Shoppers in Steinbach are visiting local retail stores with mixed motives on Christmas Eve. 

Clarence was at Clearspring Centre in Steinbach Saturday getting some last minute shopping done with his children.  "I actually don't like shopping very much for Christmas so that is one of the reasons I left it to the last day.  Today we went out with the family.  We had promised them they could buy themselves a gift and somehow today was the day to do that."

He notes the hardest person to shop for is his wife.  "Sometimes I'm able to figure out what to get as a Christmas gift but sometimes it's hard.  Not sure if she doesn't need anything or I just don't realize what is needed."

Clarence adds usually he is not in a rush at this time.  "We always as family try to avoid getting rushed before Christmas because I just don't like it.  I think that isn't the main reason of Christmas so I like to avoid that.  I think sometimes we are successful in that."

Dean and his wife were picking up a few last minute gifts and he tells us what is most frustrating for him.  "Trying to find what you want and then fighting through the crowds to get it.  There are always long lineups and it takes the fun out of Christmas."

He says last minute shopping was the only way.  "We live outside the city and it's not always convenient around your other schedule so you have to make a special trip to drive into the city and shop.  With kids and everything it's not always easy and Christmas just sneaks up on you all of a sudden."

Susan was also at the mall but her motives were different and she feels there may a shift in how people shop for Christmas.  "I am just picking up bread.  I think it's not so much about the giving but about the people and maybe if we do give, we give to others as opposed to ourselves.  Sometimes we get so wrapped up in Christmas gifts we forget it's not about the gifts under the tree but it's about the people around the tree.  I think we have kind of got a little bit carried away in years past so maybe people are just bringing it back to the basics and the true meaning of Christmas."

Kevin adds this day is not long enough.  "I don't think I will get all my shopping done before the holiday.  It has been busy with work and everything else so today was the day for shopping."

He notes the most frustrating thing for him is the amount of people around and how busy it is.