What does Christmas really mean to you?

Debbie - posted on 01/03/2010

we also do angel trees thru work and my exercise class, we do not buy gifts for anybody over 18. We go to our church functions for the christmas shows. and actually thought it was funny that my daughter asked me if santa goes to see baby jesus. i believe you can buy gifts for children and still teach them the importantance of christmas

Carolyn - posted on 01/02/2010

It should mean celebrating the Greatest Gift ever given to mankind, but it seems to have taken on an entire different meaning for some. I'm like Cleo...I love Christmas, but the commercial aspect has gone completely overboard. It's like everybody tries to out -shop, out -spend, out- party, out-decorate, out-dress everybody else. My hubs and I and my siblings and I years ago decided to quit the "gift exchanging". My daughter and her family are who we gift to. We also do angel tree gifts through our church and other organizations. The best part though is just being with our families, seeing the excitement on children's faces, hearing our church choirs sing of God's love, baking goodies for friends.

Debbie - posted on 01/02/2010

Christmas to me is watching my beautiful daughter enjoying christmas morning!!!

Andreea - posted on 01/02/2010

Well said Anne!!! :)

Candice - posted on 01/01/2010

I absolutely agree with you! What I can't stand is the children being brought up that it iss about presents. What is that teaching them about the rest of life?
I posted about this on my blog
mommasense.blogspot.com

Ramona - posted on 12/31/2009

Christmas means a time for family to come together and remember how far They have come from. My children have never had a Christmas Tree or wreath, presents, ornaments in our home. I wouldn't dream of telling them that Santa Clause is going to come down our wood burning stove and deliver presents. Christmas has become so commercial and i just do not care for my children to become apart of that.

Stacie - posted on 12/31/2009

I agree about the holidays being too commercial etc. I do not like it at all!



To me, Christmas is about sharing...I bake or make things for people.



I share w/neighbors & our children's school; just about everyone they come in contact w/or helps & teach them while they are at school. I do not spend alot of money; I look for cheap things thru out the year.



Once I moved to our neighborhood, I shared home-made goodies w/them & now some/most of them have started sharing w/me & other neighbors. Last year I made & gave out at least 75 jars of home-made apple, pumpkin or pear butter to neighbors, family, school staff & friends.



I also leave surprises for the mail carrier. This year we dropped off cookies to a local fire station & a police station of some sort.



I don't like to spend alot of money on stuff. I watch for bargains thru out the year & I try to be practical & get toys etc that the kids will actually like & use not just WANT it because they saw it on t.v. or because their friends have it. My husband is like most other dads; the opposite of me!



AND now that I have children, it's family traditions...breakfast at Waffle House on Christmas morning, reading Christmans stories by the fireplace while sipping hot chocolate & roasting marshmallows in the fireplace on Christmas Eve & leaving reindeer food & Santa snacks out & new this year, we watched a movie at the theater on Christmas Day, just after Thanksgiving we put up the tree & decorate & hang up the stockings.



My husband gets bummed because I do the shopping to save money & not go overboard & I don't like getting gifts...if there is something I want, which is practical stuff & not for me, then I get it. Like this year I wanted a steam mop & hand steamer. Last year was above the stove microwave. I don't do jewerly, clothes etc. I know, not the normal gal.



That's Christmas to me...

Stephanie - posted on 12/30/2009

Yes, HE did Heather. Thank you very much.

Heather - posted on 12/30/2009

I think what you wrote, stephanie was very warm and very inspiring. Jesus did the most tremendous sacrifice for us all, Heather Snyder

Stephanie - posted on 12/30/2009

Christmas means to me, LOVE. For GOD is love and HE proved that when HE gave HIS only baby up for all of us, & some of us could care less, but it He still loves us with an unconditional love. I mean, who do you know would allow you to have gifts on HIS birthday. That is beautiful!

Heather - posted on 12/30/2009

I was so glad to see the great positive comments from the moms!
It makes me feel that they are raising the children in the way that is
so good. Thank you for the replys! heather

Jessica - posted on 12/13/2009

This Christmas is going to be the most special of all to me. My husband and I are flat broke but it's our first Christmas as a family. I know my daughter is really too young to fully understand what exactly is going on but it will still be very special.

