Christmas thread (secular)

[Leeloo]

While there is plenty of room for religious discussion of Advent and the Christmas celebration, I thought we might want a thread to discuss the topic of the more secular side of holiday preparations and plans.

What are your thoughts on gift giving? If you do Christmas shop, how is it going so far? Do you make gifts? Do you mail cards? Are your plans for getting together with family going to differ this year, due to COVID? Do you put up or enjoy lights and decorations? What foods do you make or traditions your family follows?

It’s certainly important to focus on celebrating the birth of Christ, especially right now, but I’ve found that some of the trappings of Christmas and the warmth of family to be a part of what makes this holiday season so special.

 

[Mrs.DanielH]

My brother and I agreed to small gifts (under $30) this year. We think it's a waste to exchange money or gifts unless you know of something that someone really wants (but won't get themselves). I got him and his fiancee a few Christmas ornaments. As for my mom, I picked up a bunch of random things throughout the year for her. I usually don't get my dad anything because he doesn't need or want anything, but this year we found something really cool for him to put at his lake house.
One year in college I knitted all my friends hats. They loved it and it's a gift they can continue using. I knitted my fiance a hat last year. This year I have to make some repairs to it.
I enjoy having a tree, a fake one for less mess and better investment (sorry environment). We put some lights out but I could do without them.

 

[Starlight]

We’re actually using COVID as an excuse to get out of seeing some of our family lol (which is huge).

I’m planning on making a brown sugar/honey glazed spiral ham, French onion soup, and Caesar salad. For dessert, I’m going to make real hot chocolate and whipped cream YUM!

 

[Mrs.DanielH]

I’m planning on making a brown sugar/honey glazed spiral ham, French onion soup, and Caesar salad. For dessert, I’m going to make real hot chocolate and whipped cream YUM!

Sounds delicious! What time should we arrive? Lol

 

[Starlight]

My brother and I agreed to small gifts (under $30) this year. We think it's a waste to exchange money or gifts unless you know of something that someone really wants (but won't get themselves). I got him and his fiancee a few Christmas ornaments. As for my mom, I picked up a bunch of random things throughout the year for her. I usually don't get my dad anything because he doesn't need or want anything, but this year we found something really cool for him to put at his lake house.
One year in college I knitted all my friends hats. They loved it and it's a gift they can continue using. I knitted my fiance a hat last year. This year I have to make some repairs to it.
I enjoy having a tree, a fake one for less mess and better investment (sorry environment). We put some lights out but I could do without them.

We started doing a gift exchange (under $10) for all the cousins (each kid brings one gift) and an ornament ($5 or less) exchange for the adults. It was just getting too expensive to buy gifts for every kid and adult

 

[messaggera]

We made birdseed cookie-cutter ornaments to hang outside on our small evergreen tree along with garland of orange slices and popcorn. for the animals.

We celebrate (Bishop) Saint Nicholas day by putting our wooden shoes out and reading his story. I
have not read the other story where he saves the children from the butcher - too young of an age right now.

Christmas is celebrated with a tree, but we also do a small appreciation and celebrate on 7 January - Old Christmas Day - Julian Calendar.
Honestly I do not like the concept of Santa Claus so I focus on 6 DEC and & 7 JAN , as where, my husband takes the lead on Santa.

We try to purchase an Amaryllis every year.

 

[Leeloo]

We made birdseed cookie-cutter ornaments to hang outside on our small evergreen tree along with garland of orange slices and popcorn. for the animals.

We celebrate (Bishop) Saint Nicholas day by putting our wooden shoes out and reading his story. I
have not read the other story where he saves the children from the butcher - too young of an age right now.

Christmas is celebrated with a tree, but we also do a small appreciation and celebrate on 7 January - Old Christmas Day - Julian Calendar.
Honestly I do not like the concept of Santa Claus so I focus on 6 DEC and & 7 JAN , as where, my husband takes the lead on Santa.

We try to purchase an Amaryllis every year.

I LOVE the birdseed cookie idea!!

 

[muhtea]

We try to purchase an Amaryllis every year.

You know you can rebloom those right? My dad sent a couple for my kids last year and although they might be a bit late for a Christmas bloom since I kind of forgot, I'm currently watering the bulbs to have a second go. I've read of people that have had the same ones for decades.

I see nothing wrong with the secular trappings of Christmas so long as you don't make that the sole thing. The decorating is fun and cheerful, gifts are nice for kids, my husband and I don't buy things for each other unless we happen to think of something, and the kids enjoy getting gifts for each other. If I do gifts outside my immediate family I try to make it something they can eat or otherwise consume rather than some silly thing they probably don't want or need. Who doesn't appreciate some home baked treats?

 

[Kitty Tantrum]

We put up a Christmas tree every year (gotta be real for me), and do presents. I usually try to do a special dinner of some sort on Christmas day. Most years I make sugar cookies and icing for the kids to decorate in the days leading up to Christmas.

