Are you a Scrooge or a Santa when Christmas comes around?

[JDgreen227]

Wife and I are near 60, no kids, and for the last 15 years have done little to celebrate the holidays, but about 2003, that Christmas we had a big holiday get together with dinner to celebrate our new home addition. Since then, we have gradually tapered off celebrating, fewer and fewer cards, no tree, no decorations, no dinners, don't even bother to give each other or others a present for the holidays. Pretty hard to find gifts for people who already have everything and then some. I do donate cash gifts to the local Humane Society and homeless shelters, as well as buying food to donate to the local food banks. So, am I a Scrooge or a Santa?

How about you guys?

 

[jonyyuma]

well, we had kids and grands. We do always put up a tree and some outside lights for them. My wife insist on a few gifts for everyone.me included, so I buy her a few, I always get more than i buy...We don't give the children much, but the grands get close to$50.00 each worth. Big supper together, and go see them on Christmas day.

 

[Chuck52]

With three kids and four grandkids, so far, we try to get everyone together for Christmas. Unfortunately, all the adults except me and wife work in health related fields, so Christmas comes on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or the day after, or what ever combination gets everyone covered. The wife and I decorate some....always a tree at least. This year the tree has been up and lighted since Sunday, but we haven't got it decorated. Wifey went back to work after retiring recently, and only has weekends off, so we'll probably get to the decorations tomorrow and over the weekend.

SWMBO likes to give presents. The grandkids get too much stuff every year and the kids still get presents, too. She gets pleasure from it all and I do too, but it can get to be a bit much some years. At least we have reached the point where we don't worry about getting each other presents.

Christmas is mainly fun. Life is mainly good.

I hope all reading this have a happy time celebrating however they choose.

Chuck

 

[Bird]

For many years, I told everyoe that compared to me, Scrooge was one of Santa's helpers. I worked 5 years in the Dallas Post Office and nearly 25 in the Police Department, so Christmas time just meant more work and overtime (I worked in the Post Office before anyone heard of FedEx or UPS), and I worked most holidays, including Christmas. And working burglaries as an officer was a bit depressing at times because it seemed those who could afford the loss least were the ones who lost all the gifts to burglars.

But this is the first year since we've been married (nearly 47 years) that my wife hasn't wanted a Christmas tree in the house, but she did put lots of other decorations around the fireplace, on the windows, etc, and I put lights along the eaves of the house, on the shrubs out front and around the front door for her.

But for 40 years, lots of family got together for a big Christmas dinner on Christmas day, usually at our house, but last year at our older daugher's house, and this year we're doing it 8 days early at the younger daughter's house.

My brothers & I decided about 3 years ago to quit buying gifts for each other, but we do still buy for our daughters, their husbands, grandkids, a niece, and a few little kids.

And my favorite charity that I donate a little to each year is the Salvation Army.

But other than thinking about the true meaning of Christmas, I'd just as soon not buy or receive any gifts, or do any of the decorating, card mailing (my wife does the cards alone now), etc.

 

[TripleR]

If you are donating food and money to those in need then you are a Santa in my opinion.

My wife and I are in our mid 60's with four kids and a sack full of grand children, so I don't know what we would be without them.

We have dinner at our house on Christmas Eve. My wife and I don't exchange gifts and forbid our kids from giving us anything other than a card. We give our kids cash, so they aren't so stressed over bills,resents and such.

Time spent with our family is what is important; we had 42 people here last year; good times.:thumbsup:

 

[blueriver]

We don't go nuts ... alot of homemade gifts and family dinner ... just being together is gift enough.

 

[Combustix]

Sounds to me like you are a Santa. Always try to do a little extra this time of year, for others it's a good thing

 

[Gizmo2]

Dang! With the kids, I feel like I'm Santa year round. Thought it would get better once they were out of school. That did not work out too well.
My wife and I have not exchanged gifts for 25 years, Christmas, Anniversary or Birthdays.

 

[ronjhall]

Probably a little of both. The kids can take care of them selves. Grand kids are special. It's our joy to spoil them with those special gifts that only a Grandparent can provide.
Beyond that, my 92 years old mother is one of those pleasures that not many get to enjoy. Not spending Christmas with her would make the whole season dull.
We donate to various organizations.
After 50 years of marriage, wife and I do our little things for each other. Gifts are not generally part of it. It's more what we do for others than ourselves. Get more from helping/giving to others.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Time spent with our family is what is important; we had 42 people here last year; good times.:thumbsup:

That is AWESOME!

That is my vision, HUGE family & extended family & friends get together with good food and better chit-chat.

Awesome!

I'm totally a Santa, I always spend too much, buy too many things for others, and try not to get anything for myself.

I love both the true meaning of Christmas, and the warm family (especially kids) santa, gifts, wishing for snow, etc... I love it all.

Be well,
David