My family decided in November on not buying Christmas gifts this year as we are all adults and have what we need anyway. I get paid once a month and right now am living cheque to cheque. So I spent the money I had saved up on extra credit payments. Now they've changed their minds and all want gifts. I have 25 dollars to last me til the 30th. How do I get through this holiday without being as bitter as I am now? And not feel like a loser for no one having a gift? [more inside]
posted by beautifulcheese on Dec 12, 2009 - 27 answers

Christmas dinner in Toronto - need some crazy recommendations for something out of the ordinary. [more inside]
posted by rmm on Dec 8, 2009 - 3 answers

Help me have the most awesome themed gift this Christmas! A pound of _______ [more inside]
posted by Rallon on Dec 7, 2009 - 31 answers

Christmas with parents or with friends? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 30, 2009 - 16 answers

What's the best way to stand up to my mother about Christmas and to handle her jealousy about our better relationship with my partner's parents? She's determined to make the holiday season into a zero sum game with my partner's mother [more inside]
posted by Flitcraft on Nov 22, 2009 - 41 answers

My husband lost his job, we're not sure how we're going to pay the rent in January, and my family is being assholes about Christmas gifts. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 19, 2009 - 64 answers

What are some traditions that we can incorporate into our first Christmas solstice together? [more inside]
posted by PhoBWanKenobi on Nov 3, 2009 - 21 answers

How can I handle my feelings for my parents during this holiday season? [more inside]
posted by bananaskin on Nov 1, 2009 - 32 answers

What techniques can you use to avoid falling into the family dynamic trap? By that I mean, for the first few hours/days everything's fine with parents and siblings, my identity is intact, but soon after, somehow, we're all playing the same parts we always played (we've all flown the nest)... I find it annoying how I find it difficult to rise above this. ie. feeling intimidated by my older brother, oddly belittled by my younger brother ignored by parents. I'm sure I'm a rather oversensitive middle child but I'm pretty sure I'm not the only factor! This year I am determined to enjoy my Christmas without the family dynamics crap. We're all old enough for this not to be a problem, surely? Futile perhaps, but maybe with your rather general advice I may be able to make inroads!
posted by yowza on Dec 21, 2008 - 33 answers

How do I celebrate my first Messianic Hanukkah? No one else in my family is Jewish, and they're trying to "make me" celebrate Xmas. [more inside]
posted by hasna on Dec 15, 2008 - 46 answers

Christmasgiftfilter: I am in England. I'm looking for suggestions for little gifts to take to the American family. Or generic gift suggestion lists. [more inside]
posted by K.P. on Dec 11, 2008 - 37 answers

Looking for a $15-25 white elephant gift that starts with the letter D [more inside]
posted by Rallon on Dec 9, 2008 - 25 answers

My brother-in-law's domestic abuse is tearing my family apart and I really don't know what to do or how to handle the situation anymore. I need some advice. [more inside]
posted by csimpkins on Nov 26, 2008 - 54 answers

My sister and I want to do a gift-free Christmas. What rules should we set? And how do we break the news to our mom? She's big on bargain hunting and spoiling us, so we're sure she's not going to take this well. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 25, 2008 - 16 answers

Where's a warm, sunny, beach-y, relatively inexpensive place for my family to visit over Christmas? [more inside]
posted by timoni on Sep 24, 2008 - 11 answers

Where to stay for Christmas? I need snow, a central lodge, separate rooms or outlying cabins (ideally with kitchenettes), and a charming village, in the US or Canada. [more inside]
posted by Capri on Mar 3, 2008 - 12 answers

My family members decided to suddenly start celebrating Christmas this year. I feel weird about it. Help me deal with these changes. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 31, 2007 - 27 answers

I missed my two brothers-in-laws' birthdays, and one of my sisters is mad at me. I'll see everyone at Christmas. Help me make things right and prevent family drama. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 21, 2007 - 24 answers

Looking for gift ideas for A Single Guy, with essentially no other information. What to get my dad's wife's son for the gift exchange? [more inside]
posted by booknerd on Dec 21, 2007 - 30 answers

Should I go home for Christmas? (Warning: long family financial drama inside). [more inside]
posted by snickerdoodle on Dec 16, 2007 - 16 answers

What are your tips on surviving holiday family dysfunction? [more inside]
posted by pluckysparrow on Nov 21, 2007 - 45 answers

RelationshipFilter: How do my wife and I solve the Christmas family dilemma? Specifically, I'm looking for advice and suggestions on how we decide which family to visit each year. Of course, it's more complicated than that... [more inside]
posted by ranglin on Apr 30, 2007 - 29 answers

Hotel/Home for the Holidays? My girlfriend and I are facing a major dilemma in visiting her home town for Christmas: Stay at her parents house or stay in a hotel. Any advice or past experiences would be most appreciated. Much much [more inside]
posted by travis vocino on Dec 7, 2006 - 44 answers

I've got too many nieces and nephews to buy christmas gifts for this year and not enough money. Please, oh great and wise collective hive mind of the metafilter abyss, grant me some wisdom as to some great cheap gifts. [more inside]
posted by killThisKid on Oct 19, 2006 - 31 answers

Fundy-In-Law-Filter: My husband's sister and her husband are hard-core evangelical fundamentalists. We are liberal Episcopalians. This causes a problem every Christmas. What do you say when you get a gift that was clearly meant to make a point? [more inside]
posted by Biblio on Dec 27, 2005 - 84 answers

Can you name a reasonable price for a late wedding ring? Family Drama Inside! Come Look! --> [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 20, 2005 - 39 answers

Every year at Christmas, my husband's family has a cooking contest. I don't expect to win, because Grandma is generally a lock. However, I'm a good sport and generally try to make a respectable showing. This year's theme is "appetizers with mint in them," and I am looking for tasty recipes. There's a catch though... [more inside]
posted by jennyb on Nov 25, 2005 - 18 answers

I need help with a gag Christmas gift for a father/boss... [more inside]
posted by aburd on Nov 11, 2005 - 4 answers

The Christmas holiday is fast approaching as we all know. My fiancee is Muslim, and we have always celebrated religious holidays separately. This year, I would like him to be a part of the family celebration. For my family it is more of a family bonding time (and become more of an American Tradition) than a religious event. If I'm correct, the celebration of Christmas is for the birth of Jesus. From what my fiancee has told me of Muslims, they believe in Jesus as a prophet, but have many differences in beliefs from Christians overall about who he was.

So would there be a debate between the two religions over the actual birth of Jesus (how he was conceived, is he the son of God....etc.) that would be conflicting for him to join us for dinner and this particular holiday itself? I want to be well informed when talking to him about it, and try to find a way to celebrate the holiday.
posted by Gooney on Dec 8, 2004 - 20 answers