Camilla - posted on 12/13/2009

Christmas is a season to be thankful and the gift is Christ being born on Christmas day and each and everyday that we wake up is a blessings and it is not about giving it all about loving one another.

Kristin - posted on 12/13/2009

Christmas to me is being with my family and decorating, and I love shopping for other people. Especially my daughter, I prefer not to receive anything. For me seeing a load of gifts under the tree for my daughter and husband is what makes me happy.

Camilla - posted on 12/12/2009

Christmas is a day of Thanksgiving. It is a day to remember that it is not about me and nobody else, but a day to really remember WHY we celebrate CHRISTMAS and that is CHRIST being born, and if ANYBODY know that then they also know that he came to SAVE us and I can't ask for anything more, but to be THANKFUL. Merry Christmas means JOY. JESUS first OTHERS second YOURSELF last.

Barbara - posted on 12/12/2009

to me christmas means thanking jesus for his birth because if it were not for his birth then he would not have died and i would be lost forever. my family and i start the day with prayer and the christmas story, then go down to the tree and give jesus his gift first.

Danielle - posted on 12/11/2009

I means thanking god for sharing his bday with the world and let the kids of the world open his presents. Have a glory day with my family and seen how happy my babies are when they get things they want. Cooking a feast for my family.

Krista - posted on 12/11/2009

"I have always loved Christmas. For me it has never been about what I receive but rather what I am able to give. I love the colorful lights, the innocence of the season. The holiday songs make me smile, i sing jingle bells to my son at least twice a day. I love that it speaks of traditions, stockings on the wall, cookies out for Santa. I love the happiness and peace I feel. I especially love knowing that at least on this day, my family celebrates together. Whether we're angry with each other or not, it doesn't matter on Christmas. i do try to get one "good" gift for my husband. He always tells me not to, but i love the way his eyes twinkle when he opens that gift i told him i just couldn't find. Yea...I have to agree with Betsy..I just love Christmas!"

You said it better than I could. The lights, the music, the food, spending time with my family, watching them open their gifts and hoping that they love what I got for them, making Christmas dinner with my husband and dancing in the kitchen, stealing kisses under the mistletoe, seeing the wonder in my baby boy's eyes as he sees a Christmas tree for the very first time, driving around town to look at everybody's Christmas lights -- it's all wonderful.

Kitty - posted on 12/11/2009

Christmas to me is about the love God has for us in giving his son. It is Jesus's birthday. He was given gifts from the wise men and he was the Gift from God to save us from our sins.We give our family gifts because we love them and want to show them our love for them. It is an excuse to give to them and let them know we love them.It is a time of gathering together and strengthening our family bonds. Kitty Henson

Heather - posted on 12/11/2009

HI yes I am sad to see the whole idea of Christ-mas being so commercial and not being "homey and loving". I like to sing the carols, like to see the pageants,
the Nativity story being done, the Christmas HallMark movies... I like the idea of family getting together, and enjoying the season, the home made food, the games we can play. We had l0 kids and it was nice to see the fun they had to make things, to write cards or to decorate, and not ask for the big items they knew we couldn't give, etc.
Now I am in a condo and I don't put up much decorations, but I love to go to our church for the Nativity Advent music and pageant one night, to sing in the choir,
to plan nights with the family members living in IL.
God Bless you, I was given a pin that I put on my clothes: "It's ok to say Merry Christmas to me. Keep Christ in Christmas", Heather

Iysha - posted on 12/10/2009

Chrismas Eve was always all about hanging out with my favorite aunt and uncle and their kids, also my favorite cousins. They live 3 hours away and now that my cousins now live on the East Coast of the U.S. and not on the West Coast, It is very rare that we get to see eachother. This Chrismas Eve, my Fiance, my daughter and I are going to spend the Holiday with his mom...I am a little dissapointed, but I guess it isn't fair for me to hog the Holidays =] I don't even care what i get for Chrismas...For "Secret Santa" at work I put gift cards to either Walmart, Target, or the local movie theater. That way i can get my daughter some new clothes and bottles or diapers or whatever or spend some time watching a new movie with my Fiance...he's a movie fanatic.

