If you don't celebrate Christmas what do you do when someone gives you an Christmas ornament?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It's weird too because a least a few of the people who have gifted me Christmas ornaments know that I'm not celebrating Christmas but somehow don't make the connection that I don't have a tree in my house. So I don't really have any need or use for ornaments. I always thank them but then it's just useless tchotchke that I have no use for in my home. If you are in a similar situation what do you do with an ornament?

. I'm sure there will be a bunch of non Christians coming out of the word work to tell me they are X religion but still have a Christmas tree but that's not me.

Just give it to someone who has a christmas tree. Also next time you can just say you don’t celebrate like that people will know. If you are diplomatic when saying it nobody will be offended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It's weird too because a least a few of the people who have gifted me Christmas ornaments know that I'm not celebrating Christmas but somehow don't make the connection that I don't have a tree in my house. So I don't really have any need or use for ornaments. I always thank them but then it's just useless tchotchke that I have no use for in my home. If you are in a similar situation what do you do with an ornament?

. I'm sure there will be a bunch of non Christians coming out of the word work to tell me they are X religion but still have a Christmas tree but that's not me.

Also Jewish and I have come to the conclusion that people who didn't grow up in a very Jewish area or with lots of Jewish friends think Hanukkah is basically Christmas with the same or similar traditions, but some extra candles thrown in. So they probably do think you have a tree; it didn't even occur to them that anyone would not have a tree. (And, of course, some Jews do have trees, so also maybe the last Jewish person they met had one.)

I was talking about traditions with a Christian friend and she was so shocked to hear that there is no Hanukkah "season" - there's Thanksgiving, and then one day there is Hanukkah, there is nothing in between and no major anticipation like for Christmas. Likewise, I had not really realized that the Christmas "season" for her was about Advent, leading up to Christmas. I knew Advent existed, I just never thought about it or what it meant, or why people started getting excited for Christmas so early. I always thought it was kind of like kids getting excited early for Halloween - and of course to some extent it is - but there is also a mandated leadup if you're religious. So it makes more sense to me now.

All that to say, I always take gifts in the spirit in which they're intended and give a sincere thank you. And then 90% of the time I toss it. I only keep things I really like, or that I need. A Christmas ornament in no way will be either! Though if it's in the workplace I might display it for a bit. I have a truly ugly Hanukkah ornament that a (very religious Christian) boss gave me a few years ago. I put it on my desk for a bit to show gratitude and I never got around to throwing it out, and now it reminds me of him (he left a while back but was a great boss), so somehow it has escaped my 90% rule and is still there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really? You can’t think of any creative re-use, OP? I BUY ornaments (nearly all are non religious- snowflakes, happy holidays, winter-themed) to attach to gift bags and or wrapped presents and cards.

I use the same ornaments on seasonal wreaths and decor inside and outside of my house.

Think of ornaments as fancy tags or embellishments.

This is just weird.

[Anonymous]

If they are weatherproof hand one on a tree on a walking trail. Someone will smile. Someone may take it.
Put it in a Little Free Library.

[Anonymous]

I cry for at least 3 hours about it. Then I get mad at the thoughtless person who thought of me and gave me a gift, wtf?

I finally take the “ornament” out back and smash it under my heel. After that is completed, I post a passive aggressive facebook post about the situation. It’s such a big deal, I can’t stop obsessing about it.What else do I have to do with my time but devote days/weeks to the gift from a friend and how awful/awkward/tone deaf/offensive it is?