Christmas: Shit, but still kind of good
Somebody asked me how I felt about Christmas and gift-giving a couple of days ago. On one level, I think Christmas is pretty shitty, because a) People put really tacky lights up all over their houses and leave them on overnight, which is a load of wasted energy. They deserve their insanely high electricity bills at the end of the Christmas season and shouldn’t complain b) I hate feeling like I’ve left someone out if I haven’t given them a gift or written them a card and c) I really really hate tinsel. Tinsel is ugly. Tinsel is itchy. Tinsel leaves stupid shiny tinsel-droppings everywhere.
On the other hand, it’s fabulous when I watch my closest friends unwrap a gift that I’ve carefully selected and seeing their eyes light up brighter than any fugly Christmas decorations ever could. When I gave one of my friends some merchandise from her favourite band, she was on the verge of tears (happy tears, that is) and gave me a massive bear hug. That, dear readers, is worth more to me than anything anyone else could have given me. Except for more hugs and happy-tears.
I don’t really care for receiving gifts myself, my family doesn’t do the whole gift giving thing - I’m enough of a spoiled brat as it is - but if you want to give me something, I really don’t mind! Seriously though, whatever I get is good enough for me, but I would be ecstatic if someone gave me a hand made card, wrote me a letter or made a collage of my favourite things to stick up on my wall. That just screams time and effort to me, and those are the things I want most from the people I love.
# Amber, 11 months, 2 weeks ago.
One of my friends ripped the wrapping paper of the present, squealed and then hugged me. It’s things like that that make it worth trawling through the endless shops, freezing from the cold and muttering profanities under my breath. I love Christmas but there are some bits about it I don’t like.
One of those is the Scrooges. You know: “it’s materialistic, blah da da, you’re just buying into the commercialism of the event…” I know what it’s like, I really do, but you don’t need to suck the fun out of it for me nor take the moral high ground because you aren’t materialistic.
Happy Holidays Tracey!
# Chans, 11 months, 2 weeks ago.
I think it’s the smallest things that are appreciated most, at least in my surroundings anyway (and from what I read; in yours too). A little card or gift specially selected for someone can mean much more than a big expensive present.
# Britney, 11 months, 2 weeks ago.
Christmas is about the only time I ever get anything nice bought for me. I like the decorations too, but we don’t put up lights or anything.
# Kaisa, 11 months, 2 weeks ago.
I have a love-hate relationship with Christmas too. I absolutely detest the decorations and I really don’t get people who cover their homes with lights and tinsel :/ On the other hand, it’s about the only time of the year my whole family (parents+six kids) get together and have fun, so that makes all the unpleasant Christmassy stuff seem a tiny bit more pleasant :)
# Kycoo, 11 months, 2 weeks ago.
I feel really awkward when I watch someone open a gift I gave them. It’s like I’m intruding on their privacy, and then they feel obligated to act happy/surprised/excited when they see what it is.
“I hate feeling like I’ve left someone out if I haven’t given them a gift or written them a card…”
I completely agree. I’m always going, “Oh, SHOOT, I forgot so-and-so.”
# Krystal, 11 months, 2 weeks ago.
Your site is SO beautiful. I’m loving this theme. Very well done.
Handmade cards are awesome. I make them every year!
# Boris, 11 months, 2 weeks ago.
I bet Santa owns a power plant and that’s why he invented Christmas lights. I’m wondering if I should do what you did to Georgia and just keep the presents I got for you :D
# Kaylee, 11 months, 2 weeks ago.
It’s the thought that counts! I love it when I get handmade, thoughtful things. And I try to give thoughtful things in return. I’ve written a couple of cheesy rhyming poems for friends :P
# Tracey, 11 months, 2 weeks ago.
Happy holidays Amber! I try not to be too much of a scrooge even though sometimes I lean that way. Especially when it comes to tinsel…
# Tracey, 11 months, 2 weeks ago.
Especially if the big expensive present = a big expensive useless object that you probably wouldn’t touch with a 10 ft pole.
# Tracey, 11 months, 2 weeks ago.
Thanks XD Handmade cards just have that little bit more of yourself put into them, don’t they?
# Tracey, 11 months, 2 weeks ago.
Santa must be an electricity hogging bastard then, just like you’re a present hogging noob! :P
# Tracey, 11 months, 2 weeks ago.
I’d take a cheesy rhyming poem from you any day Kaylee. Anything over a generic “Merry Christmas. Happy new year.” printed in a card!
# Georgia, 11 months, 1 week ago.
Huh. Do you mean I kept the present to give to Tracey or Tracey kept the present to give to me? I’m confused I didn’t buy presents.
# Tracey, 11 months, 1 week ago.
I didn’t even buy a present for you cause I didn’t know what to get. So I don’t know what he means either.
# Exene, 11 months, 1 week ago.
Glad you enjoy giving. The best present for me is a gift card.There is so many things that I could do with that. Hmmm I never got anything handmade before. None of my friends are the craft type. I don’t mind the lights, they have special bulbs that conserve energy so it’s no big deal.
# Boris, 11 months, 1 week ago.
Weren’t you going to give some necklace to Georgia, but then you kept it so you could use it at the formal?
# Tracey, 11 months, 1 week ago.
No. That was Shion, LOL LOL. But I got her something nicer and more meaningful to us anyway.
# Boris, 11 months, 1 week ago.
Ohh okay then. Well, uh, maybe I should keep this stuff and give you a loave of bread hahaha :D