The True Meaning of Christmas...What Does it Mean to You?

[loriken214]

What is your true meaning of Christmas?

Lori

 

[HopeDream]

The stillness of a clear sunlit winter''s morning where the snow sparkels in the sunshine and everything is at peace and good.
My family walks together down snowy country roads and enjoys the feeling of being together.
The restful feeling of the old year coming to a close and excited anticipation for a new year begining.
A warm home filled with tasty smells of a cooking feast and the enjoyment of special extravagences, not part of everyday life.
A welcoming of the past - old songs, stories, traditions, and a sence of carrying it forward and helping it continue.
Unexpected delights and immersion in an indoor world of light and color which is at stark contrast with the cold days and long nights
An uncommon sense of unity and industry as everyone around me, friends and strangers alike prepare furiously for that time of stillness and peace.

 

[Imdanny]

What a great question, Lori, and what a beautifully written post, HopeDream! Thanks!

If I could sum up what Christmas means to me in one word, it would be- peace. A day of quiet and joy set aside from the world''s distractions when we can enjoy being with our loved ones and we can enjoy being content with our lives and hopeful for the future of mankind. I''m sure I''m not alone but I love Christmas. It''s my favorite holiday.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

It means a lot of different things to me...

First it''s the time I get to spend with my family. We finally have small children in the family again, and it''s really amazing to see Christmas through their eyes. It''s the traditions we get to share with them...like looking at Christmas lights on Christmas Eve, or painting, or skating on Michigan Ave. We try to make Christmas a "season" not just two days...it''s the build up.

Secondly, its'' really the "feeling" I get shopping and finding the perfect gift. Nothing compares. I know the spirit of the season isn''t about gifts...but giving makes me so happy--and it''s really a wonderful thing to find the right "something" for "someone" I love. It''s the hunt, the find, topped off with beautiful wrapping and watching them enjoy their gift. I think as children we''re taught that it''s better to give than to receive, but the message gets lost because at children all we are able to do is "want"--but as adults, it gives Christmas a whole new meaning and feeling.

Last (but certainly not least) it''s helping others. I make a point to keep at least $20.00 in singles with me all holiday season long...slipping the bills into the Salvation Army tin thrills me...it makes me feel like I''m "doing something". We also load up on Toys For Tots gifts...my husband rides in the Toys For Tots motorcycle ride...he loads up a "sack" of gifts and we give that way too. I count my blessings and pay it forward.

 

[loriken214]

These are such meaningful posts! The older I get, the more I appreciate my family and the spirit of Christmas. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.

Lori

 

[justginger]

Christmas for me was always about rest - like the Sabbath of the year, IYKWIM. We did the really BIG extended family Christmases every few years, but most of the time it was just Mom, Dad, and daughter time. I always saw it as a bit of a breather, and I appreciated how happy everyone was, around town and whatnot. I loved picking out a tree (my parents always wanted to get the easy, fake option - not while I was in the house!), decorating it with all of the old homemade ornaments, making cookies, listening to carols, and laying with my dogs in front of the fire. It was usually at Christmas time that I would get to see my brother, which made my year (he was 12 years older than me and in the Army, so not much time spent together when I was a tot).

Christmas is different now that I''m in the southern hemisphere! I don''t get to celebrate with my family every year (though I have been blessed to see my parents 2 of the 4 Christmases since I''ve moved), but celebrating with my partner''s family has taught me to appreciate diversity. They celebrate the holiday more in the vein of Christianity and it''s very refreshing to see a family not get so caught up in the size/quantity of presents. They are loving and supportive and welcoming to me, even when I feel like a homesick little girl.

Christmas down here is still very relaxing - families are out in the parks, playing cricket - at the beach, throwing around a frisbee, etc. Mates get together, coming and going to various houses, over a period of many days. Shopping centres are nuts, but people are unusually polite and caring, which energizes me.

I think I''ll always prefer a white Christmas, but Australian Christmases are special in their own right. It''s just that, during such a home-oriented time of year, you kinda crave the traditions of your childhood. I think I''ll spend this Christmas making sand angels and building snowmen at the beach!

 

[perry]

I view the season as a time of reflection and action on how to help my family, freinds, and fellow man.

Perry

 

[wenwen1111]

The true meaning of Christmas to me is about the celebration of Christ''s birth, which I don''t really see much these days. Christmas has become a commercial holiday with Santa riding the tidal wave.

 

[monarch64]

Being with family, remembering Christmases past, remembering those who are no longer with us and what wonderful times we shared when they were still here, giving to others in the sense of volunteering, and sharing in activities and games with each other on Christmas Day. Decorating for the season, hoping for snow, giving and receiving gifts are all kind of secondary but still important.

Christmas for me really means the bringing together of family, holding in that warmth for a month or two, and keeping that feeling close at hand to tide us over until winters'' end.

