Christmas Presents... What is this practice all about??

[Claire]

where i am, "gifting" during the winter holidays is usually for the kids.....neighbors' kids, friends' kids, relatives' kids. among adult friends, we have stopped the practice of gift exchanges and raffle gifting a long time ago, after we realize most of the gifts are cheap, useless, recycled garbage from china. and they clutter the home. we vow to stop the practice but instead get together for home-cooked meals and open vintage bottles of wine that we have patiently stowed away for years if not over a decade for moments and seasons like these. we continue to bring our best wines and food. for kids, they are constantly bombarded by tv, radio, and social media on the onset of christmas and other winter holidays (kwanza, hannukah, etc.) and their minds are influenced to expect gifts from parents, grannies and other adults. plus the atmosphere, music and decors in retail settings. they start earlier every year. a long time ago it was right after thanksgiving. last year it was right after halloween, and this year, online sites are spamming early with gift ideas before halloween. we have a full 2 months before christmas and online media is already pushing the envelope. retail stores require time for physical change to stock and decor, but warehouse stores like costco and costplus are already stocked full of christmas doodads. just over 2 weeks ago the same warehouse stores are filled to the brim with halloween costumes......for kids and adults. it's an escalation of american marketing and consumerism that has lost track of time. very soon, christmas will be celebrated past new year's into spring. that's exactly what my neighbor has perfected. his outdoor christmas decor is still up.....from last year.

by the way, the best and most cherished gift i ever give to a friend's grand daughter is a stuffed piggy. it's so cute, durable and high quality that it stayed with her in her arms all her childhood years from toddler through pre-pubescent. it's like a personal pet until the real pet comes along. those gifts transcend seasons and holidays.

I call that being yourself. Good and healthy for the family, imparting good values and character.

 

[looneytan]

Isn't all these gifting a new form of "western colonialism"?

What do you think?

new meh? people have been buying Christmas gift since biblical time

I think we should move on

 

[Claire]

new meh? people have been buying Christmas gift since biblical time

I think we should move on

When others do, you follow blindly? Sounds familiar...

 

[looneytan]

When others do, you follow blindly? Sounds familiar...

I have never bought Christmas presents in all my life.

Read your post and my reply again

 

[tictactoe]

When others do, you follow blindly? Sounds familiar...

You sound familiar too, so how do you think the Singapore stock market will go?

 

[Claire]

I have never bought Christmas presents in all my life.

Read your post and my reply again

Good, keep it that way.

 

[Claire]

You sound familiar too, so how do you think the Singapore stock market will go?

I don't dabble in the stock market. It breeds greed.

 

[tictactoe]

I don't dabble in the stock market. It breeds greed.

Strange, but I could have sworn you were giving some good stock insights ( not as Claire though ) on some other thread.

 

[Claire]

Strange, but I could have sworn you were giving some good stock insights ( not as Claire though ) on some other thread.

Many have suspected that I am somebody and somebody. When I first posted, some called me a transgender. Others called me a gaylord. Then, so and so and so forth. Last I seen on the screen yesterday, I am supposedly Ahmeng, and now you calling me TracyTan.

I am Claire and if you think I am someone else, then stop communicating wih me. As simple as that.

 

[tictactoe]

Many have suspected that I am somebody and somebody. When I first posted, some called me a transgender. Others called me a gaylord. Then, so and so and so forth. Last I seen on the screen yesterday, I am supposedly Ahmeng, and now you calling me TracyTan.

I am Claire and if you think I am someone else, then stop communicating wih me. As simple as that.

Hahaha stop acting like a spoilt brat, it is affecting your spelling.

 

[Claire]

Hahaha stop acting like a spoilt brat, it is affecting your spelling.

No need to wind me up. I am a strong woman.

 

[Agoraphobic]

The season/practice of Christmas has been debated in this forum often, every year. Looks like its that time again.

Firstly, Christmas is NOT a Christian festival or celebration. Christians acknowledge the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. For the rest of the world, it is taken as a year-end celebration. The Christmas "Gift" practice was passed on to our society by our British masters when they ruled/governed us, it was part of their custom in their celebration of Christmas. This has grown exponentially over the years as Singapore grew in wealth.

USA is the dominant nation in the world since WW2, and she is the biggest commercial hub in the world (soon to by over taken by PRC). So what she practices will rub off to the rest of the world, and Singapore is sure to follow. You can say that Christmas is a "western" concept, but it is also not wrong to say it is a "commercial" concept. One thing for sure, its religious roots are fading and is more an more becoming a secular festivity. It has little to do Christianity now, just ask Santa and Rudolph.

Cheers!

First, I declare that I am not a Christian.

Second, I am wondering what the fuss is all about giving presents on Christmas? I see my junior colleagues in office, discussing and suggesting what is good for Christmas presents when they are not even Christians.

I would understand if they are Christians and indulge in this religious practice - http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/presents.shtml

Isn't all these gifting a new form of "western colonialism"? Just like Valentine's Day and Halloween

What do you think?

 

[Claire]

The season/practice of Christmas has been debated in this forum often, every year. Looks like its that time again.

Firstly, Christmas is NOT a Christian festival or celebration. Christians acknowledge the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. For the rest of the world, it is taken as a year-end celebration. The Christmas "Gift" practice was passed on to our society by our British masters when they ruled/governed us, it was part of their custom in their celebration of Christmas. This has grown exponentially over the years as Singapore grew in wealth.

