ummmm, chocolate. When I lived in the big city, I always got a pound of See's candy for Christmas. Sort of a Californian tradition. Now I don't live anywhere near a See's store, which is probably better for me anyway.
Christmas presents
by Hortensia 20 Replies latest jw friends
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PelicanBeach
Thanks for this thread Hortensia,
Not too long ago it was a Christmas present, one as you give, that started a hairline crack on this JW hard boiled egg.
Every Christmas season an elderly neighbor would bake raisin/nut cakes and cookies, and personally bring an assortment to each of her neighbors. She, with a kindly smile on her face, would hand the goodies to me and wish me a Merry Christmas. I, on the other hand, did not wish her a Merry Christmas but I smiled back and thanked her for her kindness and kept it in mind all year long...waving when I saw her and attending a ladies lunch along with her.
She has passed but her kindness every Christmas season has not passed. I hope your efforts to spread some cheer to others are just as successful and rewarding to both you and those who receive your loving kindness.
In Memory of Grace.
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WTWizard
It is the memories that mean the most, not getting things you cannot afford. Last year, I handed out a few lanterns (into which I placed working batteries) as Christmas gifts--they were around 50 toilet papers each. Things like that are fine. Handing out things like huge UHD TV sets and Jacuzzis are going beyond the limit, unless your last name happens to be Rothschild. Someone is more likely to appreciate a lantern than a UHD TV set if the lights go out--for adults, that is a better focus anyways. Fun is fine, but again not going beyond your means.
Another thing adults can and should do is decorate your yard for Christmas if you can. If you are in an apartment where they do not tolerate that, or if you are still a witless and must watch it so Brother Hounder doesn't catch you, so be it. But, if everyone who could do something did, the community would look cheerier during the dreariest part of the year. Some will go the whole nine yards, putting up Santa and his reindeer on the roof, lighting everything in sight, wreaths, and so on. Others might be of simpler means, and outlining a window in the front is all they can do. Still others might be physically unable to do more than place a LED candle in each window--if that's all you can do, do that. Every candle (LED, let's not burn down your house) in a window, every line of Christmas lights outlining the inside of a window, every wreath you display, every green and red light you have, adds up. Children and young adults appreciate it, and older adults remember what their childhood Christmases were like.
Still another thing we can do is baking. If you cannot do it yourself, you might go to your local bakery (and Wegmans has one right in each store, if you are lucky enough to live where one is) and get a treat. Fudge can be ordered online--though it is starting to get a little on the late side. Scratch cookies--those you assemble all the ingredients from--might be too much for some. That being the case for you, there are pre-packaged doughs (read the ingredients and disfavor those with high fructose corn syrup). There are options for just about everyone from those too lazy or too inept at cooking to do any cooking, to those chefs who bake for a hobby.
Other things, besides going to church, include decorating inside your home or apartment if you are physically able to, sending Christmas cards, displaying cards, playing Christmas music (some of which is available on Rhapsody as streaming tracks), singing Christmas carols if you are so inclined, making that trip to Grandma's if you so desire, or simply enjoying the peace and quiet. You can make it as busy, or as quiet, as you see fit. Just don't drink and drive--nothing spells "Dreary Christmas" faster than ending up in the hospital or jail for drink driving on Christmas Eve.
As for decorating ideas, wimpy is better than not doing it at all. If you are new, a small Christmas tree with few ornaments and one string of LED lights (I recommend these for energy efficiency and safety, and for being able to run more strings end to end) might do. Some people might want a tree decorated to the nines, while others do with one with only a few ornaments or a simple string of clear LEDs (and yes, they do come in warm white these days). You might even be able to get a wooden wheel, about 80 cm in diameter, cut one side flat, and attach an artificial tree to it as a stand (it is far more stable than the flimsy stands you see these days). Don't try that with a cut tree, because it will dry out quickly and become a fire hazard--unless you can outfit a way to keep it watered to the wheel. And try open flame candles at your own risk, because it just takes one to get knocked down or catch foliage on fire (especially if the tree is drying out) to burn down your house in under a minute.
Best of all, you can do most of these things without giving presents to everyone in sight, that you cannot afford. Giving indiscriminately usually means most of the presents will not be appreciated. To spend a modest amount and be selective in who you give to is better--the ones that appreciate it are more likely to get actual use out of it, create nice memories, and enhance the season. Giving to mean-spirited parents, relatives you don't like, or that co-worker that insists that just looking in their direction amounts to sexual harassment is a complete waste. And you will be getting the bills in January--giving modestly and sensibly keeps those bills manageable.
Still want to give? There are plenty of organizations that can use those donations. The SPCA is one. Every year, many animals--and not just pets, but farm animals, suffer a dreary Christmas and a crappy new year. Farm animals suffer birth to death abuse--yes I understand that they have to die for us to have meat, but birth to death abuse is not acceptable and the SPCA fights this crap. You could also donate to your favorite soup kitchen, the Red Cross, or other charities you choose--just research to make sure they are not involved in fake cures where every year they fund drives to cure something or in a religion you do not believe in.
AND WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT GIVE TO THE WASHTOWEL! Those scumbags do NOT deserve anything.
