Simplifying Christmas

We don't decorate that much. There is a tree in our attic that is already decorated and hubby just has to bring it down, fluff it a bit and plug it in. It has unbreakable ornaments cause of the cats so it works just fine for us. For the cooking and all, we don't do cookies, just the meal with the family which is usually sometime between Christmas and New Years. Generally it is a ham, with whatever sides I feel like making. The girls might guilt me into making dressing but I've got that down so it goes fast.

Now, presents, we insist everyone has to make a wish list and we take it from there. I go overboard on gifts and try to make sure they are items that will be used or used up. Bath stuff, cooking stuff and the like go over good so there is not much to cause clutter the rest of the year.

Will you share what parts you did keep?

Like myshelly, we have just simply cut way back in the past few years. Keep in mind, we don't have children, so that makes it a little easier. I do decorate, but just with a couple wreaths and my snowman collection. I send fewer cards and buy fewer gifts. 

We spend Christmas Eve/Day with DH's family and even they have down sized the celebration recently. We still have a big traditional Christmas dinner, but everyone contributes. 

For me, less is WAY more at Christmas but you have to do what feels right for your family.

This year we are going to Florida with my Sister and her family. We are only taking one suitcase between two of us. SO needs must, we are going to keep it simple.

I'm trying something totally new this year. My goal last year was all shopping done by 12/15.
This year all gifts will be bought by the end of Thanksgiving weekend. With the exception of the couple of cash gifts I'm making (a tree lot, money pad and some orgami).
All cards will be done and mailed, all decorating is being done Thanksgiving Sunday. All parties have been planned,events been put on the calander, holiday outfits have been bought.
My goal for December is to enjoy. We will go to our parties, host ours, go to the holiday events,volunteer and enjoy our family.
Simplifying to me is not to stress. I won't be stressed because I'll be able to enjoy.
We have said no thank to things that have no meaning to us, sometimes we loose what the holidays mean to us...family.

For me it's about being *in the moment*. I'm a person who has multiple converstaions/thought threads going around in my head 24/7. My mind is NEVER still. So, for me to focus on what I'm doing, and who I'm with, is a concentrated effort.

So, the boys and I will put up the tree this year. I choose not to care what it looks like when we're finished- instead I focus on their delight at seeing all the ornaments with their names on them, and the stories behind our family ornaments. We do have family close, so when we pick a date for our meal/games, I'm solely there. We enjoy our candlelit Christmas Eve service, and while we're there, I work hard at truly hearing the words of the songs we're singing, and the message being retold. (Although, my boys are 5 & 8, and I'll quickly admit, I don't trust my youngest with an open flame- so when he's holding that candle, you better believe he's got my attention!)

As far as gifting, I shop online, and I shop early. And some of what we do is because it's an activity for my boys. We'll make candies (I don't do cookies), mixes, etc. that can be made as a family and given. Especially to adults, who really need nothing, certainly not more junk to clutter their lives.

I don't have expectations of perfection. We're very much in the mode of teaching our boys how to think of others. Not everyone, but how can we spread joy during this season?

I completely agree with you. Well put.

I enjoy baking, but I cut it way, way back so I focus on things for us to enjoy instead of making up plates and giving them to friends. They can make their own damn cookies.

I sold most of our knick knack decorations. One large item in the main rooms is enough. The tree in the living room, my grandma's light up ceramic tree in another. Simple and easy to get out.

We don't buy for adults, just the kids. In past years, I have bought too much for nieces/nephews. This year I picked out one thing for each of them, and I'm done. 
 

   

We don't travel anywhere, and I only buy presents for the immediate family (whom I get a list from), so husband and 2 kids. We have Christmas music playing, and I usually will bake one or two kinds of cookies in the week leading up to it. But that is it. We will probably do a lasagna for the dinner.

My Christmas is so simplified, I might be called a scrooge!

I know there are people that are stringent in doing their traditions, but I change it up every year and just make sure we celebrate and it works for our family.

I have too many Christmas decorations! So last year, I only brought out the red and white decorations. There was not a good place for our tree, so I decorated a 2 foot white tree that sat on top of our entertainment center. This year, we will have a spot and the living room can be more festive.

I gave up the idea of doing what is "expected". My kids don't care if everything is coordinated and beautifully wrapped. I don't like wrapping presents. So one year, every gift was put in separate rubbermaid containers. Lift the lid and there you go! My youngest (special needs) doesn't have many items that interest him. So he's getting very little for Christmas because he DOES NOT CARE! Luckily, my older 2 kids understand this and don't think I'm being cruel.

