Erin, this is a beautiful post. Thank you. I think of it the same way.
I also wish that people wouldn't allow for this holiday to be so commercialized. Gift giving is important but currently Christmas preparations are all about shopping and pre-Christmas holidays. This is great but I wish all of us would focus on what it all really means. I am from an Eastern Orthodox country and a lot of people in my country keep lent (I hope I'm using the right word) and give up meat, dairy and alcohol for about 6 weeks. While this is hard to do if people tried to give up at least meat or alcohol it would be nice and also good for them. I decided yesterday that I would not eat meat and drink alcohol until Christmas. I know it's not a long time and I am still having dairy but at least it's something. I think if you do that you will enjoy the Christmas feast a lot more
and save the lives of a few animals as well
. Also, being loving and having loving, happy thoughts is the best way to celebrate Christmas. A gift is supposed to symbolize just that ... a nice thought for that person.
Just want to mention that I don't consider myself religious but spritual and don't agree with a lot of things in Christianity.