[quiet mike]

Punishment is a show of love. If you trully love somone you must sometimes punish them. And this kinds of punioshments are best seen on long term. Now the kids know that behavior is important in family. Also I don't think that a christmas tree took away the selebrations. I have never had a christmas tree at home and I bet I celebrated as much if not more than most here.
Good for the parents. They choose a punishment that can make the children change into better, and then, they could comeback after a little time if they improve and give them the gifts as a apreciation of their change. This way the children not only change so they don't get punished, but are incouraged to be like that always so they can be apreciated.