Is Christmas too big? Are you trying to simplify Christmas? Or do you “go all out?” Do you spare no expense? Is your home covered in Christmas lights? More is more? Or less is more?
I love Christmas time. I love being with family and sharing some relaxing time together. Yes, food is involved, but serving an expensive dinner is not important to me. Just some good food that’s not too over the top. Christmas cookies need not be expensive to be festive.
My mom grew up during the Great Depression and got 3 gifts for Christmas. An orange, some nuts, and a cheap toy. She was happy to get them. With tv ads bombarding your kids these days, how do you manage your kids’ expectations? We had ours make wish lists but let them know they will not get everything on their list. The “surprise” was which items they got. I also bought a few items not on their list for inexpensive surprises. We didn’t want these wish lists to become “order lists.” We were able to keep to our budget that way too.
Many people transform their home into Christmas Wonderland on the day after Thanksgiving. It takes a lot of work, but they want to enjoy the holiday as long as possible until New Year’s Day when everything gets packed away. I like a little break between Thanksgiving and full-blown Christmas. December 1st, today, is when I start putting out a few Christmas items, adding to it as the month goes on. I enjoy the feeling that Christmas is building and picking up steam. It adds to the anticipation for me. I put a wreath on the front door today. Tonight I’ll use the Christmas mugs and maybe light a few candles. I confess watching the Christmas tree in the evenings is a wonderful feeling that I don’t like to give up. There have been a couple of years when the tree was still up until Valentine’s Day! So, yes, I do love Christmas. Perhaps I’m just on a delayed calendar!
With retailers hoping for an over-the-top holiday season, I’m content to have a Little Christmas. And it’s often the little moments that make all the difference. Wishing you a little joy, a little fun, a little surprise, a little hope, a little sharing, a little peace, a little Good Will Toward Men. And lots of hugs!
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