Our Non-Traditional Christmas
We’ve started a new holiday tradition this year. No family gatherings on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
*Gasp* But Christmas is supposed to be about family!
Well, Mike and I decided that we see the family we are close with on a regular basis, so why waste two perfectly good days seeing family we never have the want to see the rest of the year? Instead, we’re going to relax, go to the movies, and probably order pizza for dinner.
We’re already considered Aunt and Uncle Scrooge for canceling Christmas, so I doubt we’ll be missed since we wouldn’t be arriving with arms full of gifts, but I want to assure you that we’re still very much in the Christmas spirit. Eggnog is flowing, holiday music is playing, and we sent out many holiday wishes to friends and family; we’re just going a less traditional route on the actual holiday.
Do you celebrate Christmas in a non-traditional way? Have you gotten any slack for how you celebrate the holidays?
Karen
Merry Christmas to you and Mike, Corrin.
Corrin
You too, Karen. I hope your family has time to enjoy the holidays.
Teena in Toronto
Gord and I aren’t Christmas people … but we are heading to his sister’s today to have a big meal with the family. We’ll be back tomorrow.
Merry Christmas!
Teena in Torontos last blog post..Happy holidays!
Jason
You shouldn’t feel bad at all for not celebrating something so marred and bastardized by the festival of Saturnalia. And of course any that ask can find out for themselves how misguided their celebrations are with such information. They always react the same way and give no slack
Corrin
Oh, Jason. That’s exactly the kind of comment I expected from you. Merry Christmas! xoxo
Linda Parker
My family thinks we are awful because we don’t buy gifts for our adult children. They go all out for everyone in their respective family- in laws, too. We just buy for our own grandchildren and pay for a couple months for Mom and Dad’s housekeeper. We don’t buy each other gifts. We are giving to each other every day! Christmas is far too commercialized and they all fall right into it. Buying gifts only makes people feel obligated to reciprocate. Individual birthdays—now that’s when individuals should get gifts and my birthday is January 8. I better get something great from my Mike!
Linda Parkers last blog post..CHRISTMAS MUSIC AND SIGHTS
daria369
It’s OK to celebrate the way that makes you feel good, no matter what others think…
daria369s last blog post..Alpski Kvintet – Sveta Noč – Silent Night (1989)
Corrin
Teena – Hope you enjoyed your holiday. Travel safe!
Corrin
Linda – We’ve never really gone overboard with buying for Christmas, but this is the first year we stuck to only buying for the kids. People still bought us gifts, and while I feel bad for not having anything in return, we asked them politely to not buy as we would not be reciprocating. I guess they will learn for next year!
Corrin
Daria – I 2nd that! Hope you had a nice holiday!
Daly
That’s EXACTLY what we proposed to my family. December is not an ideal time of the year to travel because of bad weather, the roads and airways are congested (even with higher cost of airfare). We proposed celebrating Christmas during the off season at a warm location (hey…Vegas). Next year is going to be low-key and stress-free with no traveling. I’m with ya about having the spirit and celebrating without expectations and obligations.
Dalys last blog post..Bloody Mary Christmas
Stacy
My husband and I want to cancel Christmas next year – we’ve talked about it for a long time now, but we both think it is time we actually go through with it. We want to be out of the country or at least somewhere warm and sunny. We love our family and love spending time with them – it is just that Christmas has become a huge hassle with travel obligations and stretching ourselves thin over 4+ Christmases each year – it is hard and isn’t really what Christmas is about anyways. Our family does all live close so we could visit before and after the holidays all we want – just need the time to ourselves on the actual day of.
Stacys last blog post..Twelve Great Things I Got For Christmas!
valmg
You have to do what works for you. Who is anyone else to say what’s right or wrong.
As far as presents. I buy for who I want to buy for. It doesn’t matter to me if they’re giving me a gift or not. I always buy for all members of my family, which is small (1 hubby, 2 sons, 2 parents, 1 single brother with 2 small girls, 1 single brother and occasionally a girlfriend if he’s got one, 1 married brother and his wife and their daughter, 1 best friend). I never buy because I feel I have to reciprocate.
valmgs last blog post..Bargain hunting? Check TJ Maxx and Marshall’s
Corrin
Daly – My family enjoys doing things together much more than we enjoy giving each other gifts, so spending the holidays together somewhere warm is our ultimate goal. When the holidays aren’t fun any more, it’s time to rethink our celebration strategy!
Corrin
Stacy – The holidays are tricky, especially when you’re not dealing with traditional, nuclear families.
Corrin
Val – I wish I could buy for everyone, but between watching our budget and it feeling like an obligation to shop for some, we’ve really cut back.
I know some family members that we asked not to buy presents are going to go ahead and do so, and while we’re thankful, we hope that they decide against it next year, because I don’t think our present policy is going to change.