What was Christmastime like for you as a child?

[smahala1991]

For me it was magical. I never knew what I was going to get! I also enjoyed the parades, and my grandma making fudge and candy.

[FunkyMonkee]

Grandma would make Christmas candy and sell it and, sometimes, I'd help her at both ends AND I got to eat a lot of it, too!
Sometimes, Mr. Gallo (an older neighbor from across the street) would dress up as Santa Claus and go around town to all the houses that had kids and that he knew who the parents were, just to give us the thrill of seeing Santa a few hours before his round-the-world trip! One time, we got sent up to bed after his visit but he was still downstairs talking with my parents. We were so excited about Christmas coming in a few hours, we just couldn't get to sleep and were running all over the 2nd floor!! Then, "Santa" yelled up and said, "If you kids aren't asleep when I come around, I'm not leaving any presents here!" We all ran into bed and tried our hardest to get to sleep!!
Christmas morning, we'd get up early and see what Santa brought us, play with some our new presents and then watch some Christmas cartoons on t. v. while mom got dinner ready, then, we'd have to run around upstairs getting ready to go to grandma's house, or for them to all come to our house. We'd usually have 13 or 14 people. (One year, we had all of dad's family for Christmas! We had at least 40 people!!) We'd all sit at the table (s) and eat and then, once the dishes were done, we'd all sit around and open the presents we all got for each other. At Grandma's, we were told that Santa came here, too, and left us more presents. If she came to our house, she'd bring with her what Santa left for us.
Quite often, after all this, some of us would get a card game going and play cards for a few hours until everyone (the adults) started pooping out and leaving. By midnight or 1:00 a. m., everyone had left (or gone home, if we were at grandma's) and, over the next few weeks, we'd go to various friends' houses just to visit, see their tree and hang out with the kids they had and show off what we got and, eventually, they'd all make the rounds and come to our place, too.
The tree would go up about a week before Christmas and shortly before that, maybe a week, the house decorations would go up. The tree stayed up `til at least the 2nd week of the new year or once the needles were falling off in massive doses.
Back then, Christmas meant something!! We got to enjoy Christmas! Not like today where it's FORCED DOWN YOUR THROAT from Halloween night onwards until the stroke of midnight Christmas day!!

[Summeroflove]

Yes! For me it was the same magical (and really still is) the birth of my Lord and savior Jesus celebrating it. Spending time with family, friends, and the ones near and dear to me. And of course Santa.

Giving and receiving gifts and eating a big meal. Sometimes even going to different families houses. Though it’s fun some years. Not every year.

[jennifer_bloom]

I loved Christmas up until I stopped getting invited to parties at 26 due to falling out with my long term friends. I still remember when my best friend's boyfriend bought me a Christmas cookie from Starbucks during a Santa clause parade we were watching, that was a super good time for me.

[art84]

My parents would always get me and my younger brother a trainset at Christmas time every year. We would set up the train around the tree and would go in circles. Also we would get toys for Christmas like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and videogames like Xbox, NES, Sega Genesis and a few games. Happy times for both of us and even get clothes as well.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Yes, I enjoyed myself as a child around Christmastime going to my maternal grandparent's house they would give us money plus a surprise present it was joyable I miss them they passed away in the late 90s

[rienna888]

Happiness, something I don't experience as much now

[rienna888]

Walking in the malls with Christmas decorations. Also, opening presents although most of the time, you know what it is. Putting up the Christmas tree and listening to the music that the Christmas lights make.

[Pudsmucker]

Christmas was fun and enjoyable when I was a child. The sad thing is my birthday was in in December same as Christmas. I thought it was not fair that my siblings got presents on their birthdays. There was been times when my parents forgot that I had a birthday in December. I thought it was not fair that they got more gifts than I during Christmas. When was always reserved for my birthday. I did not realize that my parents had financial issues until after I left home.

[TrueConfection]

It had its ups and downs when I was a kid. We baked cookies, went to or participated in the town Christmas parade, Santa would bring presents.

I like Christmas much more as a mom. ❤

[sheikalana]

I used to love Christmas as a kid but I don't feel the same anymore. I remember when I used to open the presents before Christmas day and wrap them again LOL.

[Nikki1989]

We never celebrated Christmas.

[Fuentes]

Never really had It as a child only sometimes

[DeeDeeDeVour]

I always enjoyed the Christmas season.

[NathanDavis]

I am skipping it this year

[msc545]

Some was ok, a lot was simply non-existent.

[Anonymous]

bad memories. divorced parents. etc.