing stories like this. Thanks for sharing.

[Plimpton]

Amen to that. What my family wants for Christmas more than anything is original artwork from my kids. One year I had some artwork framed for my parents and they couldn't hang them in a prominent place fast enough. They loved it and my kids loved it. That's Christmas.

My oldest daughter asked me for a donation for her Christmas "cause". She wanted $20 so of course I asked her why. She and 2 of her friends are all asking their parents for money so they can go get some new clothes for another girl they're all friends with whose mom is a nutjob. She really is, and the girl has it rough. The 3 of them want to get her some "cool jeans" so she can feel better about herself. That's Christmas.

Every year, my former in-laws take my kids to Oak Park Mall where they take an angel off the big tree there, shop for that needy child, and put the presents under the tree. They come home so excited about what they got and how that child is going to love it, etc. That's Christmas.

Actually, by not going to church you are missing out on the most important aspect of it. Otherwise, it is just retail day.

[XXX]

Actually, by not going to church you are missing out on the most important aspect of it. Otherwise, it is just retail day.
it depends on your perspective of things, as to whether or not the going to church is part of it. me? it would taek time away from doing something more important. theres football on xmas day.

[Jennifer]

Actually, by not going to church you are missing out on the most important aspect of it. Otherwise, it is just retail day. I agree somewhat but at least the kids are learning what giving is all about. Too many people, especially kids, are more concerned about what they themselves are getting.

it depends on your perspective of things, as to whether or not the going to church is part of it. me? it would taek time away from doing something more important. theres football on xmas day.at least its football you're concerned with and not what you're going to be getting. Is it obvious that I can't stand the greediness of Christmas?

[Aaron]

Is it obvious that I can't stand the greediness of Christmas?

So what are you getting for me? :p

[Jennifer]

So what are you getting for me? :p A lump of coal if you're lucky.