Hi, Guest
01-03-2015, 07:20 AM
Interesting you should post this. We were discussing (at coffee row) how few people were at the restaurant we frequent for coffee. Of course we also noted how few people were working as well. Since I celebrate Christmas by the Julian Calendar, December 25 is not a major holiday (we exchange gifts on December 19, St. Nicholas Day). During my early, formative career and single days (fifty or so years ago) I quite willingly worked on December 25 because we got paid double time and a half.
After marriage to a part Irish, part Scot girl, we had the best of all worlds. We allowed the kids to start opening presents on December 19, but only one, and one each succeeding day right up to December 25. At that time we travelled and celebrated Christmas with my wife’s side of the family. On January 6 (Ukrainian Christmas Eve) we celebrated with my family. On January 7 we celebrated with family and friends in a larger group setting.
This was a win-win-win solution. The boys really appreciated each gift they opened for a full day, without the overload of trying to decide what to play with, the mess was kept to a minimum, albeit spread over the better part of a week. Both sides of the family had our full attention, and no arguments over who were we going to visit. And I made extra cash just because I was available to work.
A side note, we did wrap one gift deceptively as the boys grew older (all four are two and a half years apart in age) so that when they thought they were getting a Walkman, on opening found something entirely different, like a pair of socks - and this was not as cruel as it sounds. Honestly, this was fun since everyone eventually bit.
Christmas is and will be celebrated as the religious remembrance it was supposed to be.
After marriage to a part Irish, part Scot girl, we had the best of all worlds. We allowed the kids to start opening presents on December 19, but only one, and one each succeeding day right up to December 25. At that time we travelled and celebrated Christmas with my wife’s side of the family. On January 6 (Ukrainian Christmas Eve) we celebrated with my family. On January 7 we celebrated with family and friends in a larger group setting.
This was a win-win-win solution. The boys really appreciated each gift they opened for a full day, without the overload of trying to decide what to play with, the mess was kept to a minimum, albeit spread over the better part of a week. Both sides of the family had our full attention, and no arguments over who were we going to visit. And I made extra cash just because I was available to work.
A side note, we did wrap one gift deceptively as the boys grew older (all four are two and a half years apart in age) so that when they thought they were getting a Walkman, on opening found something entirely different, like a pair of socks - and this was not as cruel as it sounds. Honestly, this was fun since everyone eventually bit.
Christmas is and will be celebrated as the religious remembrance it was supposed to be.