What do you do for Christmas

[puddle jumper]

Not to make this a religious thread but how do you celebrate Christmas.

I know some of you that Christmas is a very religious time of year which is OK bye me. Others don,t celebrate Christmas at all and that's OK bye me to. I think most people are like me and have Christmas with the gift exchange and all that goes with the holiday. I enjoy family and friends with the good food. People seem to try to be more friendly ( but don't always show it).

So what are you up to this coming holiday?

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: What do you do for Christams

Re: What do you do for Christams

To help the needy in these hard times.

If you own a boat then you can afford to give a little back !!.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: What do you do for Christams

Re: What do you do for Christams

All of the above?
For instance I traditionally go straight from a Christmas eve party with old friends to a church service at midnight.....then up in the morning to open presents with the family.

 

[Vlad D Impeller]

Re: What do you do for Christams

Re: What do you do for Christams

When I was in retail, Christmas Time was all about making money, now it's just another day like any other day.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: What do you do for Christams

Re: What do you do for Christams

Ahh....Christmas Day and the holidays...love it.
We spend a lot of time with the TV off* (read below) and just visit. Absolutely No Christmas morning panics or 'early' starts allowed. We kick off Christmas morning with a big glass of Champagne and orange juice. We take the day pretty slow. As a matter of fact we have never had our Christmas gifts ever opened fully before dinner and a couple of years we actually had to finish them on boxing day.
We do a lot of baking (cinnamon buns, etc) for daily snacks and then my wife does an extremely great turkey with a great bunch of root vegetables.
The TV is not allowed on Christmas Eve or day, only music or conversation.
When we get our living room decorated I'll try to post a couple of pics.
Now as for boxing day...things change because...yes thats right a great Canadian tradition kicks in...*THE IIHF WORLD JUNIOR HOCKEY TOURNAMENT...and ain't nobody going to stand between me and that.
Regardless, I love the holidays and we have never had a dud Christmas day, knock on wood.
BP

 

[rbh]

Re: What do you do for Christams

Re: What do you do for Christams

Me and the wife thought we would pop over to the north end of the island and have a few bevys with you and the wife PJ, hope you got lots of crab+ seafood in the freezer.

You guys headen back up chilcoten way????
The puddle is dang cold when that ice fog roles in and settles, stay on the island dude.

Rob

 

[produceguy]

Re: What do you do for Christams

Re: What do you do for Christams

I still work in retail and dealing with people around the holidays can be a real pain.I enjoy Christmas more than any other holiday it is that time of the year to be thankfull for everything I have. Great wife , smiling kids, decent job. Theres alot of people hurting right now. I couldnt emagine what it is like to have to tell my kids that Santa is not coming.I wish I could help others but I geuss all I can give is time and patince.We will be at the house opening presents and playing with the kids and have a great dinner and praying for another good year. Why do some people think that because you have a boat you must have alot of money?

 

[gibletts]

Re: What do you do for Christams

Re: What do you do for Christams

I mow the lawn every christmas day, I started doing it to annoy the family but now find it quite therapuetic.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: What do you do for Christams

Re: What do you do for Christams

Me and the wife thought we would pop over to the north end of the island and have a few bevys with you and the wife PJ, hope you got lots of crab+ seafood in the freezer.

You guys headen back up chilcoten way????
The puddle is dang cold when that ice fog roles in and settles, stay on the island dude.

Rob

No were staying home this year. Did the rest of the family thing last year. Were flying our oldes son down this year as a treat for my wife and him.

We always have a plate or two for some lost travelers on Christmas day. Like I told you if you want some crab you will have to come down and catch some with me. Its best when fresh and the great thing about the ocean it does not freeze so we are good to go on Christmas day.

 

[eavega]

Re: What do you do for Christams

Re: What do you do for Christams

My mom owned Christmas. She would go whole hog for us when we were kids; presents would be hidden until Christmas morning, decorations, tree, etc, etc. After we grew up and moved away she STILL would do up Christmas. Got into having a "Christmas Village" that eventually would take up the entire front room of the house. It was very impressive and time consuming for her. When the grandkids came along, her displays and holiday celebrations just kept getting bigger. My mom passed away suddenly about 4 1/2 years ago. My dad gave most of her Christmas decorations away, but the "Christmas Village" got divided between my sisters and myself. I spend a few days each Christmas decorating as well as I can, but always in the spirit of my mom and how she used to love the holidays.
Now, my big thing is the kitchen. Being of Cuban decent, we typically had a huge family celebration on Christmas Eve, which included roasting a whole hog, black beans and rice, Cassava (yucca), ripe plantains (maduros), and Spanish nougats (turrones). I don't get together for Christmas with my family much anymore (everyone except me lives down in South FL, and I have a thing about having to travel and being away from my home on Christmas day), but I have tried to maintain the Christmas Eve "Noche Buena" tradition with my family and my friends-that-are-like-family here in GA. Christmas day is all about my girls; midnight mass, then off to bed with the little ones, Santa brings out all the gifts (some years more, some years less). Girls get up before us and see all the presents under the tree and get all excited. We have some breakfast first (need that coffee!) and then its watching the girls open presents under the tree. After that, we take advantage of living in a multi-cultural area and usually are invited for Christmas Dinner at someone's house, so its more good food and good times.
That is what I do for Christmas!

 

[98Shabah]

Re: What do you do for Christams

Re: What do you do for Christams

Christmas is not for me.. It has become far too commercialized, it's all about money.. I can't stand seeing Christmas sales and decorations in stores right after the Halloween section is cleared out.

