Christmas Cheer

As Christmas is just around the corner, many parents scramble to attain the best gifts for their children. Recently I've learned that this tradition began even in the days of Jesus Christ. I'm curious to know whether this is true. However, I may be too lazy to do the research and find out. How can the tradition be that bad anyways. Having grown up in a Christian home I often wonder about the contradictions of tradition and spiritual/biblical principals. For instance, giving gifts to those who are less fortunate as opposed to those who are able to return the favor. If I think about all these contrasting ideas, it makes me dizzy. Even worse than that, what to buy my friends and family for Christmas! Oh, wouldn't it be so much easier just to give everyone a card that says, "due to my protest of material idolatry I will not be giving gifts this year. Thank you and God bless." This could be my simple solution to the problem., but what would be the repercussions of such an idea? Then I would have to decide whether to accept or refuse their gifts. If I refuse the gifts, I will be viewed as pieist, but if I accept them, I will be viewed as hypocritical.

Wouldn't it be easier just to buy a wii, ipod, xbox 360, iphone, laptop, and a gps device. That would cover all the gifts I want to purchase for my family. This wouldn't be to bad if I didn't have to pay any bills. Through making some gifts, I'm sure I could save a lot of money. Picking up a craft could not only save me money, but also it could help lift the winter blues. Usually I wait till Christmas eve to do all of my Christmas shopping. This would force me to start earlier. I will have to decide very soon. When I decide, I will share my ideas.