Cathy - posted on 12/10/2009

to me christmas is for family and friends to come over and enjoy being appreciated for their love towards you and your family being able to enjoy their company as well

Yvetta - posted on 12/10/2009

Christmas means to me the remembering and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. What a gift that was given to us and for us! Christmas is a time of love and family. We always center our thoughts on or around the reason we have Christmas.

Cecilia - posted on 12/10/2009

I s'pose, i feel this way because growing up my family was one of those families in the school that was "less fortuante", so we received gifts and Christmas dinne rfrom the church. I did spend a number of years in Catholic school, but my parents didn't pay for it, an anomymous benefactor sponsored me. Even through whatever hardships, my family has always been blessed, and I thank God everyday for the blessing he continues to give me, starting with the joy that is my son.

Anne - posted on 12/10/2009

Christmas Is the time of year when we Celebrate The Birth of Jesus Christ. We give gifts because God gave us the Perfect Gift in His Son Jesus Christ so we can have Salvation and spend Eternity in Heaven.

Yes my children did "believe" in Santa Clause. They are now 21 and 25 years old.

Family and our Traditions are also very important. Great question. Have a Merry Christmas.

Cecilia - posted on 12/10/2009

I have always loved Christmas. For me it has never been about what I receive but rather what I am able to give. I love the colorful lights, the innocence of the season. The holiday songs make me smile, i sing jingle bells to my son at least twice a day. I love that it speaks of traditions, stockings on the wall, cookies out for Santa. I love the happiness and peace I feel. I especially love knowing that at least on this day, my family celebrates together. Whether we're angry with each other or not, it doesn't matter on Christmas. i do try to get one "good" gift for my husband. He always tells me not to, but i love the way his eyes twinkle when he opens that gift i told him i just couldn't find. Yea...I have to agree with Betsy..I just love Christmas!



___Oh, I spent most of my childhood in catholic school, although i don't agree with the church, I do believe in God, Mary, Joseph, and especially baby Jesus, so i do plan on sharing the miraculous story of that special night in Bethlehem with my son, i feel it's important he knows that.

Betsy - posted on 12/10/2009

Christmas is about so much to me, and I love all of it. I am Catholic so it is about Jesus and religious celebrations. It is about Santa and all the magic of feeling like a kid where anything can happen and dreams can come true. It is about family and the cozy feeling of all the Christmas celebrations and watching the kids light up at all the magical sights, especially Christmas morning. It's about fun and the excitement of shopping and splurging with all the lights and music. It's about romance and closeness of curling up next to the tree and the fireplace after the kids go to bed and setting up the gifts Christmas eve, laughing as you try out the toys, trying not to wake the kids up. It's about tradition and passing that magic of feeling like a kid once a year to your own kids, which hopefully they will also have in their busy adult lives.

I just basically love Christmas, and it is about a great deal to me.

Jennifer - posted on 12/10/2009

Christmas has always been about family for me. And this year will be no exception. I am a single mother of 6. One of my boys is severely bi-polar, autistic, with mental retardation. He is extremely violent and is now in need of a residential home. Knowing this will be his last Christmas that he will actually be living here has made me realize that family is that much more important to have around on Christmas morning.

Sharon - posted on 12/10/2009

Christmas is complicated.



Its Jesus birth and the reminder he died on the cross for us.



Its kindly St. Nick.



Its an opportunity for self indulgence for all the sacrifices I make during the year.



Its my chance to indulge the kids with me gifting them for "no reason"



I do hate that stores focus on "bigger & better" earlier and earlier. years ago I swore I would not buy a single advertised christmas gift until Dec. 1st. Now, to save money - I shop the sales when I can throughout the year. I just found a bird identification book and CD, i bought for my husband, 3 years ago, lol, still in the shopping bag, folded up neatly and tucked behind my night stand.. ::: sigh :::



I strive to keep the message for christmas simple for the kids. Let them find joy in finding the perfect gifts for each family member.



Their father (my husband) is hell bent on quantity verus quality. Its been a battle for 15 years with him to keep the purchases down.

Wanda - posted on 12/10/2009

Christmas for me is all about family. Getting together and laughing and having fun while enjoying a good meal. I'd rather give than receive, when people ask me what I want I never know what to tell them. This year it's all about my little guy, I can't wait to see his face on Christmas morning.