Do you buy Christmas gifts for others?
I’ve grown to resent both the social assumption that I should, and the remorseless media/corporate campaign to get me to do so. I usually get some little things for people that help me out with stuff (my mom’s caregivers, the garbage crew, the postman) for Boxing Day, and maybe something for special people in my life, given on January 6, the last day of my Winter/New Year’s celebration.
I am not sure what the 4Q is but my family get gifts. I made my mother-in-law a huge throw, made my father-in-law mince meat, Christmas cake and chutney. I knit a jumper for my youngest son and made some hippy clothes for my middle boy. I buy stuff too but if I can, I prefer to make stuff.
4Q sounds like "fuck you" ... That's the meaning here I think... ?
@Cutiebeauty 4th quarter of the year when many businesses make most of their money but FU might work too.
@Unimatrix907 ah.. OK.. Lol
@KissedbySun Do you? Thats cool. We should share ideas
@KissedbySun, @Cutiebeauty oh haha
I buy gifts for my gfs and my bf... Gifts that are necessary like clothing .. Food baskets... Etc...
Not enough options! I buy gift that will make people happy. I don't plan my purchases with the economy in mind, in fact I'm spending far less on gifts this year than in past years. The real gift is the time we spend together.
It has nothing to do with adding to the economy, I'm glad it does but that has nothing to do with why I buy Christmas presents. I enjoy seeing someone I care about being surprised and happy.
Me too! Best part.
I usually quite enjoy Christmas shopping when I have a Christmas party to go to... I haven’t done for a few years but maybe this year will be good for it.
I think celebrating Christmas is good for atheists and agnostics, it’s part of the big celebration that brings everyone together at the years end.
I’ve got a wife and kid so my beliefs can’t apply at Christmas because then I’d be a jehovah witness and I can never be like them.
What do you actually mean? Do you buy gifts for others during the holidays? Or do you not?
@Alshaytan Repeating the exact same thing, with sarcasm added for fun, doesn't answer my question, does it?
Your statement assumes one knows what your beliefs are -- at Christmas or any other time.
You have beliefs about what that you can't "apply" at Christmas?
That you have a wife and kid is great, but how does that fit in?
Are your wife and kid Jehovah's Witnesses?
@BlueWave Well ok since you put it like that ?
Me personally I wouldn’t do Christmas. It’s become over commercialized to the point that it begins on November 1st and there’s people being killed over what has become a testament to our country’s lack of decency and humility.
Being that I’m not religious I don’t participate in that part of the holiday and especially with knowing that it was a Roman emperor that decided to declare December 25th as a Christian holiday so that it would fall on the winter solstice and the pagans could party without the fun killers asking to be thrown to the lions.
And as I’ve pointed out that I have a wife and kid that like Christmas and all of its fanfare so because of my love for them I participate but I do ask for and expect very little.
Ok now the JW part of my statement ?
JW’s do not celebrate Christmas, birthdays or pretty much any other holiday which I believe is cruel and arcane especially to their children. Which is why I said that I wouldn’t want to compared to them.
Hopefully this has answered all of your questions and will it be printed in the agnostic.com monthly newsletter?
@Alshaytan Awwww.....you did such a great job at having a conversation -- all the way up till your last sentence, which was more unnecessary sarcasm.
Yes, now what you wrote makes sense. You do buy gifts.
Yes, I'm well aware of the rules of being a JW. They also don't vote. Or join the military. Or say the Pledge of Allegiance.
Thanks for your response -- except for the last sentence.
Christmas is so commercial that it's become a secular holiday. No tree, no lights, no Jesus, but it's nice to exchange gifts with friends.
I love Christmas. I was raised without religion. Christmas has always been a big deal in my family. We love exchanging gifts. The giving is just as important as the getting. I see it as a way to get things we want that we wouldn't normally get ourselves throughout the year. I love seeing someone's face when they open a gift I really put a lot of thought into. I don't think gift giving has to be a negative thing.
I absolutely buy gifts for the kids at christmas.
I know it doesn't have anything to do with ancient mythology.
While I have no use for the seasonal bullshit, and can't wait until it's all over, it IS fun for the little ones.
I do it because they are children, and if that's all they're thinking christmas is about, I'm not going to step all over that, and I'm not going to apologize for my participation.
I give my kids and grandkids money. They never seemed to like the presents I bought them so started giving money instead.
I buy for my family (children, grandchildren). Other than that, no.
I don't even send Christmas cards or put up decorations/tree.
I actually love my house and tree decorated for Christmas. But, when my daughter and niece are not here with me (as they won't be this year), I have zero inspiration or reason to invest the time or effort.
Neither of those fits my situation. I would prefer no gift exchange but instead have a nice lunch with my friends since I don’t get to see them often. But some friends still give me gifts and for those friends I do buy gifts in return. None of us needs any more stuff, especially stuff we can’t use.