As a teenager I began to hate christmas, until one year I was very ill and in hospital until christmas eve. The missing out on putting up decorations, wrapping and shopping for presents and being around the people I love at home made me realise how much I do like it. I was only able to be with my family on christmas day for limited time that year too because of the recovery from surgery making me exhausted, in pain and unable to focus due to painkillers.

For me christmas is only special because of what it means to me, which are the things I mentioned above. We have no young children in my family, so I guess I don't see that side of it. But in my family the expense of presents is irrelavent to the kind of few days we have. Yes some money is needed to pay for food and stuff, but even if we did it on a tight budget it wouldn't matter, christmas is more about being together for a few days (which rarely happens thoughout the year otherwise), enjoying some nice food and giving each other presents we know each other will love. Our presents are more about thought and the fact someone has gone to the effort to find something person for each other.