are you a Christmas "Lover" or "Hater"

[El Presidente]

Let's call it Christmas and not the "Holiday Season". One of my pet hates. If you don't like "Christmas" head back to work and don't take the holidays. Blame my Catholic upbringing

Anyway. that time of year comes where I am clueless what to buy immediate ad extended family.

I can't do "gift cards or cash" Just something grimey that makes no sense but I can't fathom why it bugs me so much.

is there a great website that does quirky gifts? If so please detail it for the benefit of all.

Mind you...i love Christmas! Love the time with family, loved ones and friends.

[Hiroshiro]

Love Christmas! Always get my socks and underwear for the year

[Fuzz AI]

Funtasia. Oh wait, you said quirky, not kinky.

Try Think Geek, Get Kooky or Uncommon Goods

[Wil]

Love it. Any excuse to catch up with friends and family and of course enjoy good food, drink and a few cigars.

[Guest rob]

Time to break out the pole, air grievances and display some feats of strength.

[Ryan]

My kids still believe in Santa, that's probably all I need to say about my Christmas.

Anyway, for a good gift website, try Firebox. For an internet shop it has been around a while.

Some of the stuff is a bit "nerdy", but certainly quirky things on it.

http://www.firebox.com/

Samurai umbrella

http://www.firebox.com/product/2616/Samurai-Umbrella?via=hp&s=1x1&t=random

Horse Action Figure

http://www.firebox.com/product/6274/Horse-Action-Figure

Make your own guitar pick punch

http://www.firebox.com/product/3140/Pickmaster-Plectrum-Punch-v2.0

Actually Pres, it's the kind of site that might shift a few Shoo-Aways..

[Fuzz AI]

Time to break out the pole, air grievances and display some feats of strength.

Already booked my table at Dancers Cabaret to see the pole and watch the feats of strength. Airing of grievances may be done with the doorman at the end of the night.

[madandana]

Love it.Great family traditions.Dad makes Tom and Jerrys, Mom makes oyster stew.Fire in the fireplace.I get a great feeling of peace.

[brian1]

As an Irishman living in the U.S I have grown very fond of Thanksgiving (last Thur in November). It has most of the perks of Christmas, the family get together, the big Turkey meal, good booze and cigars, but without all the stress and commercialism that goes with Christmas.

As for Christmas itself, I have young kids so that part is fantastic. But the incessant commercialism 24/7 from mid November on has ruined it and by the time it actually arrives it can be an anti climax.

[MarkofStark]

In general I love Christmas. I love the food and I love the expressions on my kids faces and giving something great to my wife. I mean, I hate, absolutely loath malls, shopping and the music. But its all worth it in my book, and this year I have my 4 month old twins to share it with (not that they understand a bit of it).

[Faire]

I don't like that Christmas is getting so gift-oriented nowadays. I was raised on a house where Christmas was dinner, joy, family, love, kids, etc.

[jimbo1]

Its a love/hate thing.

Love the meaning, family, friends, and tradition.

Hate the commercial/retail side, and the dang Christmas lights going out.

[Diamondog]

Christmas was magical for me growing up. Can't remember when it lost that magic for me but the magic has returned in the last couple of years that my children have been old enough to be cognizant of Christmas and Santa Clause. Seeing the surprise and mystery in their eye's is one of the greatest feelings I get to enjoy all year. I get to live through my children and their innocence for a few more years yet.

[2tall2slow2]

Love it

[Drguano]

Is it on the 25th again this year?

[bassman]

Being Jewish, I''m pretty indifferent. But, my wife is Catholic & see goes all out with decorations. She does NOT like the commercialization of Christmas &hates the gift commercials on the TV that start before Halloween.

[Mr.T]

I'm an atheist so I'm not into the religious significance and meaning of Christmas, but my daughter loves Santa and I like that it brings the family together for some good laughs, food and memories.

[joeypots]

I've always been of the mind that Thanksgiving is for adults while Christmas is for children. I don't have kids. Having said that, I love Christmas. I hate it until about December 24th. That's when I get the spirit and have a ball with the whole thing. Christmas shopping season now starts on Halloween, lol.

[cigcars]

Since I'm "grown" and don't have "young 'uns", apart from the nice off time from work, I'm a tad indifferent too. I still do get Christmas gifts and such. But I'm a far cry from the happy, excited, "it's a great world!" expectant, eager kid that I was during Xmas time. It's pretty much just another day now.

[jacktarnold]

I love Christmas. It is my favorite holiday. I love decorating and enjoying the time with family cooking and enjoying the company. We also limit Christmas presents. Since the heart of Christmas is the birth of Jesus and to limit the commercialization, we limit gifts to 3 a person in our family since the baby Jesus only received 3 gifts.

[Dbone]

Pres, thought you would have the best stocking stuffers... cigars?

[Skyfall]

Love it, it has always been a magical time for me.

[Bill Hayes]

Christmas in Australia can be confused and strange at times but pretty funny. We used to spend Christmas Day at the family caravan on the foreshore of the Mornington Peninsula, just 30 seconds walk to the beach. But the family is of Irish heritage so my Aunt would cook an entire Christmas Lunch with roast turkey, ham and her home-made Christmas pudding in a small caravan oven and we'd eat it while all dressed up in the caravan annex in 35 degree celcius heat with the zippers on the annex done up to keep the blow flies out. Very funny stuff.

Pres, try www.urbanattitude.com.au

[Trevor2118]

Love Christmas.

We have a German Christmas Eve party, then an Aussie Christmas Day party.....and follow this up with Christmas in July.

Love Christmas.

[Isotonic]

Let's be honest... most people enjoy Xmas for what it has become, not what it actually means. I am sure there are some who respect and see the value in celebrating the actual significance of Dec 25th. But for most that I know and especially for me it's a time for family, love and celebration that we get to live in a great country where we can do these wonderful things. Yes it is commercialised, yes it can be over-the-top but happen to love seeing a someone who has gone to the trouble to decorate their house. I don't mind the carols in the supermarket but do feel for the employees who end up humming them until Feb.

Australians have an eclectic mix of foods at Xmas with the traditional turkey/chicken/duck/pork whatever & pudding thrown in with prawns, oysters, crays and basically anything from the sea. Love Xmas