Are We Killing Christmas?
Over the past few days my blog reader has been filling up with posts about how stressed people are about how quickly Christmas is coming. Or commenting on how they just aren’t getting into the “spirit” this year. There’s even been a number with the word “humbug” in the title.
I know how they feel. I’ve been there. There’s every likelihood I’ll go there again.
Commercialism and perfectionism is squeezing the life out of Christmas. 
I was discussing Christmas with my sister in law this past week. A few years back I said we weren’t buying adult gifts for the siblings anymore. She made a comment on how it does get expensive. The thing for us wasn’t the money. It was the stress of finding something that wasn’t a total waste of everybody’s time and money. Finding the perfect gifts for everyone was completely STRESSING me out.
It was such a relief to have that burden lifted.
It was around that time that we decided we were going to SIMPLIFY CHRISTMAS.
I now don’t do anything “Christmassy” unless I feel like it.
Fortunately I generally LOVE Christmas and LOVE buying gifts so of course, that helps.
Some years we decorate the whole house. Some years we don’t.
As long as we do Santa and the Tree, the kids are generally happy.
Some years we do Christmas craft and cooking. Some years we don’t.
Some years we have more elaborate Christmas fare. And some years we keep it really simple.
I remember 1 year we went away in the camper trailer for Christmas. It was the first Christmas after my breakdown and I wasn’t ready to be around people yet. Money was tight that year so we kept everything VERY simple. I made a couple of basic salads before we left and cooked a turkey and bought some shaved ham. All I did Christmas Day was cut up some basic salad items (tomato, cucumber, lettuce). Dessert was a bought cheesecake.
It was the least effort I had EVER put into Christmas that year and do you know what????
It was AWESOME!!!!
It still ranks up there as one of the BEST Christmasses we have ever had.
So if you’re struggling to get into the “spirit” or feel like you’re just not going to achieve everything before the big day gets here, cut yourself some slack!!!!
There was nothing commercial or stressed about the very first Christmas (okay, maybe a little stress over the inn being full and of course, the labour!!!! 
).
Why do we let media and peer pressure force us into doing what we don’t want to do?
I don’t believe that means we lack the Christmas spirit. Could be it’s quite the opposite in fact.
Dare to be different (if that’s what makes you happy).
Carve your own way this Christmas.
Focus on peace, joy, thankfulness, family and friends this Christmas.
The rest is all simply “trimming”.
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Our best Christmases have been the ones where we haven’t schedule anything and just spent the day hanging around playing games and watching dvd’s together.
I think people forget that their celebration of the holiday needs to fit them.
One of our best Chrismas days was spent with my mum and dad when J was a babe and we spent the evening with friends.
Last year we spent lunch at mums and the night at home with just us 4.. i bought eats we all liked, like spring rolls, wedges, salad nibbles, lolly nibbles etc and had a simple creamy chocolate log cake. All this while watching a movie i think. I am hoping for similar this year.. “I am dreaming of a stress-free Christmas..”
I started to get stressed out about Christmas last weekend and along with finishing one of my jobs this week, i was a lost case!! After a sleep tab last night i feel much better to face the shops and the many events i am meant to be involved in or attend this week.
On the way home from school just now, J and I popped into a nearby shop and yay, J found 2 gifts he needs.. such a thrill with only 2 weeks to go. Now to get him to wrap them ho ho ho!!
I don’t think we’re killing christmas, I think christmas is killing us. For too long now people have slowly been sucked in by the advertising hype that says your family and friends won’t love you or they’ll think you don’t love them enough if we don’t all have/make/buy the very latest in gifts, trees, tinselly things, food and drinks. And of course the party/lunch/barbecue must be the biggest and bestest EVER….and since you did exactly that last year, now you have to somehow top it. Which of course takes extra time and money causing even more stress. The commercialisation of christmas is to blame, and those of us who can’t se past the hype will just continue on in this fashion making the “shareholders” richer and themselves poorer, (think after christmas credit card bills). More people need to slow down and think, “hang on, we did all that last year, why not go simple this year?”
My husband and I try desperately hard to keep Christmas about what OUR family wants / likes to do and not what the rest of the extended family does or doesn’t do. Sure, we all get together, but we have learned to set our own rules and traditions and we don’t let others deter us from making the season what we enjoy.
Thanks for the pep talk Jody - esp. as I was one of the mentioned bloggers :-). I’m def. reavaluting my expectation of the season. This might be our last year with Santa so that would simplify things even more. I must say your Christmas away sounds lovely :-).
Libby
Congrats to you for realizing the type of holiday that is the best for you and your family. I never really liked the idea of doing the same thing every year myself. Some people like traditions but I just feel that life is too short and I like to experience lots of different things so it was refreshing to read of someone else who didn’t feel the pressure to do everything the same each and every year. Hope you have a wonderful and stress-free holiday this year too!
Great post Jody.
This year will be our first alone in a long time(forever) …hubby said he just wants a ham sandwich. Who knows ?
I want it to be relaxing but with a bit of trimmings , got to have some excuse for a feast.
I am finding the stress of gifts even for teenage and pre teen neices harder every year, so we just bought itunes cards. Others …forget it.
We still have Boxing day & 27th with our respective families so it won’t be totally stress free. MY SIL said has bought plastic plates said she wasn’t stressing over the washing up this year.