Am I the only one that experiences Christmas as a non-event?

[DewGuy1999]

Dinner with the in-laws ... so you were once married—if not still. You mention that many people in life are gone. Does that include your spouse? If so, then I can see how the holiday could seem empty without them. If they are still alive, then why aren't you two exchanging gifts?

My wife and I live pretty quiet lives. We're not big into our families, visiting them or having them visit us. But we do have each other and enjoy the holiday being in each other's company. If you have lost that connection, then you have my sympathy. If you are still married, then I would devote a little time and generosity towards one another. Christmas provides an excellent excuse to do so.

Yes, I'm married. We haven't given gifts to each other is quite some time as there really isn't anything that we want, that happens as you get older. I think we still enjoy each others company but there isn't really any kind of Christmas connection.

 

[Happybunny]

Christmas is a time for the family to gather and have a good meal together. Some thing like your thanksgiving, it’s a time for families.
Presents have already been given at St Nicholas on the 5 December. This is especially true if you have young children.

Some people give small gifts at christmas, but it’s not as a general rule .

Over the years the religious aspect has slowly died out here, when I asked my granddaughter what we were celebrating, she looked at all the christmas cards, and said proudly “Winnie the Pooh”. I couldn’t fault her, out of 63 cards 47 were Disney, and Winnie was by far the main figure this year.

I will be doing the same as I do every year be serving a christmas meal to the homeless, at the San Salvador mission.

After this I go to my eldest daughter and have my own meal with the family.

 

[mobilehaathi]

I started this thread and made a few replies to others but I don't think that I ever made it clear enough at what I was getting at, now with it being Christmas Eve Eve I think I've come up with what I should of said to start with.

I'm not a religious person (basically don't believe in it) but was sorta raised Catholic as a child. Christmas was about all the commercial aspects of it, but I also knew the true meaning of it and we always had a nativity. As it is to children it was a big deal to me because of the presents. As a child the presents from my parents were it since I basically didn't get any others, they were the big deal for me. To a lesser extent it was also about the tree and decorating and Christmas songs, etc.

As I got older it became about giving presents to others, especially when I could get them something they really wanted and surprise them with it. It also broadened my "traditions" to Christmas Eve Eve and Christmas Eve presents and going to the in-laws on Christmas day for exchanging presents and the Christmas feast as these were things I never experienced growing up.

Now many of the people in my life are gone for one reason or another, there's no gift giving or gift receiving. There's no tree or decorations, what's the point, I don't think there's anything more pathetic looking than a Christmas tree with nothing under it. The Christmas feast has become a pretty much just a dinner at the in-laws that happens to be on Christmas day.

All around me, starting earlier and earlier every year by the retailers, Christmas begins and carries on with a constant reminding and nagging of what it is or just maybe what it's supposed to be. If I had never celebrated Christmas I think it would just be annoying, but instead it acts as a constant reminder of what used to be, of the people that used to be in my life and what Christmas used to be for me.

Life is change. Perhaps to find your happiness again, you can give your time as a volunteer. Make a change; find your life.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Christmas is a time for the family to gather and have a good meal together. Some thing like your thanksgiving, it’s a time for families.
Presents have already been given at St Nicholas on the 5 December. This is especially true if you have young children.

Some people give small gifts at christmas, but it’s not as a general rule .

Over the years the religious aspect has slowly died out here, when I asked my granddaughter what we were celebrating, she looked at all the christmas cards, and said proudly “Winnie the Pooh”. I couldn’t fault her, out of 63 cards 47 were Disney, and Winnie was by far the main figure this year.

I will be doing the same as I do every year be serving a christmas meal to the homeless, at the San Salvador mission.

After this I go to my eldest daughter and have my own meal with the family.

Not for the first time, Happybunny, I find myself in agreement with the way you organise and plan how to pass the days and time of your life.

Giving something back in a way, (especially if you do not have other commitments) and then spending time with people you care for. What a wonderful way to spend that day…..