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rebel8
I'd love chutney and biscuits! When I was little (pre-jw), we had several relatives who always sent food baskets. No one else got too excited about them, but I did. Each little jar of jam was a new adventure of exotic flavor.
We have See's Candy here. I don't understand what all the fuss is about, personally!
We didn't get out of a cult to then have to do What someone else thinks we have to do.
Well isn't that the truth! I'm INTJ but I closely border E and F.
I looooove xmas, don't get me wrong. I just feel uncomfortable w/all the gift exchanging. I'm into decorating and food. I start planning the menu several weeks ahead of time.
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LisaRose
Good ideas Wizard. There are many things you can do if money Is limited. Last year my son and DIL found a book at the used book store that they thought I would like. I liked the fact that they put some thought in it. There are many treasures to be had at a good second hand bookstore. I go to estate sales all the time, there are plenty of wonderful things to be found that are a lot more interesting than new things, and the prices are usually very good. I have found some wonderful jewelry that way. You have to plan ahead though, there are not as many in the winter.
Thrift stores are a good source for inexpensive decorations. I found a whole bag of ornaments for $1. An easy decoration is a nice looking shallow bowl filled with ornaments and set on the coffee table. You can find rosemary plants shaped into a small Christmas tree, which can then be kept and planted in the spring. I always ask for the clippings from the tree lot when I get my tree, they will usually give them to you if you ask, even if you didn't buy a tree. I place them around the house, they smell nice and look festive, you can add string lights ($2.50) and or wired ribbon ($3.00). In California we have eucalyptus trees everywhere, you can use clippings the same way, they look quite festive with some lights or colorful ribbon tucked here and there. If that is too messy for you (the needles do tend to fall off) you could also use synthetic greenery, it's really cheap at craft stores. Another inexpensive touch is a scented candle. If you have cable TV they have Christmas music this time of year.
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rebel8
Fudge can be ordered online--though it is starting to get a little on the late side.
Little known fact--real, old-fashioned fudge is easy to make. This is *not* the kind that contains marshmallow or sweetened, condensed milk mixed with melted chocolate chips. This is the kind you cook with a thermometer--melt sugar and cream, cook to required temp, pour into a pan. Srsly.
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Aunt Fancy
Most of mine are bought, wrapped and sent. We are going out of town to be with the kids so I will have to do a little more once we get there. I will also give them money in a card so we can all go shopping the day after. My sisters and I exchange and I give to my nieces and nephew which my youngest sister would like to stop because it adds up. We still give to my parents and I have a cousin I give to. I also give an extra days wages to my cleaning lady, my hairdresser and nail tech.
I gave the kids a lot last year and this year because I lost out on so many years but I know in a year or two we will cut back.
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Faithful Witness
In years past, I have spent hours in the kitchen, preparing and packaging homemade treats to ship to family. Then I found Wine Country Gift Baskets. This year, I shipped gift baskets of teas and treats to all the distant relatives. Free shipping! The funny thing... They rave about the commercial gift baskets, but I barely got a reply when I asked if my homemade peanut brittle, fudge, cookies and jams made it to my in-laws. This was so much easier and cheaper!
I went a little overboard this year, and sent a tower of boxes full of chocolates to my JW sister and her family. I also sent small gifts from amazon to my JW niece and nephew. I really hope they Let Them have the gifts...
For my 12-year old niece, I got a wall calendar: "What cats teach us." It inclures cute cat photos, and inspirational phrases for each month. I'm hoping maybe one phrase will inspier some independent thought for her. She is ready to rebel anyway.
For my 10-year old nephew, I got a building set for machine levers and pulleys. I heard he was getting into some structural engineering workshops, and thought this might keep his mind off the JW brainscrubbing for a few hours. He is lost, at this point, right along with his father. I think the JW's give preferential treatment to the males, and so does his father.
Anyway, I'm sending gifts to the kids, because of something someone here wrote a few months ago. They have no idea we are thinking of them. God knows what they are telling these kids about us... I hope they at least SEE the gifts, even if they are forced to reject them.
What do you think will happen?
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love2Bworldly
I love giving/receiving home made stuff, those are the best kind that you can't buy in the store. I had a whole case of candles that my husband bought cheap for me months ago, so I spent a small amount of money at a craft store buying gold ribbon and little decorations to hot glue on the candles and gave them out at work at my Xmas party last week, and everyone loved them.
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Hortensia
Great ideas and I love the simplicity in these ideas.
WTW - my decorating consists of a cast-iron pinecone with a candle inside. Very pretty.
As for See's, I have to say that I prefer chocolate with less sugar in it nowadays, but it was always fun to go pick out a bunch of different chocolates to fill the one-pound box. Especially the caramels and the dark chocolate raspberry. Yummm.
I totally agree with shopping at thrift stores, used book stores, estate sales. I'd never be unhappy with a used book or piece of vintage jewelry as a gift.
WTW - I had to laugh at your story about the lanterns. It reminded me that one year I gave all my friends headlights - those little flashlights with an elastic band you can put around your forehead so both hands are free. Christmas eve when we were all together there was a power outage that lasted most of the night. My friends wondered why I insisted on them opening their presents -- until they found out what they were. We wore them for the rest of the evening, very useful and fun.