I am not religious, in fact I'd consider myself more of an Athiest.. My wife and I have two kids, ages 3 and 9, we celebrate the gift exchange/giving part of Christmas. I also volunteer through work to pass out presents at a local children's hospital just before Christmas.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: What do you do for Christams

Re: What do you do for Christams

Festivus.......

For the rest of us. Plain aluminum pole, the airing of grievances, feats of strength. What more could you ask?

The one thing about this time of year that annoys me is some people's concentration on "stuff". Yeah, it's nice to recieve gifts, and fun to give them, but sometimes I think we get a bit overboard on it. Especially when people trample each other to get the last "Craze Gift- Sickenme Elmo, Kabbatch Patch Kidz, whatever. Or who stand in line for hours in the middle of the night just to be first in line to spend your money. Really?

For me, it's about spending time with family and friends, getting together for a couple drinks, having some good food, and all. I'm not particularly religous, so that aspect of the season has little meaning to me.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: What do you do for Christams

Re: What do you do for Christams

Couldn't agree more. Some people are nuts, IMO. Also, the none stop tv advertising for sales that really kick in after T-Day. Businesses that put their Christmas "stuff" out b/4 Halloween. By the time Christmas DOES roll around, a person is pretty much sick of it by then. It's sad how it's turned into just a commercialized financial bonanza for retailers. I guess it's always been that way, but now, it's more in our face. And getting worse each year. Businesses are smiling all the way to the bank with our money.

With all the craziness this time of year, sometimes it's hard to stay on track with the "reason for the season"....

 

[98Shabah]

Re: What do you do for Christams

Re: What do you do for Christams

Also, let us not forget all the radio stations that play only Christmas music from thanksgiving until January 1st.

My daughter's elementary school has even gotten in on the "magical" season.. Every year they send home a "Santa's Cottage" notice with an envelope, you send cash (or check payable to the school) in the envelope so that your child can buy gifts from the school store for friends and family members. Really? Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like a $2 pencil eraser or a $4 slap bracelet. Lol!

 

[sasto]

Re: What do you do for Christams

Re: What do you do for Christams

The Dog and myself would go fishing every Christmas. Was the best gift I could give her. The 2nd best gift for her was a case of tennis balls.

After she was gone I went to sea...spent many a Christmas at Hispanola, (Haiti and Dominican Republic) spreading around stuffed animals, whiffle ball bats and balls, and clothing that some good Americans donated.

Now I take the Lady fishing, and buy her a case of wine.....Her 2 favorite things!

Wishing happiness to all.

 

[tswiczko]

Re: What do you do for Christams

Re: What do you do for Christams

I remember getting socks and underwear and even a toy or two if my parents could afford it. I remember how excited I used to get when I would get them it meant I could throw the hand me downs I had away.

I can also remember the long hours my father worked to afford us that luxury.

I try to gift the same and do not feel I need a holiday to give my family gifts nor are the gifts I give anymore special at this time of year.

to me very gift I give my family is special because I try to give from the heart by paying attention to the things they need and give accordingly.

I'm sure my wife wonders what the 'ell was he thinking when he bought that(like the time I got her a new washer and dryer) she didn't look too happy but a few weeks later I saw her reading a book on the couch, something she didn't get much time to do when we had to go to the laundromat twice a week and I felt better about it whether or not she noticed she had more time to do the activities she wanted to do instead of the things she had to do.

I also bought her a camera she had been wanting for a long time and put it in a pot and pan set box(I gave the pots and pans to my sister) she unwrapped the present looked at the box and set it unopened in the pile of other practical presents I had gotten her without another thought or look. She didn't know there was a camera in there till our youngest ( 3 at the time) opened it so he could partake in his favorite past time, driving mommy nuts by beating on pots and pans with a wooden spoon. He was more disappointed that there weren't pots and pans in the box than my wife, who thought there were pots and pans in the box.

 

[aspeck]

Re: What do you do for Christmas

Christmas is a very special time for me. Oh, I enjoy the presents (giving more than recieving) and the time with family and friends. There is always lots of good food, also. But for me, the most important part of the season is the reason we have Christmas in the first place. No, not for retailers to make ends meet, but because it is the time set aside to remember when God became flesh and dwelt among us. He walked this earth and experienced all we have experienced, the hurt, loss, pain, joy, laughter, hunger, etc. He understands us, because He made us and became us.

Christmas is about hope, not just hope for an after life, but hope and help for today. Christmas is about the love of our Creator for us, that He gave us the best present of all. And just like all presents, we have a choice whether we will accept that gift, open it, and use it, or if we reject it, or open it and then leave it for another.

So, I am already playing and enjoying the Christmas Caroles. I am already preparing for Christmas. We will enjoy a Christmas Eve Celebration at church and then on Christmas day we will start off with the reading of the Christmas Story. We will have my side of the family over for breakfast and my wife's family over for supper. And there will be friends in between. It will be a full day with EVERYTHING the season offers, family, friends, food, and a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: What do you do for Christmas

Amen Art. Thank you for that. Christmas for me is not that special. Don't get me wrong, I know the meaning of it. Growing up it was always fun but I don't have family or kids to celebrate it with. So for me, the faster it's over, the better. It would be more special if I could bring my Johnson outboard in and stand it next to the tree..lol. I don't think the wife would go along with that though. I think I need help.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: What do you do for Christmas

Art I take it you voted for a powerful time of year.

 

[aspeck]

Re: What do you do for Christmas

Art I take it you voted for a powerful time of year.

Ummm, that just might be a good guess!