I like Christmas. I don't let the commercialization bother me.

[bluestateguy]

A lot of posters here moan and groan about the commercialization of Christmas. I guess I have a different view: I don't let the commercialization get to me too much. I like the holiday too much to let the commercialization bother me. Christmas always brings back warm memories of my childhood, when times were simpler and more innocent. For me, Christmas has always meant spending time with my family. As for the commercialization, I do things on my own terms: I go Christmas shopping when I want to, to the stores I want to shop at, and I always leave myself with enough time to shop. I refuse to let something as simple as Christmas shopping stress me out. I set a budget for what I can afford to spend that year, and work within that. I don't complain about it.

I respect people who out of preference or religious membership do not celebrate Christmas, but this holiday means a lot to me because its a time of the year when I get to see my family.

[L A Woman]

1. I couldn't have said it better myself...

It's like you read my mind. :-)

[mac56]

2. I admire your point of view.

I hope to get (or get back) to that point someday.

[WhollyHeretic]

3. This atheist loves the Christmas season

I love watching my sons excitement and thinking of my childhood memories. A lot of my friends who live across the country come back this time of year. I also thoroughly enjoy making or buying personal gifts for those I care about.

[SoyCat]

9. I'm another atheist who enjoys the Christmas season even though I don't celebrate

the actual holiday. I still give presents because I love giving things to those I love. You just won't find them under a tree or wrapped in XMas paper. And, I usually manage to give them on a different day, as well.

You'd be surprised how many people still haven't put 2 and 2 together to figure out that I'm not celebrating "Christmas". (Ambiguous holiday cards, no XMas wrappings, no tree, etc.)

[yellowdogintexas]

4. Christmas has been over commercialized for as long as I can

remember, and I am 58 years old...and I truly love the Christmas season. And I agree on that being wonderful for seeing friends and family, and enjoying parties and special food and all that.

However I do wish the beginning of the "season" would stop backing itself up earlier and earlier into the year. I just despise going into stores in OCTOBER and the Christmas stuff is already out. And I really don't want to hear Christmas Music until after Thanksgiving either.

Way Back When, you never saw much about Christmas stuff until Thanksgiving was over and done with.

There was a reason the last thing in the Macy's Parade was Santa Claus in the Sleigh. That was the official beginning of the Christmas Season. I think having all the Christmas stuff so obviously promoted earlier and earlier in the year takes away from some of the specialness of the season.

Advent actually begins Next Sunday. That is when our church will start hanging garlands, etc. I won't put my Christmas lights out until next weekend, and my tree won't go up until the next week.

I especially love Christmas Eve, when we go to candlelight services at our church with our friends and sing the most classic and beautiful of the Christmas Carols.

Just my two cents worth, anyway.

[Skittles]

12. it gets worse and worse every year

and I envy the people who cannot see how sickening it all is

I don't understand why people have to wait until a certain time of the year to see their family, to feel compassion, to give - these things can and should be done ANY time

[bumblebee1]

15. I agree with you on your second point, YellowDog.

I don't let holiday shopping stress me out, either. I started mine last Monday. I did more yesterday. In about a week or two, I'll be done. I don't start decorating until the first weekend in December. I like listening to Christmas music when the radio station mixes it in with the regular music. Otherwise, Christmas music being on 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week drives me crazy.

[Ariana Celeste]

5. Good...

That's what Christmas always was for me, time to go see all the relatives and eat good food and have a good time. :). I don't get to see my family much anymore and won't this Christmas... I don't have a lot of money so I will be sending a lot of cards and will only buy a couple of gifts. As for my friends around my area, I am baking cookies and will try making fudge, too. I bought cute little tins for the cookies last year, but this year will probably be paper plates and green saran wrap. I can only buy so many gifts but I can bake a ton of cookies. :D

[tinfoil tiaras]

6. Christmas is like my favorite holiday!

I love playing with the nativity scene...haha I still do that sometimes. :rofl:

And i like recieving and giving presents...hehe.

[bridgit]

7. the rank stuff bugs me but basically?...me neither...

:thumbsup:

[FooFootheSnoo]

8. I love Christmas!!

Now that I have a child, it's even better. It's not just the gift giving, it's the spiritual side of the season. The feeling of hope, anticipation and peace. I actually like Christmas Eve better than Christmas day. My mom used to bake all day long and we had little traditions that we carried out on Christmas eve like hanging stockings, etc. I do some with my daughter and I've added some new ones. It's a very special time of year to me. The commercialization bothers me, but I don't let it ruin Christmas. I agree with the above poster that the stores need to stop pushing Christmas so early. I saw some Christmas stuff out in September this year.

[mike_c]

10. bah humbug and yer little dog too....

It bugs the shit out of me. :grr:

[momophile]

11. I like the season too.

I'm not Christian but I love Christmas trees, seeing Christmas lights, and a lot of the traditions that my family did when I was a kid. Putting cookies and milk out for Santa. Hanging tinsel and candy canes on the tree Christmas eve after the kid is asleep. And lots of wrapped presents. It's just fun for me.

Now if I could just train myself to say 'Yule Tree.'

[deadparrot]

13. I love Christmas.

Even though I'm past the age where the focus is "presentspresentspresents," I enjoy the atmosphere, the schmaltzy music and decorations and the "feel" of the season. My parents are the types who break out their huge Christmas CD collection the day after Thanksgiving and have it playing nonstop for the next month.

Plus, the three weeks off from college also helps...:)

[Floogeldy]

14. Could I interest you in an elephant bone marrow carved statue of Jesus?

Only $5999.99.

;)

[LostinVA]

16. Me too -- and I'm not even Christian anymore

But I love Xmas.... and Xmas music... and Xmas specials...

[PVnRT]

17. Eh, who cares about it?

It's an appropriation of a pagan holiday celebrated with orgies and the like. I say bring that back.

[blondeatlast]

21. No one's stopping you,,, nt

[Midlodemocrat]

18. I love Christmas. Everything about it.

I love the decorations, the smells, the crowded stores, everything.

I do almost all my shopping online, so I go into the stores just to feel the spirit.

[lildreamer316]

19. Me too!

...and I have to say, I loooooooooooooove the music.
I grew up in a Methodist church, where the music was paramount. I was in all kinds of choirs, and we put on one hell of a Christmas show. I'm gonna sneak back for the show this year, just to hear that beautiful music.

[soleft]

20. I have a new little ritual on December 5th

It's my birthday and it's also my GF's birthday. So we both take off from work and go the the Xmas Dept. at Macy's on 34th St. We like to look at all the new Xmas treet ornaments and then we go see Santa Claus, and it's great because it's in the middle of a work day there's never a line.

Xmas in NYC is the best - I just love all the decorations.

[Reverend_Smitty]

22. Christmas is the only time of the year I get to see my mom...

so I'll put up with all the other crap just to get the chance to visit her. She lives 600 miles away and it seems like Christmas is the only time I've been able to see her in the last 10 or so years. There was a time in my mid to late teen years where we didn't see each other for nearly 3 years! So I make sure I get to visit her at least once a year

[blondeatlast]

23. Me too, and I'm tired of feeling guilty about it. My kid is spiritually neutral

and my husband is a former non-Christian turned non-believer at all, and we have a grand old time.