Comments on: Notes on a Non-Christmas http://thesocietypages.org/economicsociology/2009/12/27/notes-on-a-non-christmas/ Brooke Harrington explores the social underpinnings of money and markets. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:11:41 +0000 hourly 1 By: Regan http://thesocietypages.org/economicsociology/2009/12/27/notes-on-a-non-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-663 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:10:03 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/economicsociology/?p=617#comment-663 I find it sad that people do feel obligated to give gifts to others for no other reason than that it is expected of them. It takes the meaning out of a gift, which is suppose to be a kind gesture to some one we like and appreciate. I think gift giving should be from the heart, not because of social obligation. However, I don’t believe that people should stop giving gifts all together since it is part of the tradition of the holidays. I think we should reconsider who we give gifts too and for what reasons. As I said earlier, gift giving should be thoughtful, meaningful, and from the heart.

]]> By: Roshni Muralidharan http://thesocietypages.org/economicsociology/2009/12/27/notes-on-a-non-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-662 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:47:33 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/economicsociology/?p=617#comment-662 I definitely think that Christmas is one of those holidays that is contagious. The spirit of Christmas is something that is very strong so it affects people that don’t even celebrate Christmas. For example in my family we don’t celebrate Christmas but when other people give us Christmas gifts we then feel obliged to return the gift. So in a way we end up celebrating Christmas even though it isn’t a holiday of our religion. In this situation gift-giving definitely becomes something surrounded by social tension.

I think the idea of “Christmas without gifts” is something that should be more widely embraced because gift-giving in general is a social norm in America that defintely causes alot of tension. If someone gives everyone in a group a gift and then excludes one person, that one person probably will end up feeling terrible. Removing the social norm of gift-giving completely from Christmas will allow the holiday to be celebrated for what it really is about.

]]> By: Tina http://thesocietypages.org/economicsociology/2009/12/27/notes-on-a-non-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-656 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:20:43 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/economicsociology/?p=617#comment-656 Merry Non-Christmas :)

]]> By: Tiago http://thesocietypages.org/economicsociology/2009/12/27/notes-on-a-non-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-654 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:19:56 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/economicsociology/?p=617#comment-654 Love that gift of sloth :D
Much better than giving or receiving gifts on Christmas just for the sake of it. Giving material gifts is too over-rated. People rather buy something useless just to get their conscience clear, instead of doing something that truly makes them (and others) happy. Kind of sad really.
Christmas is strangled with material values, everyone gets too anxious to buy stuff just for the sake of it. We should stop and think if we really need to buy stuff just to get a clear conscience: seems kind of selfish from everyone.

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