What Would Bloggers Do?

Will and I are not big fans of Christmas. We like the holiday decorations and the gatherings, of course, not to mention the food, friends, and family, but we hate the consumerism of the whole deal. We hate the way that Christmas is so much about the presents and so little about the things that should really matter.

The funny thing is, we aren't even religious. I'd say we border on the least religious among our families and, yet, throughout the month of December, I feel like getting out my soapbox and asking the people around us the ever-important question: What Would Jesus Do? I don't read the Bible. I don't go to church. Honestly, I am not exactly sure what Jesus would do, but I'll bet he wouldn't be using his Amex down at Bath and Body Works.

Two years ago, Will and I donated half of our Christmas budget to Heifer, an organization that provides animals to people in poverty around the world. With the other half of the budget, we bought regular, run of the mill presents--mittens, perfume, coffee mugs. Last year, we bought everyone a book and donated the rest of the money to Reading is Fundamental, a charity that delivers books and literacy resources to poor families.

This year, as you all know because I complain about it incessantly, I am a student. Which means I am poor. So, this year it will have to be one or the other--the donation to charity or the regular old gifts.

It seems an easy choice. What would Jesus do? He'd donate the money to charity. But there are some people in my family--people who I love--who would rather get a $20 gift than have a donation made in their name to help somebody in need. I know this because they say so. I know this because for years--this year included--I have suggested that we all just do something nice for somebody else and they have rejected this idea in favor of presents under the tree. These people I refer to, they aren't the people who read this blog, although at this very moment, I kinda wish they did. Because, seriously? That makes no sense. We are talking about a bunch of $20 gifts that, when added up, could make a real difference in somebody's life. But these people? They want that Cherry Blossom Body Mist! They want the matching Old Navy fleeces! I've got two dozen extended family members to buy gifts for and I need your help.

As far as I can tell, I have three options, unless y'all can come up with something better. The options are:

a) Gifts
b) Charity
c) Convert to Judaism

Bloggers, I know y'all are bursting with great ideas and opinions. What do you think? Learn the dreidel song? Buy everyone a copy of Giving? Maybe you know of a gift that is also charitable. Bonus points if you can think of something thematic, charitable, and gifty that everyone on my list will enjoy and that I will feel at least semi-good about paying interest on for the next three months.

(And, no, I will not be making any handmade gifts. I know that is what you are thinking--handmade gifts are the answer, right? The thing is, I have finals until December 21 so crafting is absolutely out of the question. I can't drop my contracts reading to knit 25 darling caps--although, trust me, I wish I could.)

Or, maybe I should just buy two cases of wine? One for the family, one for me.

Comments

[Greg]

I'm not quite sure what to do here. I must leave it up to your marvelous wit and ingenuity to figure it out.
Maybe what Jesus Christ would do is... something (that doesn't necessarily cost any or a whole lot of money) to show his family that he loves them and then use his money to donate to the charity. Tell your family that it's what you thought was the right thing to do if any of them actually ask or complain about it.
We don't have too many family pictures hanging up in the house. So one Christmas, my sister got my dad a large picture frame full of picture of just us kids. To him, it was the greatest present ever.

I think that same year I got him a hat that read, "THINKING CAP."

[class-factotum]

"Send them each a card and a note saying you have developed a program to teach them the spirit of Christmas."

No offense, but I'd be really annoyed with anyone who tried to "teach [me] the spirit of Christmas." It's a little presumptuous, don't you think?

[KC Sponge]

My husband is Jewish so we do both Hanukkah and Christmas . . . my daughter gets one present from Santa (whatever she asks him when we visit) - because I love the wonder of this jolly man who travels the world to make children happy on Christmas morning. The 8 days of Hanukkah are about sustaining life, so we give practical gifts to Elle and then donate the same item to families in Kansas City (socks, underwear, jackets, toothbrushes, etc). I'm sure its not as much fun as her cousins who take 2 hours to open their gifts on Christmas morning, and I'm sure we'll get rolling eyes over the next few years, but I think the lessons learned are the greatest gifts you can give.

And, I would not worry about your family and what they want to do. Opt out of the exchange if you have to . . . but still make donations in their name out of your budget. And when you donate the money, give them the recipient's information so that the tax receipt is sent to them in late January/February - they usually come from the company and let the giver know what the money was used for as well as some information on the organization.

There is no reason to spend a lot of money at the end of the year . . . if you're going to be the outsider anyway - give these gifts in June, or for Martin Luther King day or for Memorial Day (or National High Five Day!!). Make a point, but still celebrate this wonderful time of year that families get together and people think about each other for a little while. Merry Christmas!

[SCM]

After reading about Heiffer here, I decided to use it for our Secret Santa thing at work. So a gift of chickens is making their way to Africa in honor of on of my co-workers. It didn't go over great, but oh well. The best part was that the guy who got it is the most self-centered person in the office, I was just smiling on the inside at that.

The worst gift was two g-strings, a cock-ring and a flashlight(headlamp) that you wear on your head. I can understand the g-strings and the ring going together, but why the headlamp?