Okay, Listen Here

Okay, Listen Here

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Bah, Humbug!

Bah, humbug. Those words have been echoing in my head for the last couple of weeks as I watch people scurrying to purchase gifts. I am usually not this cynical about Christmas but the commercialism is starting to get to me. It seems that every year, people want more and more for Christmas. Everyone is spending and spending to put more and more presents beneath the tree. When is enough ENOUGH?

I looked up the word “gift” which is defined as “a thing willingly given to someone without payment.” Willingly…Hmmm. Okay, yes I gave my parents a computer (pricey) but they didn’t have one and I thought it was a nice gesture. I read on a web page a particular sentiment that I thought was appropriate. It said “The ultimate reason for giving a gift (is) an expression of kindness.” Are we giving all these gifts as acts of kindness or are we succumbing to the commercialism of buying? I also saw a word on another website that I absolutely fell in love with: Want-arrhea. It seems that kids are the biggest sufferers of this ailment. “I want.” I have always told my son, when he is looking at that box of underwear given to him from an old-maid great aunt, that it is called a gift for a reason; it’s the act and not the gift. Just be glad that you are being remembered.

My sister and I discussed this very thing the other day and we both came to the same conclusion. In years before, we always set monetary amounts on the gifts. This year we both looked at each and said, “Why bother?” All we are doing is exchanging money (if you really look at it – the gifts cost the same and it’s kind of pointless). It also takes the pressure off of trying to find something for someone who has just about everything anyway. I am not saying we aren’t still buying something for the “children” (who are all in their twenties) but as for us old-timers, we aren’t buying each other gifts this year. It took a while to put the brakes on the buying but that is what we have done.

In my mind, the best gift is one that someone made for me: cookies, cakes, hand-made scarves – things that mean something to me because it was made FOR ME. I am doing that this year and I am sure that some will look at it and say “Uh, thanks…” But I actually took my time and my thoughts to make a special thing for that person that no one else will have. I think that is the true meaning of Christmas: You give of yourself.

And, my favorite part of the Season is when we all get together and eat a meal that is prepared with love. The food is made so much better because we want to do this to celebrate. I look forward to Christmas Day when we all gather together to enjoy ourselves and the “gifts” that we have been granted – each other.

Do you have an opinion on “Want-arrhea”? Do you think gift giving has gotten way out of hand? Tell me I am Scrooge if you want to. I just want a simpler Christmas this year. Or you can tell me how you celebrate. Do you enjoy the gift hunt and that hunt makes the Season for you? What do you enjoy about Christmas?

12 comments:

  1. I hear ya. I love my grandkids and they get plenty, but OH, their lists! When an 8 year old asks for an iPad 2 (the original iPad is not good enough) you know things have gotten out of hand. Our family does Dirty Santa among the adults, and I think that's the way to go. We make it fun. -- LJ

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey LJ, that's a great idea - Dirty Santa for the adults! And yes, I know about the electronic gadgetry. My son usually has a list a mile long but not this year. He had a lot of medical school interviews all over the country and the costs were astronomical (So far he has gotten into six schools - YEA!) I guess he has grown up (sigh) because he said not to get him anything for Christmas. Yeah, right. How sad a mother would I be if I didn't put something in his stocking? I can't be Scrooge all the time...

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love Christmas. I love putting out my decoration, hanging ornaments and remembering the people who gave them to me and the celebrations where I recieved them. I love baking and sharing it with the people around me. I also really enjoy going to Christmas parties and getting to see friends that I don't see often enough.

    LJ, I am sure that Dirty Santa game is a LOT of fun!

    Cheryl, congrats to your son on all of the acceptances!

    I know that many adults feel more "Humbug" and less "Merry Christmas" but I love everything about Christmas from the hunt for presents to the messed up kitchen from all the cooking!

    ReplyDelete
  4. We play Dirty Santa with my husband's family too! Its actually a lot of fun and everyone brings something nice so we still feel like we've been given a "treat" when we leave.

    I don't really get Bah Humbug. I really enjoy Christmas, and searching for/buying gifts. I try to find something that person would really want/enjoy, while still being able to afford it. :) None of us get large gifts, because we know we can't afford it.

    This weekend we're making Christmas cookies with the kids -- one of my favorite things to do.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Stephanie, I need an infusion of your enthusiasm. You and I have another reason for the season - birthdays! Guess I am getting too old to be counting them now but every Christmas I also get a year older (I should be thankful, the alternative isn't so great). I agree. The cooking and the sharing are the best part of the Holidays!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ah Angel, you're still young and have all the wonder of Christmas! You have always amazed me with your get-up-and-go because mine has got up and went (somewhere). With your kids (whom I adore), it surely must be fun to be baking cookies! Have a wonderful Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I stopped playing tit for tat a long time a go. While I am not going to give one niece a trip to Europe and another a jump rope, I get what I want them to have and what think will please them. Also, we don't go in debt for Christmas.

    I love to wrap gifts--even though I always burn myself with the glue gun.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Our Dirty Santa is definitely fun. Some of you know about The Fruitcake, which deserves capitalization because it's now more than 21 years old. Yes, it is the same fruitcake, and is now encased in a clear container I wouldn't open on a bet. It comes with a nice gift, but if you want that gift you have to be keeper of the fruitcake for the next year.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ew! That fruitcake must be hard as a rock by now, LJ. ;)

    #4's fiancee's family plays a different kind of Dirty Santa using dice. Very cool game!

    I'm like Stephanie. I love everything about Christmas, most especially when I get everything I need to do, done. The best part is spending time with family. That's the greatest gift of all in my book. ;)

    Jean, you need burn free glue.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Jean, you are the most creative gift-wrapper I know! I love the way you wrap presents! As for buying the presents, yes, you are right about being equal and not tit-for-tat.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Okay LJ you win on the fruitcake. Kind of makes you wonder what is in those things to make them be able to be preserved for so many years. The only fruitcake I actually loved was my Aunt Ruby's. She made the best one I have ever eaten. Sadly, when she passed none of us could find her recipe. Such artistry lost!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Kathy, I do enjoy being with the family for Christmas. I just am tired of the commercialism and the buy, buy, buy mentality. As you said the best part is spending time with your family!

    And where's the fun in burn-free glue? Hot glue guns makes wrapping an adventure!

    ReplyDelete