On the Getting and Giving of Christmas Presents

Preface / Introduction

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Table of Contents
1. On the getting and giving of Christmas presents.
2. Holidays And Traditions-Start Your Own For Your Relationship
3. Holiday Shopping For The One You Love


On the getting and giving of Christmas presents.
by Dr. Jeffrey Lant
Author's program note. I started and just about finished my Christmas shopping last night, December
14. That is the anniversary of the death of Queen Victoria's much loved husband Prince Albert... and
is the only day of any year when the public can view his mausoleum at Frogmore, on the grounds of
Windsor Castle. The great queen is also buried there. I went once on a rainy day many years ago to
see and found she had gone to the greatest possible lengths to make sure she was ready for him, her
comfort through the anticipated blissful ages to come.
Prince Albert is on my mind today because he is most probably the man who launched in England
the idea of the Christmas tree. And once he had done so, loyalists in the empire on which the sun
never set felt obliged to have Christmas trees, too, even former imperial colonies like our Great
Republic.
Prince Albert brought the idea from his picayune principality Saxe Coburg Gotha. If it had been up
to them, the idea of Christmas trees would have stayed German, insignificant, and parochial... but
Queen Victoria ruled over half the world... and her prince ruled over her. He liked Christmas trees
(indeed, he liked all things that were family oriented and allowed him to drop a sentimental tear or
two)... thus Victoria liked Christmas trees... it was the royal couple's gift to the world. I'm glad; I do
like the things with all their trimmings and especially their fresh pine scents.
Besides, all the presents do look nice artfully arranged under the tree, don't they? And since this is a
story about Christmas presents, it's nice to know you have a beautiful tree packed with mementoes
and memories of past years, a suitable place for packages wrapped and unwrapped.
Thus, I have selected the seasonal favorite "O Christmas Tree" as the incidental music for this
article. The best known version was written in 1824 by Leipzig organist Ernst Anschutz. It may also
have been introduced into England by Prince Albert, whose aspects were serious, nervous, severely
self critical and often lachrymose. If such a hard-working man (dead at just 42) could take pleasure
in an actual tree and a fine tune about that tree, I am glad he found some comfort and joy at
Christmas and thank him for introducing these features of the season to his wife... then the world.
You can find many renditions of this song in any search engine. It's very soothing...
Evening December 14
I am a person who has absolutely no Christmas spirit at all until I set about the important business of
selecting gifts for my chosen ones. You see, I am one of the decided minority of people who actually
like selecting and giving gifts. I do not regard the matter as forced (as so many others, budding
Scrooges all), onerous, a ridiculous waste of time and money, over as early and inexpensively as
possible. No, indeed.
I grew up in an Illinois home, part of the famous Baby Boom generation which has, since its
conception, had such a pronounced effect on manners and mores. Giving apt presents was one of the
things my family and friends liked to do, even grampa Walt who could be notoriously crusty about
such matters, especially if the spending of money was involved (as, with Christmas, it always was). I
have carried this cheerfulness with me even during my earliest days when money was scarce and one
was, therefore, often frustrated and impatient. That, at least, is not the problem now.
The real problem I face is two-fold. First, my annual list is dwindling year by year, compliments of
the Grim Reaper, who most assuredly is no cheerleader for Christmas. Second, with only two
exceptions (niece Chelsea and nephew Kyle) there are only two young people on the list, and they
are already young adults, teen-age years already gone. My adult recipients all have comfortable

