Back to the Basic Reason for the Season: An Old Fashion Christmas

Christmas is supposed to be a celebration of the birth of Christ. It is supposed to be about loving, caring, and celebrating the birth of Jesus. Christmas is about remembering the greatest gift we will ever receive. It is a time to reflect on all the good things we have in our lives. It is a time to count our blessings. It is a time to spread love and joy. This holiday season approaching may be the very one to guide us back to the real reason for Christmas.

As our country faces some serious financial woes, we may be forced to remember the basic reason for the season. A wounded economy and loss of faith in the future have forced many of us to realize that Christmas this year may be different. Different in the amount of money to be spent on gifts. But this very reason may also help us get back to remembering the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas should be about giving, not spending. And there is a difference. Giving is something we want to do. Spending is what we feel we have to to do. Christmas should not be about spending more than you can afford on gifts. And sadly enough, that's what many people do. Credit cards have made it all too easy to get in over your head. People go in debt at Christmas for gifts that will be tossed aside a few days later. People get so stressed out trying to find the "perfect" gift that they often just end up buying any expensive gift. As though the cost makes it better. Truthfully, the only perfect gift is any one given with love. Ask any mother who has ever received a homemade gift from her child. She'll tell you it was the best gift she ever received.

All that said, this Christmas season could be your family's best Christmas ever. And it can be done without a lot of money being spent and a minimum amount of stress. In fact, you could actually enjoy being creative about making this an old fashion Christmas everyone will always remember.

You start with being honest. Talk to your family and friends about cutting back on gifts. In all honesty, they will probably be relieved if you tell some of them that you would like to only exchange cards. Or maybe have one gift for the entire family. You could pick a special game for the family. And it doesn't even have to be a store bought gift. Some of the most appreciated gifts are gifts that you can't actually see. You might promise to babysit for your sister's kids so she and her husband can go away for a weekend. Or you might set a date to help your mother-in-law paint her kitchen. Remember, when you give your time, you are giving one of your most precious possessions. Just remember to talk to everyone ahead of time. Don't wait until they may have already purchased gifts.

Your children may surprise you when you tell them they may not get as much for Christmas this year. Just be honest. Explain that there's just not much money this year. Children will take this in stride. However, you can make sure they remember this Christmas as a special one, a good one. Help create those memories. Set aside a day and spend it letting your children make homemade gifts for grandparents, aunts, uncles, and even teachers. You can purchase craft supplies and let them make everyone personalized ornaments or wooden jewelry. There are countless ideas for cheap but unique gifts. When your children look back, they will remember the fun of creating those special gifts. They won't remember that they didn't get that two hundred dollar ipod or plasma tv.

That's how you create an old fashion Christmas. The joy of giving unique and special gifts creates those special memories. It truly is about quality, not quantity when it comes to giving gifts. Maybe it's time to break the money mold Christmas has turned into. What's wrong with going back to the time when people got one present each? One special "perfect" gift given with love.