Every year people go to stores, physician stomach buy gifts, medications price and exchange them with family and friends. Some spend tons of money on material items. Others would rather just spend a quiet evening at home with those who matter to them most.  Christmas dinner is prepared, viagra 100mg and everyone reflects on the year. Either way, time spent with family and friends is one of the most important parts of Christmas. However, this time of year has a different meaning to everyone. Urban Views Weekly decided to venture out into Richmond, and ask those in the community and those visiting what Christmas means to them personally.

Antoine Weldon – South Boston, Va.

“What Christmas means to me has changed from when I was younger to now. When I was younger, it was all about time off from school, playing in the snow because I grew up in Pittsburgh, and just getting presents. But now, it’s a time of being thankful for what I do have and what some people don’t as far as clothes, a bed, a home, and food on the table. Then, it’s also the season of giving so if I can I would give back to other people who are not as fortunate to have what I have.”

Ashly Poyer – Waller, Texas

“Because I travel for a living (Christmas means) family time, a lot of traditions that I had when I was little, cookies, Christmas Eve service, and going to look at the lights.”

 

Ayana Wilson – Washington, D.C.

“For me, Christmas means celebrating the birth of Christ. Then also just spending a lot of time with my family, and being able to be thankful for all the things that we’ve had since I struggled a lot moving here since I’m (originally) from Missouri. Being able to have a roof over my head and food in my stomach is just a blessing really, (as well as) being able to have the opportunity to give back and celebrating all the accomplishments we’ve had throughout the year.”

Christopher Webb – Charlottesville, Va.

“Christmas has a two-fold meaning to me. First of all, it’s symbolic of obviously Jesus’ birth. I’m a Christian so it’s a very important holiday for me just reflecting upon the sacrifice God made to go from being purely God to becoming a man, walking on the Earth, going through everything we go through on a daily basis … But then also, it’s a time to hang out with family, reflect on the less material things in life and being grateful for the relationships that you have … I sometimes take Christmas for granted, sometimes you’re consumed in the consumerism with presents and stuff like that, but I do try and I’ve been trying lately to realize that the most important gift you can give someone is your presence and just time with them. That’s the greatest gift you can give.”

Doris Bryant – New Jersey

“Christmas means family and of course the birth of our Savior.”

Drew Fletcher – Fredericksburg, Va.

“(Christmas means) several different things, first just the birth of Jesus Christ. Second is the celebration of coming together as a family.”

Jennifer Parker – Richmond, Va.

“Christmas means spending time with family and getting to see my new baby girl open all of her Christmas presents this year.”

Jessie Skiles – Richmond, Va.

“To me Christmas means family and being with your family. It’s just a time when you can all get together, cut up and focus on all the happiness.”

Larry Skiles – Richmond, Va.

“Christmas means for me for family to get together and just to enjoy the family as unit rather than them all over the place. It’s just a time to kind of reflect on what’s happened, what’s going to happen and just have a good time with the family.”

Kevin Brown – Richmond, Va.

“(Christmas means) joy, happiness, time spent with the family, sharing gifts, conversating.”

 

Liam Lewis – Luray, Va.

“Just getting together with family and spending time with them. That’s really all it is to me.”

Mark Ryan – Richmond, Va.

“At this point in my life, Christmas is an opportunity for renewal, reconnection and an opportunity to rest and repair for the coming year. I have a medical service trip I do every January, so a lot of Christmas is built up on the logistics of preparing for that by sort of reconnecting with people that I travel with, reconnecting with friends and reconnecting with a broader purpose of what I do. It sort of all comes together around this time of year.”

 

Tia Corprew – Chesapeake, Va.

“(Christmas means) spending time with family, since we’re on break you kind of get to see your family and be in town for a while. At least that’s what it means to me, it’s not really about the gifts and stuff as it is about spending time with the people that you love.”

Trevor Battle – Virginia Beach, Va.

“Christmas means lots of joy and love being passed around. (Christmas also means) the birth of Jesus coming to share his love for everyone and reminding people to share love and give gifts out of generosity, not just on this day, but every day.”

 

Vincent Bowe – Hampton, Va.

“Christmas is just about good times, your family, sharing that time with your loved ones, taking a break from everything and basically just enjoying the whole holiday season.”