I am just watching my neighbours across the road putting up Christmas lights while their children run around bursting with excitement. I am feeling all Christmassy now. Can't wait for my daughter to come home from uni next weekend so we can go and buy a tree from the garden centre. There's nothing like the smell of a real tree and when we decorate it I open a bottle of sparkling wine and we love putting the lights on and the decorations we've had for years, some that my girl made at nursery and school. She tends to hide them behind branches when I'm not looking! I can't wait, how about you?
Christmas - love it or leave it?
by Xanthippe 51 Replies latest jw friends
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not bitter
love it. Can't get enough of it.
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CyrusThePersian
Since I'm single and live alone and my kids are still stuck in the troof, my celebrations usually consist of hitting a few parties and watching my favorite Christmas movies like A Christmas Story, White Christmas and Holiday Inn.
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Band on the Run
I like Christmas. The commercialism goes too far. I don't normally go to the shore. A few years ago, I did in July. There was a Christmas in July store on the boardwalk. Somehow that was not Christmas. It is fun to bake and search out gifts. My pride is a Christmas tree with an eclectic bunch of ornaments. I like putting up the tree. The ornaments were collected over many years. Some I made. Friends often gift me ornaments.
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joe134cd
Couldn't really care. I don't give nothing, so I don't get nothing, and suites me fine. I guess there were some advantages with been a dubbie.
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blondie
Not every non-jw is into Christmas for varioius reasons. Just being set free of the WTS lies doesn't mean you have to chose X-mas, it means you can choose to or not to or your own version of it.
We have a fake but realistic tree (we could spray some pine scent). It fits out budget and our limitations as to carrying it in and carrying it out. We are concerned about the fire hazards (which can be compensated with safe procedures). We have built up a nice collection of ornaments and lights. We have a gas fireplace to display it by.
I come from a southern German background and love the foods associated with it. There is an advent calender, an indulgence of good Swiss chocolate...songs in German. Gathering with friends during a time when it is dark, cold, and wet.
http://www.germanfoods.org/consumer/facts/germanchristmas.cfm
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NeverKnew
Joe134cd,
There actually are families that decorate, celebrate, but don't exchange gifts. Here in my area, there was an industry that employed probably half the men in the community. That industry's failing affected just about every head of household in my extended family. Given each family's economy, a decision was made to NOT exchange, but to enjoy the season with multiple pot-luck dinners. The host family provided the meats but the side dishes were provided by the attendees. Those were the best memories. No stress whatsoever. Tradition is part of what connects us.
I am absolutely sure it's not the case with all JW families, but I can think of four that seem to have no real meaningful connections to extended family outside of being JWs. God, don't be an ex-jw for they're most likely not even invited to the house. If extended families do not attend the same KH, they seem to get together for religious conventions, weddings and funerals. That wraps it up.
As an outsider, it's hard to watch.
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Tiktaalik
When I first left the dubbers, I pretty much ignored Chrissy. But then I met someone who, despite being an atheist, introduced me to the wonder of Christmas. I love it now and embrace it wholeheartedly. The lights, the tree, the baking, the feasting, the gift giving, the family. That's what it means to me. Getting together with family and everyone being at their best. You don't have to embrace the religious side of it to enjoy it.
About to head over to the US again for a (hopefully) White Christmas in Boston. Can't wait!
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Xanthippe
Great to hear you guys enjoy yourselves. When we were pioneering we lived in a rented flat (apartment) without a garden. One day I found a tiny holly tree growing in a small patch of soil outside my kitchen window. It probably grew from a berry dropped by a bird. It had about five leaves on it. I potted it up, grew it on a bit and gave it to my MIL who planted it in her garden where it grew into a tall tree.
I was always desperate for a garden. When we left the JWs we eventually bought this house and my MIL gave me a cutting from that tree. I now have a tall holly tree in my garden and I make a holly wreath from it to go on my front door at Christmas. It's a prickly job but I poor myself a large sherry and it takes about two hours. The tree actually seems to benefit from a bit of pruning each December.
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cofty
Love it. Family, food, drink, log fires, presents, sweets, country walks, what's not to like?