I just saw this - a few days late. My dear husband and I have no children, and much of our family has "passed on". We spend Christmas Eve and Christmas alone, just the two of us. It's hard, especially for me as I have rich memories of Christmases past with my beloved grandmother, her sisters, my mom, brother, aunts and cousins. It hurts, being nearly alone, just us two. We do decorate the tree, and share gifts with each other, but there is a void, and a longing for family lost and family that has drifted away. I try each year to make the holiday season special and happy for him, but it's hard. Christmas is a time for gathering loved ones near...for those of us who have no family, the holidays can be especially painful, and the loneliness difficult to bear. Thanks for your kind message, trumad. Best to you and yours in the new year.