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lives, needing nothing but the one thing I cannot give: good health. Each and every one of them has
a pressing health need... and we are all at the age when no conversation would be complete without
a full and complete health update. Still, needing nothing, they would be most dismayed if nothing
came from me... and I should think most poorly of myself. And so, December 14, 2011, after the
day's work is done, I take out the stacks of catalogs I have been hoarding for months... and which are
essential to the only kind of shopping I will ever do... shopping which can be done from the ease and
comfort of home, never entering a store for any reason whatsoever.
First, as in every year, I draw up my list and, as always, I remember the dead of my family tree and
acquaintance, people I knew so well and loved over the course of a lifetime of Christmases. I never
forget these sinews of my life, though thinking of them is always bittersweet. I complete my short
list in just a minute or two; I know each name so well and wonder who will be the next to go,
shortening my list and diminishing my world.
I then make my preliminary pass through the 50 or so catalogs I have retained for just this moment.
Some are automatically eliminated; the Sharper Image catalog immediately goes into the trash due
to their astonishing ineptitude with an order for a dear friend. I shall never again trust my reputation
and seasonable equanimity to those boneheads. Catalogs for children are disregarded; we have no
children. Catalogs with soft furnishings are tossed; January sales will bring better offers. As for still
others offering t-shirts with the inscription "She who must be obeyed", these are not my style.
Having discarded the dross, I commence my real labors... this year made immensely easier by the
generous gift of a Sacher torte from Vienna, the gift of Dorotheum, Austria's leading auction house,
a place I do regular business. Two slices of this famous confection have put me in a very good mood
indeed. And so I begin my perusal and selection...
Unlike most Christmas gift givers, I have no pre-set budget. I buy what I like and which, from
constant effort, I know the recipient will like. Cost is never the major variable; appropriateness for
the recipient is. And so I ramble through the catalogs knowing I would give no present rather than
something hasty or unsuitable for a single person on my short list, all loved and cherished by me.
Yet except for Kyle who is difficult, I find over the course of the next 3-4 hours presents that I like,
that I feel sure my recipients will like, too. Then today, most probably in the early evening, I shall
call every 800 number indicated and use my credit card to make all the purchases. The most
important thing about this way of doing business is that one must be patient, partly because it's a
very busy season and partly because the help is often seasonal, with all the potential problems that
entails. Yes, patience is required. And a sunny word to the order taker, if she feels down and
bedraggled, conditions immediately apparent.
In a couple of hours on the phone, my shopping is done... gifts now on their way, whilst I take up the
next and final part of my shopping; a visit to Trader Joe's for purchase of the sherry I distribute to all
the people who make my life easier, condo maintenance, house cleaners, et al. I have looked for a
lifetime for the sherries I give now (for my taste includes both amontillado and cream); Real Tesoro
is by far the best, and the least expensive; a miracle often performed at Trader Joe's.
Now I am done... simultaneously glad and sad by the paucity of my gifts... happy that I shall make
these special ones happy at least once more... but missing the dear ones gone before and still so
loved. For these, I take out my egg nog, remembering the great silver bowl my grandfather used
when he administered the nog with brandy; (who got that anyway?), whilst I need only a glass.
And then I plug in my 13" tree, the one with the bubblers my grandmother gave me a half century
ago. And in its undulating bubbles all I see is the past... Christmases past retaining a magic
Christmases future cannot hope to duplicate or reprise. But in my dark, quiet room, punctuated by
the brilliant lights on my little tree, "O Christmas Tree" seizes and sooths me... and reminds me how



sturdy God has made me... ready for the future to come...
"O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree How sturdy God hath made thee! Thou bidds't us all place
faithfully Our trust in God, unchangingly."
### We invite your comments on this article below.



