Christmas.

[TWR]

Do you feel for the families that are hard up, on the food banks, out of work due to whatever circumstances, do you also this that Christmas has lost it's meaning and is exploited.

[Mamyalynne]

I feel for anyone that does not have a warm and comfortable Christmas - it doesn't have to be expensive.

As regards the meaning, it is only lost if you let it be lost, have never or succumbed to exploitation either.

[dave50]

Yes to all your points.

[viv38]

Yes, I don't like suffering, especially at Christmas which is why I dig deep and donate as much as I can to deserving causes. No I personally don't think Christmas is exploited, I still love it.

[Mamyalynne]

^ terrible use of words, hope you get my gist.

[EcclesCake]

No
Yes
Mixed feelings
Largely yes but then I'm not religious.

[AB Editor]

"Do you feel for the families that are hard up, on the food banks, out of work due to whatever circumstances?"

Yes, sometimes. But not while I'm shovelling turkey, chocolates and trifle into my gullet on Christmas day.

"Do you also think that Christmas has lost it's meaning and is exploited."

I don't know. I spend mine with my family. We're not religious so there's no meaning to be "lost".

I'm not sure how it is exploited - most of us are from a gift-giving culture (where bonds are built through exchanges of gifts), so if you're worried about "commercialism" I'm not so sure it's that far away from what we'd like to do anyway?

[daffy654]

The true meaning of Christmas was lost a good few centuries ago when the christians stole the festival from the pagans.

[pixie373]

I do feel for people that are hard-up, but more in the way of being homeless, ill or isolated. You don't need to have a lot of money to make it what you want. I'm not religious, so the meaning to me is having time with family.

[john1066]

With all the food banks opening, do you think we are becoming a Third World country?

[pixie373]

I don't think we can become a third world country, but there are a lot of people financially struggling at the moment.

[woofgang]

I am sorry for people who need food banks and charity to survive at any time of year. I do think that some people of all kinds both commercial, religious and non religious exploit christmas but that's not the only thing they exploit. What Mamya said about meaning...you make your own meaning and that can't be taken from you.

[ummmm]

I feel for people who are hard up all year round, not just at Christmas.

I feel that Christmas is far too commercial and puts too much pressure on parents.

[Prudie]

I suppose I do a bit but I feel far more for those who are going to miss loved ones or going through a break-up. There is a lot of pressure to be happy and surrounded by family and for lots of people that's not possible.

[Jeza]

To an extent yes. I was taught you cut your coat according to your cloth. Cottage pie is as nutritious as the most expensive cuts of meat. I / We have been hard up in the past so we didn't buy each other gifts. Christmas means different things to every one. To me it is just another day.

[ummmm]

We don't buy each other gifts for xmas. I've lost count of the amount of gifts he's bought me throughout the year, they mean more than any xmas present.

[CokeTulip]

Yes

Personally I dread Christmas and it has no meaning for me at all - I have no happy memories of xmas but I have tonnes of dreadful ones (unfortunately)-so I dont want to know. (I dont mind it being exploited one bit only if it makes other people happy).

[anneasquith]

xmas is a special time of year, families sharing meals, catching up. giving gifts,attending church if you wish, a magical time for children, there is nothing better than seeing a child face on xmas morning, we as a family have always looked forward to the xmas period.

[pussnboots]

I have been hard up many times at Christmas, but a decent Christmas day dinner doesn't have to cost a fortune. I find the TV ads a bit OTT, they depict happy families with loads of presents and a table straining under the weight of food, it is not always the case. I am so glad that my kids are now in their 40s, computers, ipads, tablets, iphones etc etc were not about it was more like Action Man, Cindy Doll, Star Trek models, these didn't cost a fortune, but now £200-£500 is needed to buy anything that the kids want is the norm.

[Jeza]

HiYa puss, how is Doc. I told Mic that he had asked after him.

[pussnboots]

Hi Jeza, Doc here on Puss's lappy. Give mic my best wishes and love to you both.

Thanks for asking after me, mic was one of the good 'uns.

Thinking of you. XXX