I have to say, I am so glad my kids don't believe in Santa! We don't put out cookies and milk unless I'm in the mood. No more disguising my handwriting on the gift tags of the "Santa" presents. I KNOW there are some people who always do Santa gifts no matter the age, but that's not something I was raised with. Santa only came to the kids, but always filled everyone's stockings, so this is the norm for me and what works for our family.

We also only buy presents for my mom and in-laws. We still get together with family. SO nice not having to buy for a lot of people. Again, not something I enjoy, but other people love.

I'm all about the less decorating.

I used to decorate at least 4 rooms and all the windows and it looked like Christmas had exploded. Beautiful but HUGE amounts. Also a large Christmas village.

It would take a few days to put up and just as more if not longer to take down.

Now? Décor goes only in the living room and on the front porch. It takes about 3 hours the day after Thanksgiving and it all comes down the day after Christmas.

Still beautiful but much more enjoyable!

Mary K

I wish my family would simplify the Christmas season. Looking at my calendar I am booked solid every weekend from the middle of November until the middle of January. I'm tired just looking at it.

I'm the wrong person to ask because I do actually enjoy a lot of it and we do a lot. It doesn't stress me out though because I think it's mostly fun and magical especially since my kid is at the perfect age for this stuff. I wish I could actually fit MORE in! For the most part, the whole rest of my life is fairly basic and "simple" so for the holidays I like to go a little crazy.

The one thing I didn't really like was being guilted into driving all over the place on holidays shuffling from place to place to go to this family member's house or that one. Now that our parents are gone, we've been able to cut a lot of that out and do what we want. Some years we spend part of the holiday with friends and other times we stay home and celebrate on our own, it just depends what we're in the mood for.

We've put up a large (~6 to 7-ft) Christmas tree every year. Last year we gave the big tree to DD and we'll be putting up a tabletop tree with a small garden underneath. I'm looking forward to that. I love sending & receiving cards, especially those that are personalized with a photo and a note or letter. It's a great way to keep up with those you don't often see. I no longer bake cookies but I enjoy making our traditional turkey and stuffing which we take to DD's late Chistmas morning. For me, it's the gifts that bring the biggest headache. DH and I no longer exchange but I still exchange with my 3 breakfast buddies and a friend to whom I mail gifts. I like to make gifts but sometimes it seems that time slips by so quickly this time of year. I need to find a way to either start earlier or something to make it less stressful.

I "simplified" in a different way. I love love the holiday season and sometimes want to do everything and to the extreme. That is a mix for disaster. So I sat down and made a list of priorities for the season - what is important to you and your family. I have small kids, so my big thing is the "magic" of the season for them.

By doing this, sometimes its not just what we are doing but the atmosphere I create in our home - comy, cozy, & happiness. Our goal is just to be together and present with each right now, everyone knows how fast this time goes.

I learn to say NO - #not sorry.
I make my calendar in November - kids/our family events go first - lights at zoo, polar express, santa visit etc.
I do a yearly gingerbread hourse party the 1st Saturday of the month. All other invites are 2nd priority.


Friday nights - we make no plans. We are all tired from the week, so it is Family night. Most of the time it's a picnic meal in front of the tree watching christmas movies, followed by popcorn and hot chocolate.
The last Friday before Christmas we usually let the kids pick a restaurant and then we go out and look at lights or do lights at the zoo.

Charity/ Gifts - We really only buy for our kids. I like to go big and let me kids have the joy. Instead of what we would spend on other family etc., We make our yearly donation to a charity. I usually pick, but am starting to get the kids involved. When they get older I would like to do some volunteer time at the local food bank.

My kids create wish lists, I do most of their shopping via amazon. I am not wasting my precious time running through the mall or from store to store stressed about buying a gift.

Cooking / Baking - I enjoy it but I just limit what we do. Our mandatory holiday treats are - our christmas cookies to decorate, homemade cinnamon rolls, ritzies (peanut butter between 2 ritz like crackers and dipped in chocolate) and peppermint bark cheesecake.

Christmas Eve - We do one meal (which can be prepped ahead of time) - Lasagna, Salad, Garlic Bread and Cheesecake for Dessert.
Christmas Day - Cinnamon rolls/christmas candy for breakfast, and snacky/appetizer food all day. We stay in PJs - play, watch movies and snack. We totally indulge on the junk.  

It's all perfect to us and thats all that matters.