I admit it. I love Christmas. My mom loved decorating the tree and the house – it was never fancy but there were things that came out every year – like the elf that hung from the door between the dining room and the living room and now appears in my house each year, and the ornaments that had a special place on the tree. She was allergic to the pine and it didn’t stop her for a second, she would just scratch her arms and keep going. Yes, she loved it that much. From a very early age, we were taught the old maxim that t’is better to give than receive. My parents both spent hours making gifts, because home made are the best. My father worked with wood – I still have little cars and trucks he made, and one beautiful rocking chair for a child that I claimed when we cleaned out my parents’ house – mostly to keep the other sisters from fighting over it.
We did gifts on Christmas – we did gifts like a boss. We started in the summer, and actually didn’t buy that much, most of the gifts were handmade. I was the queen of mittens and scarves, placemats, napkins, doll clothes and stuffed toys. My mom made cowboy shirts – the kind with a different color yoke and snaps instead of buttons, because my nephew requested one just like “Uncle M’s” who wasn’t his uncle but old enough for that designation. (He drove the fire truck, which put him on the right hand of God in A’s mind)
Oh, we shopped too We bought fun things and we created fun things. One year my father made a wooden box with a hinged top that we covered with fabric and stuffing, and then we filled the box with craft supplies. My niece was 8, she loved it. I made a lot of plastic canvas things for the kids – a wickedly painful pink castle jewelry box for one kid that took so many hours – and which my brother in law threw away after my sister died.
My oldest sister was a joyless woman. She hated Christmas. I have no idea why except that she was pretty much a miserable person on a good day and she hated spending money. One year she put their Christmas tree in the spare bedroom so when there were no guests,she could close the door and forget it was there. Every year she would manage to do something to suck the joy out of Christmas for everyone else. Every year I would pray it would be different, and every year she would strike.
I am currently surrounded by joy suckers. At first I decided that i was totally skipping Christmas this year. My friends didn’t wan to exchange gifts, my “family” likes the receiving part but screw the giving, and my Bear has never had a lot of interest in decorating and all that jazz. After a week of feeling awful whenever I saw a Christmas commercial, I decided – and excuse my language, my mother would slap me, but it’s how I feel – Fuck them all.
People keep saying “I’m doing what makes ME happy this year, ” as if not doing a damned thing to spread joy deserves a medal or at least a “way to go! You do you!” Well, screw them. I’m also doing what makes ME happy. I’m putting up the tree, and decorating like Christmas threw up in this house, and baking cookies and making candy and if no one wants to do gifts, fine, I’m going to buy lottery tickets and give them to random strangers. Maybe someone will get lucky and win a bunch of money, or at least I’ll get to spread smiles.
I do, however, draw the line at Hallmark movies. 🙂
Suziecreamcheese Sings the Blues 
I howled when I read this post! Good for you! And in turn, good for those around you because your Christmas joy is infectious. While I admit that Christmas causes me stress, I am trying hard to overcome that with a positive attitude and a little Christmas magic. 🎄 I need more Suzie Cream Cheese this Christmas!! 🤣🤣
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I’m heartily sick of giving up MY joy to cater to everyone else! Perhaps you need a lottery ticket or some homemade candy?
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I need time. 😩
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You will regret nothing. Merry Christmas!🎄
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Merry Christmas!
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We all have good (and not so good) memories of our childhood Christmases. Your mom sounds like a real trooper!
I used to decorate for Christmas but when the kids grew up and left home, I just didn’t want to do it all. We have candles in the front windows, a Christmasy thing hanging on the front door and an artificial tree in the living room. I bought my own gifts and Mr. Aitch bought his. They are wrapped and under the tree. We are going to love our gifts this year! And the way our memories are fading, we will be surprised!!
Have fun decorating and baking!
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My BFF and I have decided that since we’re both losing our memories, when we’re in the home we can meet each day in the hall and say”you seem nice, do you want to be my friend?” We often say this now when we forget words. And then we laugh and laugh!
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My childhood Christmas’s are such great and sweet memories, you know the magic of it all. But I like Christmas better now for different reasons. Like you the decorating is such a wonderful reminder of the peace and love of Christmas, even if it’s just in our home surrounded by the beauty of the thoughts of birth of our Savior. Only one of my son’s enjoys the Christmas decoration and joy, but he likes to share it. So my friend share away and enjoy the peace it brings. Merry Christmas!
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Merry Christmas!
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I think giving to the less fortunate is an excellent way to celebrate and enjoy your holiday! Since you are crafty, you could make baby gifts for the newborns at the hospital. Little hats and booties are always welcome. Or you could gather donations for the local women’s shelter. Buy gifts (food food food – Toby) for the puppies at the animal rescue. And decorate with enough lights to bring airplanes landing at your house! ❤️ 🎄 🎁
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I didn’t grow up in a ‘poor’ family, but we never over-indulged or were over-indulged by a lot of gifts. Growing up, we kids got three gifts from the parentals – one was something new in clothing, one was something educational and the third was one toy on our list that was reasonably priced. On birthdays, we got two gifts – one clothing and one a book (I loved my Nancy Drew collection!).
I started decorating primarily in snowmen, snowflakes and all things to do with winter, with only a few Christmas ornaments and tchotchkes. I live in PA, so we do have a winter season, regardless of snowfall, and doing this has allowed me to not feel rushed to get everything taken down in early January.
Living alone, in a small apartment, it would be easy for me not to bother, and no one would notice either way. So, I don’t overdo it like I used to, but I enjoy the “change of scenery” indoors. You have every right to decorate for a holiday!
Enjoy the beauty – January will bring bleakness no doubt, so make December special!
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I live in PA, too! Woke up this morning to snow – it won’t amount to anything but it’s dusting the leaves. It wasn’t until grandchildren that my parents really got into gifts, and it was always more about finding what the person would like than price or quantity. My brother in law had grown up wealthy but his family gave money for Christmas. I bought him chocolates from a local lady- more joy than any amount of money could bring. And memories- we still laugh at how he told everyone that if you got that sort of gift, you were not required to shared – he had checked with Emily Post! And he didn’t share them 😂
Today I’m bringing down the ornaments and loading up the tree. Merry Christmas!
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