Guilt

[MistOfTheSea86]

Lately I have been feeling guilty about taking presents on Christmas because I really dont find it as a religious holiday... Does anyone else feel this???

[seawitch]

i never feel guilty about getting presents. :D
no matter what the reason.
besides christians didn't invent christmas.Yule.
they saw a good thing and cashed in on it.
i just keep in mind that i am celebrating, the return of the sun and the lengthening of the days. how important that must have been to people in the past. i am sure there was riotious merry making. to know the spring was coming.
i know that living in alaska i count the days till the soltice 9
i just might make it

[Flaire-FireStar]

For as long as I can remember I've never felt right about getting presents (at any time of the year).. In fact, I've been asking for nothing for the past few years, although I still get stuff.. I guess I just have to realize that they're gonna get me something no matter what I request, and live with it. They're doing it for me because they want to, not because of my lack of enthusiasm for the getting of gifts.

[flar7]

they give under the idea "tis better to give than recieve"
families make mini pilgrimages to give gifts. Is very nice.
The idea of doing without thought of reward, especially among
the parents. Thats why this is one of my favorite holidays.

The idea of brotherly love. The hope expressed by these acts.
The sense of "all is right with the world" if only for this little while.
and the memories of childhood that it gives us...


and presents!!! LOL

[mato]

Na feel more guilt about not really feeling for the people who are giving me stuff... Or the people I have to buy stuff for...
Ah well I would focus on the feelings behind the gifts and leave the guilt out of it, the gifts arent a celebration of christs birth but of love of a family and friends, it is more tribal than religious, at least thats what I have observed.

[Drisel]

I have to admit that I am a bit of a gift junkie. The best part about getting something is just opening the darn thing, be it something small or large. I enjoy even more watching people open the gifts I get for them and seeing the look on their faces. :D

[StormChaser]

I love making friends happy with gifts they would NEVER buy for themselves, or things no one else would have the gaul to give.
My friend Drew is a long time nay-sayer for gifts. He always asks for the impossible so that no one will get him anything. This year he told me he wants LeeLee Sobilieski, he said it in a totaly off topic conversation.. he hasn't a CLUE he's getting a full sized poster of her! Not getting a gift this year, is simply not an option *mwahaha*.

I never feel bad about recieving a gift for whatever the reason.
People generally don't give gifts on christmas because of its religious meaning anymore. It's just "the season of giving". Let it be a season of guiltless recieving too! It's no fun to give someone something if they don't completely just enjoy the fact that you gave them something *without strings*

~Storm

[Starlight]

Nope! I love getting presents. But maybe if you think of it as the person is giving you a present because they love you instead of because it's a holiday it will be easier to accept the gift. Maybe. I dunno. *shrug* :)

[Old Witch]

No guilt, gifts are good, yeah they are. :elf:

[Lunamoth]

Originally posted by MistOfTheSea86
Lately I have been feeling guilty about taking presents on Christmas because I really dont find it as a religious holiday... Does anyone else feel this???

Nope...What part of Jesus of Nazereth's birth determined that part of observing the holiday meant that people had to give each other presents, cards, fruitcakes....I think of it simply as a Winter Festival which draws people to be generous to their fellow human and non-human (kitties are getting a water-circulating drinking fountain this year). If you want, you could tell people you'd like to have them give you your gifts on Friday 12/21, instead. *shrug*

[Sequoia]

hmm. . . why be guilty, my friend? ^__^ tis the time to give! and whether they call it christmas, hannika (forgive my spelling x.x), yule, solstice, uhh. . . . all the others ^^; it's still a time of the year to give presents!

I figure, there's no need to feel guilty as long as you say thank you. Giving something back never hurts either!

And for those who say it's a gift from God. . . . kewl! It never hurts to get a gift from a god, any god! I figure when people are kind enough to lend you even just bus fare, and they want to say it's from their god, then hey I'm all for it. I'm not indebted to him, it was his kindess through them, or even if they just see it as such. . . who am I to snub that? ^_^ kindness is kindness!

[Adrenaline Junkie]

Feel guilty? No way!

I love to give & recieve gifts. Even though X-mas isn't really a religious holiday to me, it still is a special time to my family.

[Illuminatus]

Nope

[Xander67]

*bump

now that the holidays are over,

how do we feel about getting gifts now?

I feel bettter about giving sorta

[Drisel]

After seeing the smiles on everyone's faces my answer is the same. :D

[Flaire-FireStar]

I feel a bit better about getting them.. Although that won't last long cuz my b-day's coming up in a month & 3 days. :D (bleh)
But I don't mind giving them at all. :) I'd prefer it if I could just give 'em and get no gifts back, just a thanx... or a letter or something like that. :D