cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/72158896

This Christmas, instead of buying each other more stuff, why don't we agree to put that money toward people who actually need it? Donate to a food bank, a shelter, a local charity, or help someone in your community who's having a rough time.

We keep the dinner, the time together, all the good parts. Just skip the obligation to buy something because someone is buying something for you. And if you're struggling yourself, there's no obligation to give money either. A tradition that benefits the poor instead of making the rich richer.

Anyone else up for this? How would you bring it up with your family? I tried and got a lot resistance. Seems like a no brainier to me.

Edit: we are all adults

I tried and got a lot resistance. Seems like a no brainier to me.

People who want to do this already do. Some do both donations and gifts for their loved ones.

You can’t control what other people do, all you can do is ask. At this point you should tell your family it’s what you’re going to do and if they insist on getting you something ask them to donate as your gift. Or you could ask for gift cards to grocery stores and then buy and donate to a food pantry.

Older generations will resist.

Welcome to parenthood

Then they resist.

You can’t control what other people do, all you can do is ask.

My wife and I are already not very accepted by our homophobic conservative family, so we didn’t really ask. We started giving donations in family members’ names to things we felt they would care about, and then the Christmas Day gifts are cards with the story of what that donation did for someone. It seemed to go over well enough but of course all families are different.

In our household we try to spend time together, have some good food, take photos to remember. We’ve talked to various family about not sending gifts to different degrees of success. One person really “gets it.” One launched a big guilt trip. And various others ate in between. I’m fine with rocking the boat. The vast majority of stuff that gets sent out way isn’t anything I want or need. I have other things to do in life than shepherd random items that I never asked for.

I'm sorry but I do find the resistance from people that enjoy Christmas pretty funny.

Ahh Christmas, a time of happiness and gift giving.
To the poor??? Oh nonononono why would I do that on Christmas??

I started this over a decade ago and it vastly improved being forced to participate in Xmas.

Now it is like having two Thanksgivings.