How many are taking out a loan in order to finance Christmas gifts . ..

for your loved ones so you may properly celebrate the birth of Christ?

I think it would be cheaper to convert to Islam and support Qatar and Saudi airlines with an obligatory trip to Mecca once in a lifetime.

My daughter, who happens to be cute as a bug, threaten to walk out if I didn't buy her a cell phone, which does everything but offer psychological counseling. I told her to start walking.

Honorable son number one wants a billiard table hand crafted according to the exact specifications of Minnesota Fats. I told him not to hold his breath.

Son number two wants a gold plated SUV. I told him to forget it. I can't afford the fuel to drive it from the car dealer.


It's crazy I tell ya. Why don't we dispense with Holy Night, Silent Night and call it what it is? Capitalism at its worst.

'Tis the season, you know.

Besides, by the time the first bills get here, I'll have won the lottery so I'm not worried.

I'd rather call it what it is... Winter Pagan Holiday with Tree of Life Festivities. Offer up a box of oatmeal and a few colorful squash to Mother Earth and thank Her for Her Bounty. Eat, drink, party, and love the one you're with.

Hell yeah! That's what I call a celebration! I'm betting that if Jesus were here, he'd pour the first round of wine, break bread with us, and offer up a parable or three on how corrupt our world has become, and how grateful he is to find a bunch of people who know what the real deal is.

Edited to say: And smoke 'em if you got 'em! God(dess) gave us good things to enjoy and it's a sin to turn our backs on His/Her gifts.

until I watched Zeitgeist, I had no idea there were such common links between the christ b days and so many others before him. We laughed our asses off.

you only go on Hajj (Pilgrimage) IF you are financially able to. If you are not because it would financially hurt you or your family, it is not obligatory.

I do make gifts this time of year, but they are home made. That's the kind I like-I know that the person put a bit of themselves into the making of the gift.

when we were much poorer and the kids were small. Part of it was not financial. We wanted to de-emphazize the greed aspect of Christmas with our children. If at least some of the holiday spirit could be, "What can I make," instead of "What will I get," I thought it would be a better holiday.

Our kids are not at home any more, but the tradition is still here. I give baked gifts. I treasure all the homemade ornaments from years past.

I am not as skilled as some of my family and friends who have kept the home made tradition alive. I do it anyway. My sister-in-law is an art teacher. One year, she sewed wonderful puppets for my kids. Another year, she made Raggedy-Ann type dolls for my girls. She has also made a creche that is quilted and stuffed. It is made in a Mexican style, and is quite lovely and colorful.

My neighbor made corn husk dolls with my children. Together, they fashioned those dolls into a family scene around a fireplace, a creche, and a kitchen theme.

Last year, I went to E-bay and found antique cookie cutters like the ones I use in my baking. I gave sets to my children, including my son. I gave them copies of all the recipes we use in our Christmas baking.

While I will never be as skilled as my sister-in-law or my neighbor, I appreciate my family and friends who have the same idea about the holidays as me. I hope that our children, if they should become parents themselves, will keep some of this tradition alive.

something for everyone. One year it is poetry, another year it is stories of her childhood.

When my nephew was 3, I made him a book, illustrated with drawings of his family--funny little stories about his imaginary playmate, etc. He got married this last week, and his bride told me that he'd shown her that book and that he still treasures it. Brought a real tear to my eye.

but I did front my landlord a couple month's rent so he could cover the holiday.

... the same as a loan? Then why aren't they called debt cards - or loan cards?

We're skipping the gifts this year ... again.

Say no to the man in the red suit with the name that starts with S.

http://kiva.org/

or use a credit card. So I guess I will just have to use cash. That's good because I won't have the after-Xmas credit card bills.

here and then it's not much anyway.