Holidays And Traditions-Start Your Own For Your
Relationship
Holidays and traditions go hand in hand. The Christmas season is huge on tradition and families all
over the globe celebrate their the holidays in their own unique ways. Ways that have been handed
down from one generation to the other for, in some cases, centuries.
Holidays and traditions can mean anything from the foods that are served, to the ceremonies or rites
performed and attended by so many, to the whole family converging on grandma's house, to who
gives what gift to whom.
No two traditions are the same and vary from family to family and country to country. Everyone
looks forward to be able to be a part of something so sentimental and precious that they do all they
can to continue the ways of their ancestors and predecessors.
Recipes get handed down from generation to generation and the young ones get taught how to cook
the meal and decorate the house so everyone can enjoy themselves thoroughly throughout the
season. The ways the food is prepared and how it tastes is as much a part of the way of doing things
as any other part of the celebration so the young ones coming up learn to do things "just like
Grandma".
It doesn't have to be just Christmas either there are plenty of people who celebrate Thanksgiving, or
Memorial Day, or any other of the special days of the year the same way every year. Any of the
special days of the year are subject to some type of traditional feast or celebration.
Some stress may enter the situation when two people get married and then have to combine both
sides ways of doing things. Compromises surely have to be made to accommodate both families
especially if the marriage is an interfaith marriage, same sex marriage, or interracial marriage. Not
everyone celebrates things the same way.
To learn to combine traditional festivities, each of you should sit down with pen and paper and
outline everything that is important to each one of you when it comes to whatever celebration is in
the offing. Then rate each item on each list from most important to least important or at least
something that can be left off the combined list that no one cares that much about.
When the two of you have been married and kids come along you can customize your own
celebrations and ways of doing things. Some people go out to see a movie in the theater after the
feast. Others sit down and watch the football game on TV. Maybe you like to all go sledding or
tobogganing, have a snow ball fight or build a snowman in the front yard. (If you live in a place that
gets snow, that is.)
Holidays and traditions are what you make them and if your family has been doing things a certain
way for as long as you can remember then you might as well leave well enough alone and just enjoy
yourselves as best you can.



Holiday Shopping For The One You Love
Giving gifts is a great way to add variety and excitement to a relationship. Sometimes gifts are given
for no reason but sometimes holiday shopping for the one you love can be even more exciting. The
gifts you give do not always have to be store bought gifts. Here are some homemade gift ideas.
If you have been dating for a while you probably know him pretty well. Why not put together a gift
basket with some of his favorite stuff in it. What you choose to put inside the basket does not
necessarily have to be related, just choose some of the things he uses every day or try to find things
that were his favorite from when he was little.
He will appreciate that you took the time to do some holiday shopping for the one you love and that
will make the gift so much more meaningful. If you have chosen to make the basket full of the things
he says were his favorites when he was growing up then you will give him a gift he will treasure
always.
Here is another good one, a work survival kit. What does he do for a living? If he works behind a
desk all day you could fill a basket with his favorite pens, a new tie, a nice new shirt, some healthy
snacks, maybe an energy shot or two, a new coffee cup, and his favorite kind of coffee. Do not
forget to include a nice picture of the two of you that he can keep on his desk.
Go speak to his mother. If she will give you some pictures of when he was little, you can make a
collage of those pictures, frame it, wrap it and put it under the tree for him to open on Christmas
morning. You could do the same with pictures of the two of you from a trip you took together or
special times you have had. He will love you for it and put it up it in a prominent place where he can
see it every day.
It will be a reminder of the wonderful childhood he had or the wonderful times you have spent
together. If you do the childhood collage maybe he will relate some stories about what he was doing
in some of the pictures. You will get to know him better through the pictures and the stories and you
both will be closer than ever because of this one little gift.
If you like to knit or sew you could make him a new sweater or shirt. You most likely know what
size he wears, or can find out easily enough, so it will be easy to pick out a pattern and buy the
material you need. If you live together, keeping this a secret may be the hardest thing to do. Do your
cutting and stitching at a friend's house or at your mother's and swear them to secrecy.
These are just a few things to think about when doing the holiday shopping for the one you love. Use
your own imagination to come up with other things that you think he will like. He will appreciate the
time and effort you put into making him these gifts.



Resource
About the Author Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., providing a wide
range of online services for small and-home based businesses. Services include home business
training, affiliate marketing training, earn-at-home programs, traffic tools, advertising, webcasting,
hosting, design, WordPress Blogs and more. Find out why Worldprofit is considered the # 1 online
Home Business Training program by getting a free Associate Membership today.
Republished with author's permission by Elizabeth English http://LizsWorldprofit.com.


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