 

[AprilBaby]

For me it is a totally religious experience.

 

[somethingshiny]

Date: 12/9/2009 8:49:13 AM
Author: AprilBaby
For me it is a totally religious experience.

ditto. Obviously this is not the place to go into detail but we spend a lot of time in prayer and devotion during this season. We dwell on God''s love for us and all people. We discuss God a lot in our household, but this time of year, we make a point of CELEBRATING God everyday.

 

[Shoopy]

A very wise man once said:

"Pooh-pooh to the Whos!" he was grinch-ish-ly humming.
"They''re finding out now that no Christmas is coming!
"They''re just waking up! I know just what they''ll do!
"Their mouths will hang open a minute or two
"The all the Whos down in Who-ville will all cry BOO-HOO!"

"That''s a noise," grinned the Grinch,
"That I simply must hear!"
So he paused. And the Grinch put a hand to his ear.
And he did hear a sound rising over the snow.
It started in low. Then it started to grow...

But the sound wasn''t sad!
Why, this sound sounded merry!
It couldn''t be so!
But it WAS merry! VERY!

He stared down at Who-ville!
The Grinch popped his eyes!
Then he shook!
What he saw was a shocking surprise!

Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any presents at all!
He HADN''T stopped Christmas from coming!
IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?
It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"
And he puzzled three hours, `till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn''t before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn''t come from a store.
"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"

And what happened then...?
Well...in Who-ville they say
That the Grinch''s small heart
Grew three sizes that day!

 

[Lauren8211]

Chinese food and a movie.

I do not celebrate Christmas, but the whole "time of year" means being appreciative of who and what you have in your life, making an extra step to be more generous or kind to others, and to just make sure that you let the people in your life know that you love them.

 

[charbie]

Christmas has always been a religious holiday in my family- whether it was setting up the nativity scene or attending church on Christmas Eve for the candlelight service.

It lost that for a little while, but has come back around and I look forward to the celebrations of Mass coming up.

Its also about being with the ones I love. The Christmas I was away from my family as an exchange student was one of the worst experiences. I was supposed to be seeing the holiday through another culture, but it only made me miss my family more. See, my host family was AWFUL. I mean they hated each other. But they all came together to celebrate Christmas together, and to see them be peaceful for one day...well, I was very homesick for my own family.

Like Italia...I LOVE giving the perfect gift. I always splurge a little on my mom, and just love getting her the things she can''t get for herself, and know this is the time of year when she will accept gifts from me, so I get really excited.

 

[dragonfly411]

Christmas for me is encompassed by the following :

hunting for the perfect tree with my mom, grandmother, and sister. No men involved... we decide... and it is time for us together.
Finding that perfect gift that I know will make my family''s face light up. I love to see the joy in their faces.
Putting up the trees... as a family. We all go to each other''s houses, and help each other decorate trees. Each house has a different tree. Mine is white lights with traditional silvers, golds, greens and reds. My mom is multiple colors with lots of santa, and my grandmother''s is blue and silver.
Snuggling on the couch with SO and watching the Santa Claus, and Polar Express
Every year, we pile into a car, me, mom, grandma, aunt, sister, and my SO and sister''s SO if they decide to go. This is our big thing every year. We get hot cocoa, put on Christmas music and drive around together looking at Christmas lights. There used to be one man in our town, who literally did up his entire yard, he had a walk through in the back yard, Santa visited his garage to talk to children, and each of his windows had a different scene. It was a yearly event, and we always went and donated money (it went to a children''s fund). I loved that. He''s retired now, but we always look at lights. Sometimes out of town too.
Being together Christmas morning, enjoying breakfast, the gifts, playing with the dogs, and feeding treats to the horses (our animals get gifts too).

To me Christmas is about family. I make sure to visit each of mine and SO''s family members around Christmas time. I love it. I love the colors, and lights, and music, and just the jovial feeling people give off around this time of year. I love the sense of giving to others to celebrate.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 11/27/2009 8:17:57 PM
Author: HopeDream
The stillness of a clear sunlit winter''s morning where the snow sparkels in the sunshine and everything is at peace and good.

My family walks together down snowy country roads and enjoys the feeling of being together.

The restful feeling of the old year coming to a close and excited anticipation for a new year begining.

A warm home filled with tasty smells of a cooking feast and the enjoyment of special extravagences, not part of everyday life.

A welcoming of the past - old songs, stories, traditions, and a sence of carrying it forward and helping it continue.

Unexpected delights and immersion in an indoor world of light and color which is at stark contrast with the cold days and long nights

An uncommon sense of unity and industry as everyone around me, friends and strangers alike prepare furiously for that time of stillness and peace.

This.

 

[Christiana]

It''s the most relaxing and pleasant pause of the whole year. Time to rest, clear your mind and meet with people you love. As simple as that