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

[along-for-the-ride]

Another year has gone by since this thread was started. This year, we avoided the holiday consumer rush.This year, I didn't bid on E-bay for little gifts for co-workers.This year, we sent no wood craft gifts in the mail. This year, we did not make out money-holder Christmas cards for kids and grand-kids.

No money for all that.

Is everyone still gonna love us after December 25th? Probably so.

Why do I still feel so sad?

[Carolly]

Originally Posted by along-for-the-ride

Another year has gone by since this thread was started. This year, we avoided the holiday consumer rush.This year, I didn't bid on E-bay for little gifts for co-workers.This year, we sent no wood craft gifts in the mail. This year, we did not make out money-holder Christmas cards for kids and grand-kids.

No money for all that.

Is everyone still gonna love us after December 25th? Probably so.

Why do I still feel so sad?

Because you like giving and feel sad because you cant darlin.You have the best gift you could give to anybody and its totally free...........your love and Im sure you have plenty of that to give that wont be thrown away.....that wont be cast aside and forgotten about.The gift of love money cant buy and that my friend you are so rich with.

[along-for-the-ride]

Thank you for your kind words, Carolly. I can barely type, 'cause I can barely see. Your words moved me so. I hope that others in the same situation at Christmastime get some comfort as well.

[Carolly]

Originally Posted by along-for-the-ride

Thank you for your kind words, Carolly. I can barely type, 'cause I can barely see. Your words moved me so. I hope that others in the same situation at Christmastime get some comfort as well.

Im sorry I made you cry but its true.The best gift in life is to be loved and to love in return and all of us must never forget that.I would rather have no money and lots of love around me then no love and lots of money as the money wouldn't mean anything.Now give us a smile

[Carolly]

I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be
Everybody searching for a hero
People need someone to look up to
I never found anyone who fulfill my needs
A lonely place to be
So I learned to depend on me

Chorus:
I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadows
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I'll live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can't take away my dignity
Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all

I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be .......