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With Christmas coming up, gifting and receiving presents is on everyone's lips. I have read a lot of articles about Christmas presents and consumerism, especially around the US Black Friday (which is a quite bizarre phenomenon viewed from across the Atlantic).
Some minimalists have very extreme views about presents, deciding to tell their friends they don't need any and to not gift any either - see this article for example. Others emphasize how spending your money on gifts can make you happier than spending it on yourself.
I thought I might share my train of thoughts on the subject.
Presents and Materialism
The Art of Giving
Receiving Gifts and Minimalism
The course of action I have chosen is to let them know, along the year, about my views on objects, materialism and simplicity. Many of my relatives and friends read my blog and know all the questions I am asking myself on the subject, so they tend to avoid the "trinkets". Some decide to go for an experience such as tickets for a show or exhibit, or digital content. Others ask me for a list and I'll suggest either consumables like tea, incense, candles, chocolate or wine, or a specifc item from one of my wishlists, that I know I will use.
And sometimes, I do receive "unwanted gifts". But they are not "unwanted", because I am grateful for receiving this mark of affection from the person. And if, after a while, I can't find a use for it, then I think about giving it to someone who needs it more than I do. I don't think it is a cruel thing to do, because the important is to acknowledge the gesture, not the object itself...
What are your views on presents? Are there any specific traditions in your country?
PS: Happy Holidays, I hope you enjoy this season whatever your traditions are!
While I find truly sad the extreme materialist part of Christmas, I still enjoy giving and receiving gifts. I never receive too many gifts or unwanted gifts since I'm now way too conscious of the environmental and social problems with buying too much so for the past 2 years I've made a short list of things I reaaally need. This year, for example, I asked a pair of brown loafers since I wore my previous pair to death, a good hand cream for my extremely dry hands and paper to paint in watercolor. In any case, I feel like gifts are just a little part of the whole Christmas night, I enjoy much more eating and having a good time with the ones I love, maybe I'm getting old haha.
ReplyDeleteHave a merry Christmas!
Great post! Love that you dropped a Harry Potter reference :)
ReplyDeletewell said. =)
ReplyDeletethis year all I wanted for christmas were Dyptique candles, cashmere socks and cognac fudge. Things I really enjoy and would probably end up buying for myself.
I also like the idea of re-gifting a present to someone who appreciates it more. it makes more sense to make someone happy than keeping something out of false sense of obligation. I know I myself wouldn't mind.
Happy Holidays!
Chio - I agree with you, tome Christmas is about the experience: meeting family we rarely have the occasion to spend time with, eating together, playing games... I like the moment when everybody opens their gifts, but more for the moment than for the gifts themselves...
ReplyDeleteMegan - I love Harry Potter! I couldn't talk about present without remembering this scenes when Dudley makes a scene because he has only 36 presents or something...
Luxcore - Dyptique candles were on my list too :)It's true that a lot of people keep their "unwanted" gifts out of obligation. There is always this comical situation where people would display ugly gifted decoration only when they invite the person who gifted it to them! Never saw that in real life though.