Christmas Gifts You Love (to Hate)
Zack Imus
Christmas. The most exciting and anticipated holiday of the year. A time when visions of sugar plums--or stereos, new cars, the latest computer, and various other desirable and expensive gifts--dance through our heads.
Unfortunately the reality of Christmas gift-giving is often a far cry from our visions. When we're children, it seems as the holidays approach that anything is possible. But as we mature and gain experience with this annual observance it eventually begins to dawn on us that it might not always be all it's cracked up to be. By the time we've reached our late teens--when, coincidentally, the potential for receiving truly outstanding gifts is optimized--we realize that
Christmas gifts are seldom
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Now some fruitcakes wouldn't qualify for this category. There are actually people in the world who spend months concocting 12-pound, liquor-filled, green-red-yellow speckled wonders (you wonder what's in them) as special gifts for their favorite relatives. This doesn't make them taste any better, but they do make great door- stops in the off-season. No, only department or drug store fruitcakes fall into this category.
Of course, not all "IDKWBY" gifts are culinary in nature. Calendars qualify, as do chia pets. Enough said.
It would be possible to list several other Christmas gift categories that would send a cold tingle up your spine. But rather than list any more of these,
I'd like to give you a few examples of really great gifts: Stereo components
(good quality), gold jewelry, an appropriate music C.D., gift certificates, and quality clothing.
But if you want to be absolutely certain your gift will be appreciated, go with cold, hard cash. The receiver is certain to experience the true
important to understand that "not all the gifts referred to elsewhere are specified in this
The general Argument made by Christella Morris in her work “The Gift of Not Giving a Thing” is that Morris Appreciate all the gift that they’ve been receiving from their family and friends. More specifically, Morris argues that It's better if the children had some experience outside rather than staying at home playing their toys. She writes “So, starting now, this year before the holiday season begins I'm beginning a new tradition. Although we’ll always be grateful for the presents received” (Paragraph 4). In this passage, Morriss is suggesting that why doesn't she start a new tradition that will let her children learn new things and experience but still she is is still thankful for the tangible things that they've been receiving. In conclusion,
Gift-giving nowadays is no longer an act of kindness, but rather a political measure, taken to ensure one’s status with one’s acquaintances. While the general feeling of "goodwill towards men" still pervades the season, albeit filtered through television and municipal decorating projects, there is a great tension that precedes the actual Christmas holiday itself. I remember Christmases of my youth as enjoyable times, to be sure, but also as times when it was best to stay clear of my mother, who was inevitably in
Christmas, a federal holiday since the year 1870; The name “Christmas” derives from Old English Christes maesse, meaning “Christ’s mass.” It has been my favorite holiday since before I can remember. I love the delicious food, the various presents under the tree, and of course, spending time with my family. The holiday celebrations at the Rogers house meant more when the majority of us were still young. Now, we are older, and all have to work, Christmas is the only holiday we get to spend together. Much like, “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, she writes about a tradition that she wants to continue, just like I wish to continue a lifelong Christmas tradition.
But then there comes this sort of coming to light moment for the "shadows" of these things. These can either be a realization that the situation is one to be fond of or one that speaks to the doom the speakers and/or characters find themselves in.
In this case has done as such. Santa was every parents wing man to keep their children on the straight and narrow. Children learned the importance of Santa's motto and by reflecting it in their life how even the simplest true hearted deed, could bring forth a big positive change. It gave the knowledge and confidence to make a difference. Instead parents become guilt ridden and buy the present anyway. This defeats what the list was all about and hour children learn nothing. No lessons no growth just stuck in the mold. Was is so bad to keep a bit of hope?
Christmas is a special time of year that deserves to be remembered for its true meaning. Every year, Christmas becomes more and more commercialized and society forgets the origin of Christmas. It was not started with cookies, toys, and a fat man that delivers them, but instead it started with a humble inn where our Savior was born. The definition of Christmas is “a holiday on December 25 celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.” Nowhere in that definition does it say anything about the outrageous pressure society has set on consumers to buy, buy, buy during the Christmas season. Christmas is about presence not presents.
We live in a culture where people are expected to give to others gifts of gratitude and expressions of love. Sometimes these gifts are accepted for what they are worth and other times they are not. We use that which others give us based on several factors. Among them are whether we perceive the gift as valuable, whether we can practically use the gift, or whether the gift is given earnestly and for the right reasons. Because of this there is not one explanation why certain attitudes about gifts exist. We should, however, understand that it is not for us to realize why a gift is given, but rather that someone thinks enough of us to give a gift in the first place. It is certain that if gifts are not accepted and used in a prudent and expeditious manner, then the gifts that are received will deteriorate or whither completely away.
Today it seems as though Christmas has fallen victim to materialism and commercialization. Rather than it being a time of loving and giving, it has become a stressful season of greed. Amidst all the hustle and bustle, it is important for us to recognize the true reason of the season, and celebrate in a fashion that exemplifies that reason.
Although Santa has become the main staple of the Christmas season it is important to remember the true reason for the season. Jesus’ birth is what December 25 began as until Saint Nicholas day merged with it. Even though the character that has developed and encountered extremely drastic changes, he has almost always been a giving generous figure in society. “Santa is ‘an invention of the advertising industry’ and ‘a representative of consumer society,’ according to Bonifatiuswerk der deutschen Katholiken [Boniface of German Catholics], which seeks to restore St. Nicholas to his proper place in the Christmas season” (Sweas).
to the fact that not everything is as well as it seems and that this
worse. Since these people make very little money, their gifts come more from the heart
Ah, to be a kid again. How wonderful it would be to relive the magic of Christmas. Don’t get me wrong, I have always been a kid at heart and a true lover of Christmas. But as we get older and we realize that Santa Claus and the North Pole were just stories our parents told us so we’d behave, Christmas starts to lose that magical feeling. No matter how much we might still love it, Christmastime just isn’t the same as when we were young. And at a time of all the aggravating shopping hustle and bustle, dents in the pockets, headaches, traffic jams and long lines, I begin to realize that God has sent me the most magical Christmas gift of all, a beautiful three year old whom I can relive Christmas in all over. Through my child’s eyes, I see myself each time his face lights up at the sight of Santa, and I feel his anticipation each morning as he faithfully opens up one more window on the Christmas calendar. Tonight, as we decorate the tree, I admiringly watched his tiny fingers delicately place each of the ornaments on all the same branches until they drooped to the floor. So proud of his work, I secretly placed some elsewhere, as to not hurt his feelings, and wondered how many times my own mother had done the same thing. And after a long day of shopping and excitement, I watched his eyelids begin to droop while lying underneath the warm glow of the Christmas tree lights.
As you know that Christmas is coming and all parents are planning gifts for their children. This is a difficult task to pick the gifts that would be appreciated by children. Boys rather less participate in these types of activities but girls are very conscious about gifts and toys. I am presenting here some ideas about what type of gifts you can buy and present to your daughter on the occasion of Christmas. So, have you decided a gift that will make her happy on the Christmas day?
December 25 is the time of year that everyone celebrates, but does not know the true meaning of this day. Christmas is my favorite holiday because it is the time of year for loving, giving, and remembering who this holiday is for.