I've always enjoyed Christmas even though I grew up in a very, very dysfunctional and physically abusive family. I think, as a child and young person, I used Christmas as a salve to temper the ugliness I lived with every day the rest of the year. This is not to say my childhood Christmases were Norman Rockwellian. Not by any means, but I always found the joy in it.
As a result, I have always made it a point to ensure that my own family enjoyed a pleasant loving holiday. I never found that stressful and, in fact, it gave me great comfort to provide them with wonderful holiday memories.
We do some outside decorating, but don't go nuts with lights, etc. Actually, never did. Somehow I think loads of lights are too much. Less is better for me.
Inside, the house is decorated in a somewhat eclectic manner. Many of the decorations dating back to before the children were born, which makes quite a few of them over 40 years old. Guess that goes back to the "comfort" thing. A little like the old broken pair of shoes that feel so good. I can look at any number of our decorations and remember which child was born the year we got them or which child made it or helped assemble/put it up.
In fact, this year, when I mailed the Christmas packages for the children, I included some of the decorations from their childhood so they could share them with their children.
I still bake lots. Something I truly love at Christmastime. Even though it's just the two of us now, I still go ape nuts baking all kinds of cookies, etc. But these are my "special" ones that are usually only made at Christmastime. Makes them even more treasured since they're only around once a year.
As for presents, I shop and make gifts all year 'round. As a matter of fact, as we sit around the tree on Christmas day opening packages, I pay close attention to what everyone says as to likes and dislikes. What they admire about something someone else received. Color, fragrance, clothing, food, lifestyle preferences.
I remember what I've heard and use the rest of the year to fill the blank slate that was given me. Most of my gift giving is made up of things I make myself, which is easy because I have the year to accomplish whatever I need to make. This year, for example, members of my family will receive several knitted afghans, knitted hats, knitted scarves, beaded and embroidered wall hangings, hand-sewn aprons, napkins/place mats. And the list goes on.
I hear the news reports on the average expenditure per person during the holidays and I just gasp. I can't imagine spending such exorbitant sums. When I bought the yarn for the afghans, I made certain to use a 40% off coupon. Glenn says I'm "cheep, cheep!" Whatever. I just prefer to stretch our dollars. Most of our purchased gifts came from an upscale area consignment store. They have absolutely beautiful things for pennies. I couldn't tell you the last time I shopped at a mall...any time of the year, much less Christmastime. Been years. So I don't have to do the shopping stress thing, along with the parking lot stress.
This year all the gifts were done/purchased (what few that were bought), packaged and mailed, wrapped and ready for under the tree by December 3. Most of the baking is done and either refrigerated or frozen. The tree will be put up Christmas week, which only leaves Christmas dinner to be cooked.
We're expecting 12 for dinner Christmas day and the battle plan is in place and partially executed. The meal will be elegant but easy to prepare and dessert will be the cookies and candies that are already made.
I've always viewed Christmas in a childlike fashion and truly love all the sights, sounds and smells of the holiday. I have never felt stressed during the holidays even when I was raising 8 children. The chaos and confusion seemed to feed me and I thrived on it. Still do, even though the mayhem has been reduced considerably.
As for de-stressing the holiday, for those who need to do that, I pray they find the way that best works for them. It's too lovely a time to have it marred with stress.