USA is the dominant nation in the world since WW2, and she is the biggest commercial hub in the world (soon to by over taken by PRC). So what she practices will rub off to the rest of the world, and Singapore is sure to follow. You can say that Christmas is a "western" concept, but it is also not wrong to say it is a "commercial" concept. One thing for sure, its religious roots are fading and is more an more becoming a secular festivity. It has little to do Christianity now, just ask Santa and Rudolph.

Cheers!

Christmas has nothing to do with Christianity? Oh..in that case, what is it? Stop giving excuses to the West to dilute our Asian culture.

 

[streetsmart73]

Why should I support anyone? Did I say I hate Christmas or Christians? They have their beliefs and I have mine. I respect theirs and they respect mine.

What I am not in favour for - is the idea of "gifting" - for those who are non-Christians who have been misled about this practice by the media and coerced by such new age norms into practising it.

Hi there

1. Gf, if you are not into the Christmas gift thing
2. Move on hor.
3. Christmas is more than just gifts.
4. It is time to give & share joy too.
5. Let not forget the individuals who are less fortunate.

 

[yellowarse]

The season/practice of Christmas has been debated in this forum often, every year. Looks like its that time again.

Firstly, Christmas is NOT a Christian festival or celebration.

Rubbish. Get your facts right: Christmas is a celebration of Jesus' birth. That's why churches of all denominations (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant) all over the world celebrate Christmas every year.

Yes, Christmas has been bastardized and morphed by commercialization into a 'secular' event, but that does not detract from its religious roots. And why should non-Christians – or even Christians – participate in – and thus perpetuating – this bastardization?

If you knew the true significance of Christmas as a holy day for all Christians, then you'd know better than to show disrespect to the religion by being part of this shop, eat and gift-fest?

 

[Agoraphobic]

I didn't say Christmas has nothing to do with Christianity, I said that's it is more a secular festival than religious. And Christmas isn't celebrated by Christians, it is celebrated by almost everybody, for reasons that have nothing to do with Christianity. You think the Christmas Tree has Christian origins?

And the West isn't out to dilute Asian Culture, practices of the 21st Century arrived in Asian societies only last century and that is why they are now seen practiced here. It is called "modernisation." The west wasn't like this two hundred years ago as well.

Cheers!

Christmas has nothing to do with Christianity? Oh..in that case, what is it? Stop giving excuses to the West to dilute our Asian culture.

 

[Agoraphobic]

Bro, read my writing. I said that Christians ACKNOWLEDGE the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Dan and for EVERYBODY else, it is a year-end celebration. It just happens to be the same time, that's all. You go to church on Christmas Day? Pagans in pre-Christian period have celebrated year end festivals way before they converted to Christianity, and that's where the roots of Christmas originated. Even in Christian societies today, it is becoming politically incorrect to wish "Merry Christmas" and more sensitive ones are changing it to "Happy Holidays." In case you have missed out earlier discussions of this subject, it is now generally accepted that Jesus Christ was not born on December 25, that is, if he was even born.

And by the way, Japanese are one of the biggest spenders at Christmas - how many of them are Christians?

Show respect? How? In earlier Christian times, Christmas was a solemn event, not the loud parties we see these days! Even Christians move with the times.

Cheers!

Rubbish. Get your facts right: Christmas is a celebration of Jesus' birth. That's why churches of all denominations (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant) all over the world celebrate Christmas every year.

Yes, Christmas has been bastardized and morphed by commercialization into a 'secular' event, but that does not detract from its religious roots. And why should non-Christians – or even Christians – participate in – and thus perpetuating – this bastardization?

If you knew the true significance of Christmas as a holy day for all Christians, then you'd know better than to show disrespect to the religion by being part of this shop, eat and gift-fest?

 

[yellowarse]

Bro, read my writing. I said that Christians ACKNOWLEDGE the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Dan and for EVERYBODY else, it is a year-end celebration. It just happens to be the same time, that's all. You go to church on Christmas Day?Cheers!

Bottomline: Christians acknowledge and CELEBRATE the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. Ask the Pope. The Catholic and Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas as a twelve-day festival (25 Dec for the former, 6 Jan for the latter).

Do non-Christians have any right to define and appropriate this holy festival from the Christians?

If I'm not a Buddhist, do I have the right to declare Vesak Day a 'secular' event and start a party and sales festival nationwide?

You go to church on Christmas Day?Cheers!

My wife's a Christian, so I go to church with her on Christmas Day, even though I'm not Christian. So I do know a bit about what Christmas is, as well as what respect to Christianity is.

 

[tictactoe]

No need to wind me up. I am a strong woman.

I'll bet hahahaha.

 

[Agoraphobic]

Then can you explain why Santa Claus, Rudolph the reindeer, Frosty the Snowan, mistletoe, Christmas Tree, and the Twelve Days of Christmas have become so associated with Christmas? What relation to Christianity do these icons of Christmas have?

Vesak Day doesn't occur at the end of the calendar year where communities party, sing, dance, eat, and be merry. There are no yuletide sentiments in May/June.

My wife is Catholic. Sometimes I go with her to church.

Cheers!

Bottomline: Christians acknowledge and CELEBRATE the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. Ask the Pope. The Catholic and Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas as a twelve-day festival (25 Dec for the former, 6 Jan for the latter).

Do non-Christians have any right to define and appropriate this holy festival from the Christians?

If I'm not a Buddhist, do I have the right to declare Vesak Day a 'secular' event and start a party and sales festival nationwide?



My wife's a Christian, so I go to church with her on Christmas Day, even though I'm not Christian. So I do know a bit about what Christmas is, as well as what respect to Christianity is.