We don't do Christmas presents.You read me right. It started some years ago in my family of origin. I don't remember who said it first, me or my brother, but the comment went like this: "We're in our thirties, we have decent incomes that buy us what we want when we want it, no one in our family actually needs anything at Christmas, and we have no clue what each other wants in our family, nor can we tell each other what we might like for Christmas. So let's quit."
To pacify those who couldn't face Christmas without getting something "gifty," we proposed that the family drive over to the bookstore together, and each of us would buy ourselves a book. Then we'd each have something to new for Christmas.
And that is what we did.
When I married Husband six-ish years ago, he was still carrying on the family tradition of everyone having a gift from each other person in the family (count it up--that's five gifts for each of us, minimum), plus doing stockings for the kids, stuffed to the gills with an assortment of goodies. (I love that word "assortment." It reminds me of those round tins of British butter cookies.) Husband heard about my family tradition, and each year our Christmas has gotten simpler and simpler. Sort of the "step-it-down method" of change, I guess.
This year we'll have two of the kids home for Christmas, and Husband's thinking we'll make it a "no gifts" Christmas. However, on the agenda are still stockings filled with delights such as nuts, satsuma tangerines and gold dollars in the toes. Other than the stockings, our gifts will consist of the activities of sledding (yep, our 20-somethings including the son-in-law still like to go sledding up at Andes Prairie), cookie-making, juggling, generally schlepping around and sleeping in as long as we wish.
Mighty fine.
I, however, still plan on a new book for myself. It wouldn't be Christmas without one.
This sounds like a perfect Christmas to me! A new book and a stocking. Our girls (all in their 20's) are giving each other a stocking for Christmas this year...a good apple, tangerine, nuts, mini Goudas, and small items like a pen and sticky notes. Family time together is the most important holiday gift...along with a new book.
ReplyDeleteI can understand this and and I'll bet you have fun. But the joy of giving and watching the unveiling works well for us.
ReplyDeleteHi, We simplified our Christmas this year by drawing names, since our family is expanding as well. So we will get one person a nice gift and spend time together.
ReplyDeleteRmily
I meant Emily! (Can't spell my own name!)
ReplyDeleteYou've got it right, I think! This year my kids are getting things they need, as well as drawing names and gifting each other. It still is alot of work. I like the book idea. We may do that for 3 Kings day, which we also celebrate.
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed season!