Why Give Gifts at Christmas?

[along-for-the-ride]

Do we give gifts because........
it's the custom in our culture...or....
to show our love and appreciation to the recepient..or...
it makes us feel good..or..what?

I'm no Scrooge....I love the Christmas season. The lights, the music, the outside decorations, the church services, the nativity. But it seems every year this time we get caught up in the "shopping for gifts" and agonizing sometimes over our limited budgets on what gifts to get for who. I am speaking of myself as well. I do give gifts, some with love; some, quite frankly, because I feel an obligation to fulfill and that does not make me feel good. I guess, because, I never want anyone to feel obligated to give me a gift.

What are your thoughts?

I give gifts because it makes me feel good. I love to see the look on peoples faces as they open what I get them. it's also an appreciation thing..

[Chezzie]

Tradition I suppose.
We spoil more and more each year due to media and peer pressure.

I love Christmas for the fun aspect, the whole holidays, families getting together, xmas decorations, nativity plays and concerts...Kids getting excited but not the consumer side of it.

Why do people buy so much food at christmas when the shops are back open boxing day and some even stay open xmas day??We dont over food shop at xmas and do a normal shop (excluding the xmas meat and booze) with a few treats.

[RedGlitter]

I like to give gifts to people all the time, not just at Cmas. It makes me happy if I've made them happy. I hope that it shows I appreciate them. I used to fall prey to the media every year, telling me to "make this a perfect holiday" and try to have that Hallmark card Cmas, try to find THE perfect gift for someone. Invariably, I'd end up crying in the store because I couldn't find THE gift. One year I just said "this is BS" and I stopped trying so hard. I realized that there is no gift in the world that's going to tell someone how much I love them so why even try? Now I just get something I think they'll really enjoy and I TELL THEM "I love you." I give presents because it's fun and it makes me feel happy to do it.

[life42]

i agree with chezzie...it's tradition i guess lol