The gifts I end up giving, aside from the kids', are usually fairly practical, or something I make/some kind of baked goods.

I do have a special Christmas cookie recipe, handed down from my grandma on my dad's side, to my mom, to me - although I taught my little brother how to make them too, and he made the first batch this year! It's basically a buttery shortbread cookie, with a soft/chewy candy cane center, liberally coated in powdered sugar. For a long time we just called them "candy cane cookies." These days I've settled on "White Christmas Cookies" or "Candycaine Cookies," depending on the audience.

I would really like to put up exterior Christmas lights, because I. love. Christmas. lights. But that's where living in a townhouse sucks.

 

[Luna Novem]

My brother and I agreed to small gifts (under $30) this year. We think it's a waste to exchange money or gifts unless you know of something that someone really wants (but won't get themselves). I got him and his fiancee a few Christmas ornaments. As for my mom, I picked up a bunch of random things throughout the year for her. I usually don't get my dad anything because he doesn't need or want anything, but this year we found something really cool for him to put at his lake house.
One year in college I knitted all my friends hats. They loved it and it's a gift they can continue using. I knitted my fiance a hat last year. This year I have to make some repairs to it.
I enjoy having a tree, a fake one for less mess and better investment (sorry environment). We put some lights out but I could do without them.

I am very minimalist and I 100% agree with your thoughts on gifts. I actually kind of dislike Christmas because I know it's going to be more "stuff". I also agree with the artificial tree.
I basically celebrate Christmas for the kids. If it weren't for them, I'd just go to Mass on Christmas and call it good.

 

[muhtea]

I have considered a pre-lit fake tree just because it would be easier, but I can't bring myself to do it. The smell of the real tree is just too nice, though we don't necessarily end up having one every year. And really, what's Christmas without still finding pine needles around in August?

 

[Mrs.DanielH]

I have considered a pre-lit fake tree just because it would be easier, but I can't bring myself to do it. The smell of the real tree is just too nice, though we don't necessarily end up having one every year. And really, what's Christmas without still finding pine needles around in August?

One thing my mom and I did when we converted to a fake pre-lit tree was put Christmas tree air fresheners/scented ornaments inside the tree so we still got the smell without the needles

 

[Leeloo]

I would like to put up a small 2-3foot tabletop tree, because I find trees festive and I want something to put gifts underneath. But we have two cats that wil not stop until the tree and ornaments are sacked and broken.

I half joked with my husband that we could rig the little tree to hang from the ceiling so they couldn’t get to it. He’s half considering this project but there’s still a 50/50 chance the little jerks will still find a way to leap off some other furniture and turn it into a kitty pine tree piñata haha.

 

[River]

I would like to put up a small 2-3foot tabletop tree, because I find trees festive and I want something to put gifts underneath. But we have two cats that wil not stop until the tree and ornaments are sacked and broken.

I half joked with my husband that we could rig the little tree to hang from the ceiling so they couldn’t get to it. He’s half considering this project but there’s still a 50/50 chance the little jerks will still find a way to leap off some other furniture and turn it into a kitty pine tree piñata haha.

Hahaha, I feel bad you can't celebrate Christmas properly yet I can't help but smile at your cat's antics! Have you considered getting a small tree and placing it inside a large crate or enclosing it using those wire grid cube organizers?

Anyways, my siblings and I are thinking of supporting a local small ethnic eatery by ordering a catered set meal from them and then inviting a couple of our relatives over. We figure we should help support small businesses in some way and keep the gathering smaller and more personal this year.

 

[EntWife]

We used to have a cat that broke Christmas ornaments. Then the cat ran away, and our youngest took over ornament-breaking duties.

 

[Starlight]

We used to have a cat that broke Christmas ornaments. Then the cat ran away, and our youngest took over ornament-breaking duties.

Oh my gosh Lol
We used to have cats (one was super sweet, the other... well... we loved him anyway...) and whenever we had a real tree, the one boy cat would drink all the sugar water out of the tree basin and rip around the house like a bat (cat??) out of hell lol He was a good boy, even if he was naughty, and I do miss him.

 

[muhtea]

I have considered a pre-lit fake tree just because it would be easier, but I can't bring myself to do it. The smell of the real tree is just too nice, though we don't necessarily end up having one every year. And really, what's Christmas without still finding pine needles around in August?

Well we got a real tree and it barely has any smell lol. Maybe I can find a pine candle or something...

 

[EntWife]

Well we got a real tree and it barely has any smell lol. Maybe I can find a pine candle or something...

Maybe it's you. Do you have Covid-19?

 

[muhtea]

Maybe it's you. Do you have Covid-19?

LOL Already had it in February I think! I just refer to it as "the sniffles". (I know it's a bit worse than that, but you have to exaggerate in the opposite direction sometimes).

 

[Gracie]

Its not even Christmas and I'm ready for the decorations to come down. I'm always so excited for everything to go up and to put on the Kenny&Dolly right after Remembrance Day. By the 24th, I'm ready for elbow room in my apartment again.