DP, I kind of thought that is what it was. Email me info on that if you'd like.  DL

I think it depends on where you go and when.  I've been to some malls during the holidays where you just felt the air of "holiday spirit" all around with happy people buying little gifties for their family and friends.  My mom and I tend to seek out Holiday things - like Frankenmuth and Bronners is a great place to go to get "in the spirit", although this year it's chilly so I don't know if we will make it.

Then I've been to other malls during the same time where people were rush, rush, rush, push, push, push, mess, mess, mess!  Honestly that is what I think of Black Friday.  It's a sad day for society b/c people show their true colors when they start pushing you over just so they can save 5$ on a necklace or 50$ on a tv that probably is crappy anyway.

I think Christmas is what we make it.  When my kids were young, we would volunteer every Christmas to work at the Christmas store for people in need. . .we would walk them through to find items for each member of their family and, at the end, help them choose a turkey and canned goods for their holiday dinner.  Afterwards, our family would go out to eat and talk about how happy everyone had been to find things that would make their holiday a little more special.

Also, we always drove around to look at the decorations and used the code word, "deedely-deet" when we saw decorations . . . it got to be quite a competition for the kids to see who got the most deedely-deets!  We also felt very close to each other and the meaning of the holiday when we attended Christmas Eve candlelight services. 

All these activities allowed us to reflect on the deeper meaning of the holiday.  We enjoyed the Christmas morning crazies and brunch with the neighbors, but still stayed in tune with what Christmas was really about. 

If the holiday has a positive meaning and you pass on something positive to someone else, then that gives it value and worth.  Whatever that positive thing is for you and however you pass it on....is the spirit of Christmas.    Very few people object to calling it Christmas, but it got terrible press and afew insist on making everything politically correct.  There's been a backlash against this as well.

Coca Cola at the turn of last century created the most accepted image of Santa Claus and the commercialization has increased ever since.

For years we did not celebrate Christmas.  I just could not stand the selfish attitude that I had adopted as a kid and wanted to get back to the real meaning of Christmas- the celebration of the birth of Jesus.

After all, that is what that particular holiday is about.  As for the other holidays- they all have their own meanings and personalities too.  However, I am tired of the feeling that so many people have that they have to rush in the other holidays in bulk with Christmas.

Christmas deserves its own spot regardless of who celebrates it or who doesn't.  Every other holiday has its own spot too.  I wish people happy holidays by specific titles whether I celebrate them or not.  And many others do the same thing as well with Christmas.  Heck, I know Hindus that get a bang out of Christmas and love celebrating it and enjoying it even though they don't believe in it.  The same with lots of other faiths.

Anyway,when the grandparents started complaining because they wanted the kids in on Christmas, we decided that to honor them, we would bite the bullet and celebrate it with them anyway.

There were ups and downs, but through it all, I learned that to bless other people is what Christmas is all about.  My not celebrating it was selfish even though I thought I was being so self-less in doing it.  Seeing joy on someone else's face is what it is all about- not US- but others.

Part of that joy is allowing someone else to give something to us because it blesses them to do so.  Not because we are obligated to give back, but because they just love to do it.

Our kids are all excited about giving more than getting and they don't care if we do Christmas presents or not. I am very thankful for my great family.  This year, well, we each will be thankful to have one gift- it has been a very rough year and to have one gift each will be a big blessing.

And if we can't we wil give what we have to help someone else who has less.  

The rest of the time, we will enjoy the beautiful lights, snow if we have any, and each other as much as we can despite being on top of each other for a very long time of our personal winter season.  I am just thankful we are all still alive and still have a house to be in this year.

Chris, don't even get me started about "Happy Holidays".  Ugg.  Seeing people protest the use of Mangers on public space is just an utter waste of time and only hurts the people who enjoy seeing those.  Many cities now display other items for Hanukkah and Kwanza as well which I think is great.  The protesters should request items be added to represent all rather than forcing things to be taken down.

Great point Caprig, maybe taking a break from Christmas is what help you realized that not everyone thinks of it as just the hustle bustle and the gifts.  Your family enjoyed seeing you and your kids.  

I'm so glad you got your kids into the Giving spirit!  Giving should be fun and seeing someone happy with your gift can be it's own reward.