Blog
November 24th 2009 | 2
Christmas Doesn’t Have to Suck
Celebrate by not “celebrating.”
Does anyone past the age of 12 actually enjoy Christmas? The food is unquestionably a plus. But food is always good. Christmas on the other hand, seems to devolve as we age into a mammoth spending spree coupled with tedious obligations and hidden resentments. However, there are other possibilities and modes of “celebration” for this increasingly maligned and misunderstood holiday.
“Buy Nothing Christmas” was created by the Canadian Mennonites in partnership with Adbusters magazine - who also heavily promote Buy Nothing Day - as an alternative convention open to anyone, regardless of their religious affiliation, who have grown weary of the conventional Christmas expectations.
“I will not be buying anything this Christmas. I don’t have enough money and it’s stupid,” explains Buy Nothing Christmas participant, 23 year old Samantha Curtis.
Buy Nothing Christmas may indeed dampen the spirit of the so-called marketing scam referred to by corporations as “holiday cheer.” However, it’s not meant to induce a Scrooge-esque curmudgeonly response to the holidays. The creators advocate homemade gifts and good deeds done in place of a massive over exertion of credit and a frenzy of stress. Their self-professed aim is to “slow the pace of Christmas and the over-consumption of middle-class North Americans.” And it kind of kicks ass not to have to buy shit for people.
Discussion
-
I find that a lot of people can’t get past the obligatory feeling of needing to get something for Christmas. My solution this year is to bake people stuff like bread, cake, muffins, cookies, etc . . . I’m also giving away free coffee.
– Joshua in Winnipeg, MB | November 26th 2009 at 9:41am | Link
-
I agree with Josh. I think this year my plan is to also bake stuff for my loved ones, as well as make CDs I know they will enjoy. Since I work at Starbucks, discounted or free coffee is also an option for gifts this year.
As a student, I think it’s important to stay frugal even during the holidays, when the desire to spend and go overboard for our families is strong.
I hope one year my family decides to forego gift-giving and just enjoy each other’s company. That’s what the holidays mean to me anyway.
– Lilleybug in Wolseley Winnipeg | November 26th 2009 at 3:21pm | Link
