Only NOW is it appropriate to start in on the Christmas stuff

[trinityvixen]

Two weeks ago, I went into a store to pick up birthday gifts for a couple of people, and I was already commiserating with the lady working at Barnes and Noble about the fact that they had Christmas music playing. (And not just Christmas music, but covers of Christmas staples. Worse, covers by Mariah Carey.) I know this is a yearly complaint, but it seems like Christmas started ridiculously early this year. Well before that trip out to pick up presents, I swear I'd seen most stores festooned for Christmas before Halloween junk was even fully taken apart. (Thanksgiving says what?)

However, it is now December 1st, so I suppose I just have to get over it. Perhaps the insanely advanced onset of Christmas is part of the desperation with the financial situation these days. Retailers really, really, really want you to remember you still need to do your patriotic duty and spend money you can't afford to spend on junk neither you nor your loved ones needs. (At any cost, shop.)

I, myself, won't be participating this year. I really like shopping for friends and family for the most part, but I've decided to scale back. So this is me apologizing for not being able to provide Christmas presents per my usual. I'm going to do my best to make sure birthday gifts are even more wonderful to compensate as best I can. I don't know how to say this without sounding presumptuous, but anyone who was thinking of giving me anything should just save their pennies and wish a "Happy Holidays" instead.

In a weird way, I'm actually sort of hoping that, for the most part, this becomes the tradition. Like I said, I will miss not shopping for people, but I really loathe Christmas shopping season. I'd infinitely prefer to just hang out with people more and do fun activities in that space and avoid retail shops altogether (as much as is humanly possible, what with as many birthdays as I've got in the months of November-December). How's that sound?

Comments

[ecmyers.livejournal.com]

Not a bad idea. I'll at least be scaling back on extravagant gifts, for the most part. Fortunately, I do nearly all of my shopping online.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

I have also done that so far--I've not gone into any shops for anything for Christmas. We'll see if that fortuitous cycle may continue or not.

[hslayer.livejournal.com]

Actually, this year, I was noticing that most stores didn't seem to push Christmas out very early. I think I only saw decorations in maybe one place before Thanksgiving. I especially noticed in comparison with last year, when it was all in place by Halloween, I think.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it's just me and darkling1 then, or what, but we were both really annoyed by how early Christmas seems to have got going this year. Ugh.

[arcane-the-sage.livejournal.com]

Nope, not just the two of you. The Sears by me has had their Christmas section set up since early Nov.

[fairest.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Christmas started *way* too soon this year--but then, I get frustrated about that every year. I'm also skipping the Christmas shopping, out of necessity (though I do enjoy giving presents when I'm able). However, necessity aside, my family decided to stop exchanging a year or two back, and it makes the holiday season so much more pleasant. There's no mad scramble for presents, there's no huge expenditure each year, and the holiday really becomes about being together and enjoying the family. :)

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I vastly prefer the loose hanging out and jokes played on each other like we did the year Cassie was born than anything I've gotten. I mean, I like the presents, sure, but I have better memories from giving my sister the awful shirt from the thrift store :)

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

OK, you and feiran are getting a present from us, but it's because we stumbled on something last week that we felt you had to have. You can consider it a birthday present or whatever else you'd like. (If we'd found it in August, we probably would have gotten it for you then - total coincidence that we found it now.) Basically a case of "OMG this is too awesome not to buy".

Anyway, this is why we usually give our friends cookies. Almost everyone likes cookies, they freeze well, they don't cost much, and people don't generally feel bad if they didn't buy something for you when you just gave them cookies (especially when you're as renowned as being addicted to baking like I am).

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Well, I can always compensate you back with cookies, I suppose. Thanks in advance for thinking of us!

[moonlightalice.livejournal.com]

As previously mentioned, I don't do holiday giving: too expensive. Birthdays, sure. Don't worry about it!

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and I've liked your system, even as I liked giving presents to people. I think it's fun, but it's also a distraction. It becomes a chore when there should be fun.

[ecmyers.livejournal.com]

I've never thought to freeze cookies. It always seemed more efficient to eat them as quickly as possible... :)

[chuckro.livejournal.com]

It only really matters when you're making a double batch or more; or if you're making a full batch for only two people. If you're making them for a dinner party or the like, they'll be gone before they can even get cold.

[chuckro.livejournal.com]

I've never really done presents (Birthday or holiday) for friends, and never really expected any. I get gifts for my parents, my sister, and my wife (and my in-laws, now), and that's it.

Occasionally, there'll be a "Hey, so-and-so would totally love this! I should buy it for them!" moment, as with the gift Jethrien mentioned above, but that's not actually tied to holidays.

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

You have to realize, I make too many cookies for Christmas. Waaaay too many cookies. And I usually make them relatively early in December, but still want to be eating them at New Year's. Freezing them and then thawing small batches keeps them fresh.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

I will continue on with Birthdays, but I might never go back to Christmas shopping if this goes half so well as it seems. (With only one large Christmas present to buy in a gift exchange with my immediate family, I'm already 100% less stressed.)

[wellgull.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've been on the "your birthday, fine; Christmas, not so much"-approach bandwagon since mid-high-school. Glad I'm not the only one; wish it were a more widely-publicized approach (though lord knows what would happen to our economy THEN).

[saikogrrl.livejournal.com]

our family has decided to go the route of let's all just buy something for a charity in the family's name and leave it at that. Which is a better idea, since we usually just get stuff we don't want or need, better it goes to someone who does need it...

Hooray for bypassing Christmas retail hell!

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Seriously, retail is hell, no matter what side you are on. No one should suffer through Christmas the way all of us tend to.

I like the idea of donating to charity. That's a lovely idea.