Is Christmas an annual ordeal?

[exitseven]

[Lliam]

No.

There was a time when I was really into it.

I don't have any relatives around anymore. My sister and niece l live 400 miles away, but we agreed years ago to stop exchanging gifts. I don't exchange gifts with many friends. My wife and I don't even exchange gifts anymore because it works better when we buy what we want for ourselves and we can do that any time of the year. We don't wait for Christmas. We exchange cards and small tokens of love and affection on Christmas, but that's it.

We have a few friends that we go out to dinner with and exchange small gifts like wine, chocolate, music CDs or books. I gave one good friend a cool wine aerator last year.

We haven't put up a tree in years, but we decorate inside our house a bit. We live on 30 acres on a hill where no neighbors can see our house, so we don't decorate the outside.

So, we make our home cozy and Christmasy and we do things together during the holidays, but we don't stress out shopping, wrapping gifts, wasting money, and indulging in the consumerism.

I love the Christmas season, but don't like the consumerism or the pressure.

[AviatorTom]

If you plant an annual plant, it only lives one year and then dies. If you want multiple years, you have to plant a perennial.

So, based on that, Christmas is not an annual ordeal... it happens every year.

[exitseven]

picky picky picky.

[AviatorTom]

@exitseven Just trying to bring some levity to a day where so many people are not happy with what's going on in Washington. Hey, it got you several questions to post. 🤔

[AviatorTom]

@exitseven Thanks for MHO

[midnightmoon05]

Not really. We only get presents for little kids who are under 14 or 15… by then they want to make their own money and buy their own stuff… we also give out money and teach them how to invest around this age… so they have their investment accounts set up and start learning how to invest.

I might get small things like silly Christmas socks for everyone or some special cookies/treats from our travels.
we don’t buy for anyone who is earning a salary.
Between hubby and I, we pretty much go shopping together if we want something special and do other special outings other times of the year. I don’t like the commercialized Christmas where everyone has to go out to buy something and wrap them up.

[TrueConfection]

I love the whole Christmas season. Yes, there is work involved. I'd say putting the lights on the tree is an ordeal. 😬

[exitseven]

@TrueConfection I still have to set up the tree. Thanksgiving was late so it seems like a lot has to be done in a shorter time frame.

[TrueConfection]

I agree! We still need to get our tree. I'm way behind.

[TrueConfection]

Thank you for the MHO ❤

[OlderAndWiser]

It's not an ordeal for me as I stopped focusing of gift-giving many years ago. Now, it is a time of celebrating with parties, concerts, special events, getaways with my partner, and making sure that I take time to do something for others. Every year, my church buys Christmas gifts for approximately 100 children in foster care and helping with that makes Christmas feel even nicer.

[NathanDavis]

for some, it might be...

to me, it is not... and I'm all about that Mexican Christmas food...

[sage2021]

No, sometimes we switch out Easter and Christmas and then we cancel Labor Day and have another Christmas 🎁⛄

[IslaTheWitch]

it's something unique every year... and I love it...

[BCRanger10]

I mean... it happens every year...

[exitseven]

yes and I go to the dentist every 6 months.

[DryGermanGuy]

I bet there are people who feel that way.

[Elf_Erectus]

Imagine, if you will, being flogged like a misbehaving stocking stuffer, clothespins pinching my poor, unsuspecting testicles like ornaments on a branch. Ankle to wrist ties, a bondage ballet danced to the tune of Jingle Bells, as I'm sodomized by a candy cane, the ultimate seasonal violation. And oh, the indignity of being used as a human Christmas tree, adorned with a reindeer antler for a not-so-merry game of "pin the carrot on the snowman" aka my snow white cheeks.

[Gym_Bro]

Looks like your mistress still has her pms 2 days after new moon.

[slatyb]

Not my favorite but it's not an ordeal. I have no family obligations. I just send small gifts to my brother and sister and adult child.

[NewWaves]

Not really. There are down moments but it's over all good

[DrPepper12]

Used to be but I've cut my family off they're so toxic

[Wiredone]

Sure seems like it to me. This year is going to be very difficult

[SpaceGalaxy]

It is a way to boost the economy and have people buy presents even when they are in debt and can hardly meet the ends meet

[exitseven]

Yes, people are out maxing out their credit cards. Sooner or later the bill comes due.

[Gwendoline]

Maybe or maybe its how you look at it.

[FunkyMonkee]

No, it happens every 3 or 4 weeks.

[seeyounexttuesday]

It's not an ordeal.

[catrina92]

It’s not