What did you get for Christmas???

[DianaB]

It sounds like everyone had a really nice Christmas. Glen and I got pictures of the grandkids and a $50 gift certificate to a local steakhouse. I also got a lilac candle (I LOVE the smell of LILAC!!!) and a Meche purse cover. Glen got me a heart necklace and made me a hanging display for my antique toy pots and pans!!! It's really cute and I've had several compliments on it already!!! I told him what I wanted and drew a basic design.....then he found what he needed from his junk pile.....and added his own special touch.......and it turned out even better than I had planned. He's very talented with a welder!!!

[Lindsey]

My favorite gift was a pair of black mukluks I have wanted for the past two years I couldn't make myself spend the money but my parents splurged for me. They are gorgeous! And sooo warm!

My parents also gave me a cute fleece robe with reindeer on it, a calendar, a gift card for jeans, and some money to put towards our trip. My brother and his family gave me a gift box from Lush (bath products) and a gift card to Indigo for books My grandma gave me some money and a box of chocolates!

Last night Scott brought a present back from his parents and they had given me a woven basket with socks, a nice mug, and a bunch of different types of teas!

We will be hosting Christmas here next year and unfortunately missed Boxing Day (I don't think you guys have that, do you?) but luckily most places are having Boxing WEEK sales. Yesterday when we got back we found some Christmas decor for really cheap that we can use next year!

[DianeW]

We do have Boxing Day over here............

I have had a very quiet Christmas, just Husband and Daughter and I...Oh and little Harvey too.
I have been running back and to, to my Uncles, he didnt want to come to me for Christmas, he is just not feeling up to socialising and he does actually like his own company......But i did ask him, and had to respect his decision.

Normally we would have been with my In-Laws and other relatives, but due to a family argument, my husband is not speaking to his Dad, who really does owe my husband an apology. He seems to think he can continue to speak to my husband like he is a 10 year old and get away with it - well he has had enough and wont forgive him until he gets an apology. I really do agree with him on this, as he doesnt speak to Dave's sister in this way but thinks its ok with husband. It has caused a rift in the family, that we know is there as, we have not had any contact from other members of the family. The only positive is that we are not called on all the time to fix this that and the other, sort out everything in their home that goes wrong, take them places etc. Presumably now the others are haveing to do something for them too - instead of always us.

Husband is speaking to his mum, and we have all explained to her how we feel, she agrees it is her husband to blame, but he is just too stubborn to apologise. She is quite ill at the moment and could do without all of this, but he wont budge. So christmas has been very quiet for us, I had them all last year - 14 in total, but it has been very nice too.

I got, 2 pairs of Pyjamas, 2 Nightdresses, 2 perfumes, slippers, money, Clinique gift set, scarf, shoes, chocolates, and a gift card.

[JJJ]

Originally Posted by Lindsey

My favorite gift was a pair of black mukluks I have wanted for the past two years I couldn't make myself spend the money but my parents splurged for me. They are gorgeous! And sooo warm!

My parents also gave me a cute fleece robe with reindeer on it, a calendar, a gift card for jeans, and some money to put towards our trip. My brother and his family gave me a gift box from Lush (bath products) and a gift card to Indigo for books My grandma gave me some money and a box of chocolates!

Last night Scott brought a present back from his parents and they had given me a woven basket with socks, a nice mug, and a bunch of different types of teas!

We will be hosting Christmas here next year and unfortunately missed Boxing Day (I don't think you guys have that, do you?) but luckily most places are having Boxing WEEK sales. Yesterday when we got back we found some Christmas decor for really cheap that we can use next year!

What is Boxing Day?

[Lindsey]

Think Black Friday for you guys in the US, but it's the day after Christmas here. It's also a statutory holiday in some provinces in Canada. The day after Christmas, most stores have huge Boxing Day sales and it's basically the biggest shopping day of the year.

[gja1000]

What does "boxing" mean, in terms of "boxing day"?

[Lindsey]

Lol nobody knows! From Wikipedia:

The exact etymology of the term "boxing" is unclear and there are several competing theories, none of which are definitive.[3] The tradition has long included giving money and other gifts to those who were needy and in service positions. The European tradition has been dated to the Middle Ages, but the exact origin is unknown and there are some claims that it goes back to the late Roman/early Christian era; metal boxes placed outside churches were used to collect special offerings tied to the Feast of Saint Stephen.[4]

In the UK, it certainly became a custom of the nineteenth-century Victorians for tradesmen to collect their "Christmas boxes" or gifts on the day after Christmas in return for good and reliable service throughout the year.[5] Another possibility is that the name derives from an old English tradition: in exchange for ensuring that wealthy landowners' Christmases ran smoothly, their servants were allowed to take the 26th off to visit their families. The employers gave each servant a box containing gifts and bonuses (and sometimes leftover food). In addition, around the 1800s, churches opened their alms boxes (boxes where people place monetary donations) and distributed the contents to the poor.

[gja1000]

OK, well that clears it right up! LOL! Thanks for the wiki info!