Christmas

This post might not make whole lot of sense so bare with me...

Christmas is my favorite holiday. I know it's a christian holiday and unfortunately the preaching increases during this time, whether on TV or on the streets. (I don't need to go to heaven right now, whatever and where ever that might be, and I definitely do not need a street man's approval for it. If you believe, fine, but leave me out.)

Since my family is not religious Christmas has never had religious meaning for us. It has always been about spending time with your loved ones, getting and receiving few presents, eating awesome holiday foods that you don't get the rest of the year and just enjoying the peace and quiet. It's a time to appreciate what you have.

I have not thought about x-mas or the presents I want or will give all that much this year because I don't have a lot of money to spend on them. I've had bigger things to worry about than presents and where to get the money for them. I just read an article which said something like "I worry that if I don't spend enough money someone will think I don't love them". That's how I feel right now. It's easy to explain to my mom my situation because she knows my situation. She told me point blank don't buy me a present. I feel bad that I can't and I feel even worse for not being able to get my brother anything. He's 19 but still...he's my baby brother.

We stopped getting present from our uncles and aunts when we were about 10. The amount of money people put into them was probably about 5 euros if even that. A lot of it was home made wool socks, scarfs or mittens and maybe candy. I think I spend about 50 euros on my family when I was still in Finland. I did not buy present to my friends and they didn't for me. It's not a custom we really have. I did not give presents for my aunts and uncles nor my grandparents. Every year on 25th or 26th we would go to my grandparents house to eat x-mas dinner together and to see the cousins we hadn't seen for awhile. It was awesome. Everybody together. X-mas eve, which is the day when Santa comes over, was just the immediate family. When me and Riina were too big to believe in Santa we dressed up as Elves and brought the presents for Arttu. He had to sing and dance for us to get the presents. It was great. When we were kids we sat on Santa's lap, told him we had been good and sang and danced for him. He gave out the presents and moved on to the next house. Santa was usually either a family friend or hired Santa.

Christmas usually started with morning sauna, followed by breakfast which was rice porridge. There's an almond hidden in there and whoever gets it will receive good luck for the year. At 11 we would watch the snowman on TV, a British animation that we love. After that we would go to lit up candles on the graves of loved ones, come home for lunch, which was "lipeäkalakeitto", a type of fish soup. After that we'd be anxious for Santa to come while my mom finished cooking. Christmas dinner was usually around 6 followed by Santa/presents. For the rest of the night we would drink, watch movies or if you were Arttu, play video games. We might play board games as well.

The past 2 x-mases I have spent with Tiffany's family. It's a little different from what I'm used to. Last year, our first x-mas living together we gave out presents on 24th. I think as long as we spend Christmases with T's family, that will be how it goes. Tiffany's sister-in-law's parents have an annual x-mas eve party that we attend. After that we go to T's mom's, help her wrap her gifts to Billy, Johnny, Amanda, JoeAnn, Carly and everybody else who has been nice that year....well, I wrap the gifts, we drink eggnog and go to bed late. Then early the next morning we, me and T, drive up to her dad's house to exchange gifts with them and to see the girls open up theirs. We stay for few hours, then go back to T's mom's to exchange presents within the immediate family and to have breakfast. The first (my first) time around dinner was at Judy's but last year and again this year dinner will be at Johnny and JoeAnn's. It's the immediate family plus Judy's brother and sister, her mom and cousins...all together almost 20 people. After dinner it's time for presents...And almost everybody gives presents to everybody. It's great when you are in a position to do this but when not... not so much.

Us and Tiffany's brothers and their wives are doing secret Santa again this year. We picked out a name from a hat and buy a present only for that person. I got the guitar hero last year and was really happy with it. T got the WII fit and was happy with it. It saves us time and money and headache since we don't need to buy 4 presents and think about what to get for whom...Then there's the obvious...Carly! We had a great idea for her present and we think she's really gonna like it. Or so we hope. Then there's T's mom...Nana...T's little sisters and dad and his wife...Tiffany is taking care of all of this but I just wish I could help.

Then there's obviously Tiffany...there are thousand and one things I would love to get for her but can't. I hope she's not disappointed cuz it's definitely not gonna be the gift-fest it was last year and the year before. But at least we are together...that's what matters.

I wish people would just slow down and enjoy the holiday without the over-spending. Christmas has become so commercial it's ridiculous. The spending and receiving has overtaken the real meaning of being together as a family and enjoying the little things. Family, that's what it's all about. I will miss my mom, Arttu and Ybi this year but hopefully next year we could spend Christmas in Finland.

I was walking in the neighborhood yesterday and the amount of lights and decorations on people's yards were just crazy. I will go take pictures before Christmas and post them. It just seemed like the appearances are so important. You gotta spend money on lights and decorations or you're not a x-mas person. You gotta spend absurd amount on presents even if you don't have the money. It doesn't take a genius to figure out why there is a recession going on. The credit card debt people will be in on after Christmas...is it worth it? After knowing the financial situation people are in I wish they would not buy me presents. There are better ways to spend that money.

I understand that kids don't have any understanding of the value of money or how hard some people work for it but it doesn't make you really want to spend your money on kids that look at the presents they asked for and then say "are there more?" like happened last year with few. You spend your money, hard earned money for what? to see the present be thrown away and never to be seen again? I would be happy to agree with people that in order for us to love each other we don't need to buy presents for the sake of buying and receiving presents. You save your money and not get me something that you just bought for me for the sake of giving me a present. We can agree to save money, save paper and resources and room at the landfill by not buying presents. And if you absolutely HAVE to, buy me a service. I need to go back to the dentist. Give me money towards that or buy me an appointment. I need to have a haircut and dye soon...buy me an appointment or gift card toward that...You'll save resources, greenhouse gases and most importantly, you support someones job.

I know I just said that Christmas should be about family but somehow the money woes and not being able to buy presents takes over from the happy feeling. But I will try to focus on the fun part...spending time with people, late night eggnog and present wrapping session at Jude's and my little family Christmas with T and the cats.

Hope you have a Merry Christmas with the ones you love and get all the presents you want (and don't want)!