Among Friends

[candys mine]

@proudlyfromNJof course you should have.  It just seems to many people that Christmas has become all about santa and Geting things and being disappointed if you don't or can't measure up to the hype that it seems like there needs to be More said about The real reason we celcbrate vs it all being The comercial celebration is all.

[proudlyfromNJ]

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@candys mine wrote:

@proudlyfromNJof course you should have.  It just seems to many people that Christmas has become all about santa and Geting things and being disappointed if you don't or can't measure up to the hype that it seems like there needs to be More said about The real reason we celcbrate vs it all being The comercial celebration is all.

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@candys mine  @Shanus Yes I see what you're saying. Maybe have a Nativity and the tree should be the focus. Parents can go over the story of the Nativity with their kids. They can take the kids caroling as there are many songs that tell a story. Maybe do something with the kids that will help others, like a food bank, some small gifts for underprivileged children. Get them involved.

[Mindy D]

Why not live the holiday time without the tree, the physical gifts, the giant meal. Why not just have a nativity scene, discussions about the meaning of the holiday, spend time with the family, sing some songs which include the story of the holiday. 

More shocking, and difficult to do...exclude Santa. Exclude lists of gifts. Exclude red and green color theming. 

None of the hoopla even existed in the ancient times the story is from; with the exception of the gifts from the Magi. There's nothing in the story that says followers should exchange gifts.

Some might want to have another time...not the holiday, that celebrates winter fun time with children. Not religious. A celebration of the season. You could give winter season gifts of warmth. Sit in front of a fireplace. Use snowmen or other wintry decor. This way you are separating this time from the meaning of Christmas. Put up some lights inside. Use some pine cones. Have some popcorn. String some popcorn. Have some candy canes. Just keep the time separate in every way from the religious holiday. 

[mistriTsquirrel]

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@Shanus wrote:

I think younger children wouldn't understand the 'truth", but certainly as they get into an appropriate age, the over requesting and purchasing of toys, decor and Santa should be lessened (not eliminated) and the true story of the meaning of the holiday should be discussed. 

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I would not tell a kid a mythical being is bringing them presents.  They'll be just as happy to receive presents from their family as they would be to get them from "Santa."

When people lie to their kids for no good reason and the kids find out they've been lied to, some of those kids are going to question whether or not adults can be trusted to tell the truth.

[mistriTsquirrel]

@Mindy D @proudlyfromNJ 

Many people see a traditional Christmas tree as a religious symbol.  Same with candy canes.  The colors themselves, the shape of the tree and the shape of the canes, these things are symbols to people in some Christian denominations.

[proudlyfromNJ]

@mistriTsquirrel  Thank you. I edited my post .

[mistriTsquirrel]

@proudlyfromNJ 

Is okay.  I just figured some people would not know, because not all denominations teach this.  When I was a kid going to one denomination of church, they didn't teach us this.  But I learned it when going to a different type of church as an adult.  So I'm assuming some denominations see it this way and others do not.

[ECBG]

@Shanus 

I hope children are getting the true message with all of the shutdowns in the past few years with covid preventing families from going to church and beginning building or strengthening that good foundation.

[matty liz]

When I wrote the saying....Of coarse I knew that.  I'm 80 and my 4 kids and 11 grandkids know it too.  Must say the 'Grinch " surprised me.  It was never intended to evoke such negative coments.  I thought it to be sweet.  It is hard to share to those I thought friends and have been so helpful at times.  

[manny2]

I think Christmas just reflects who we are as a society. The more stuff we have the better we think we are. I know parents that buy their kid gifts to be the envy of their peers. 

I think we can enjoy the whimsical side of Christmas, and celebrate the true meaning simultaneous. We can't do that until we realize more stuff doesn't make us better it just means we have more stuff.