These are very interesting questions you pose @ladywoodi. I am very much of the mind set, that Christmas is mostly for children but I suppose I think this way as my memories of really enjoying Christmas are from when I was a child. However, a lot of my memories are of the excitement of getting gifts, the overwhelming excitement on Christmas Eve, not being able to sleep etc. It is entirely possible that the very act of gift giving has overshadowed the important memories of spending time with grand parents and other family but I think that on the whole, staring at Christmas scenes from the bus window, glittering lit up shop windows and visiting Santas grotto were happy memories of childhood. I equate them with a time before the weight of cynicism the world can throw at us in adult life got a hold. I am not a lover of Christmas nowadays, if you asked me I couldn't tell you exactly why.
I think the question of gifts is completely a question of societal expectations. Unfortunately, society (and by that I mean their friends at school, adverts on TV and the shops with those Christmas scenes in there windows) will be teaching your children one thing while you are teaching them another. Don't get me wrong, I agree with a lot of what you're saying but I think, unless you live in a wilderness area, then your children will have this pressure to conform to the whole gift giving thing coming at them from the outside. It is important to let them know why you have these beliefs, that it is because you treasure the memories over gifts, that they are all the gifts that you need for Christmas.
Pffttt, I have just realized I am waffling lol, I hope you have a very merry Christmas 🎅
Hello @raj808 . This is what I really love about Steemit! It's very interesting and different point of view. I really like your point about children. And yes, when I grew older my view of Christmas is changing a little bit. That's the reason I am trying to create new winter rituals, so I can look for it.
Wish you nice winter times then☺
I admire what you are doing, very much! When I read back what I wrote before I was a bit worried that maybe I had been a little presumptuous and stuck my nose in lol I didn't mean too. It is a great thing about steemit, I agree, that most people on here seem to want to share there thoughts and experiences honestly. I think it's because it's a new platform and blockchain, free from advertisers and a lot of the corporate rubbish that goes with Fbook and all those other soc media giants. Steemit seems to attract real people who want to share, which is wonderful.
P.S. As an adult now I completely would love a Christmas without gifts, it would be a novelty and beautiful to just gather round the fire and share stories, food and maybe even a glass of port 🍷 😉