Christmas Traditions

 

There is something very special about the traditions of Christmas that make it such an important part of each year. Treasured memories of our Christmas's when we were kids, are part of what we long to give to our own kids, and the joy of friendship and fellowship is sweetened by the memories we make as we celebrate in some way together through the Christmas Season.  This year, one of our daughters and her family are with us for Christmas, and as we do each time we get together with our grown kids and grandkids,  we search our memory for the list of traditions, so that we might enjoy some of them again with them, and to add to the sweet memories to our life album. I enjoy the "thought process" of deciding what we are going to do each time. Planning is part of the fun isn't it?

So I'm sharing my list with you guys, and I would love to hear some of your list, if you get a chance to leave a comment. We (or those very close to us) have done most of the things on this list at one time or another,  You may already do many of these things, but you may find a new idea that you and your family would want to try.  Let creativity add joy and meaning to your Christmas Season, and enjoy the sweet moments with Jesus, and your family... and in case I don't get the chance to tell you later, "Merry Christmas".

1. Have a "homemade only"  Christmas.  Sometimes it is fun to declare a "Homemade Christmas Rule" for Christmas gift giving. Tell everyone that "we will only be exchanging gifts that  each person has made themselves". It could be something they sew, something crafted, a wood project, a metal project, something from the kitchen, something planted and potted in potting soil,  or even a coupon book of services, but it has to be put together by hand. Creative people will love doing this, but non-creative people may not like it or they may even resist it at first, but once they find some interesting way to create a gift, they will surprise themselves and find that they have had fun in the process. The kids or grandkids will love to make gifts that are not only loved and treasured by their parents and grandparents, but will love the memories they make when they are creating with you or for you. Making homemade presents is something Steve and I have done since we were first married, and it has carried on through our grown children; even as I write this, my daughter is downstairs sewing a wonderful cozy (but "manly") blanket for her husband, lol.
2. Put out Luminaries: When I was growing up, in Arizona, our  entire neighborhood put luminaries in their driveway, walkway, and side walk. It was beautiful, and Christmas Eve wasn't complete without a drive through the entire neighborhood to see the luminaries.  Steve and I both have these memories, because he lived in the same neighborhood. You can make luminaries with ordinary paper lunch bags, a little sand and small candles. Click the link above for a visual.
3. Take a drive to see the lights: Like I mentioned above, as kids, we loved going for a drive on Christmas Eve, to see the Luminaries, but it is also fun to do it for any Christmas light display, and the kids will look forward to the tradition of it.
4. Watch a favorite Christmas movie: I still love to watch all of the Kids Christmas movies and cartoons, such as "Charlie Brown" or "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer", but our family favorite tradition is to watch "Its a Wonderful Life", and we watch it every year in our "comfy cozies", with blankets, cocoa and popcorn.
   
5. Open One present on Christmas Eve.  Some people are "Christmas Eve Openers", and Some People are "Christmas Morning Openers". We have always been "Christmas Morning Openers", but it was always fun to let the kids open one present on Christmas Eve. Are you a Christmas Eve, or Christmas Morning opener?
6. Give Christmas Eve Jammies: For most of the years when the kids and Grandkids were/are young, we have loved giving Christmas Eve Jammies.  I like it because they have their new Jammies to wear to bed on Christmas Eve, and wake up in on Christmas Morning.  They seem to look forward to it as well, and most often it has become the "One Present" that I mentioned in #5 above that gets opened on Christmas Eve.
   
7. Make a Traditional Christmas Eve meal into something special; such as ethnic food, for example, Mexican, Tamales, Christmas Ravioli, Pierogies, Cabbage Roll, Eggrolls etc and talk about how people all over the world are celebrating the birth of Jesus, or try something light and easy such as a finger food meal, or soup, and enjoy a restful and peaceful Christmas Eve.  Christmas Day dinner usually consists of Turkey, Ham, Goose, or Roast, with all the fixings, but Christmas Eve dinner is a fun time to change up a few things and add a meaningful diversity to some of our holiday traditions.
8. Make cookie trays or baked goods for neighbors and friends: For many years, we have made cookie trays for neighbors and a few friends that live close by. If time allows, we will deliver the trays on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, We also have a friend in town, who does the same for us, and will often drive all the way out to our house bringing a most amazing cookie tray.  It is such a treat to get that tray, and also to deliver something similar to others; it really blesses us to do it. On some occasions, we have made Cinnamon Rolls, or Bread, and it is always a super blessing to our neighbors, as well as ourselves. It is moment to love and fellowship when we may not have a lot of time through the year to do so, and is a heart warmer to all.
9. Fill shoe boxes or baskets for those in need, or adopt a family from church or ministry to share Christmas with: Samaritan's Purse is a Ministry, that in addition helping people in all countries of the world during crisis situations, also  provides Christmas boxes for children in need, all over the world. They invite any of us to help in that ministry by filling and sending them shoeboxes full of little gifts for a girl or boy. My oldest son works for Samaritan's purse in all of its various aspects of ministry. He has made some of the Shoe Box Ministry videos...including this one, which is my favorite, because my grand daughter and daughter in law and her sister are in it (my little granddaughter is the one receiving the shoe boxes in the video... can you hear my buttons busting). Anyhow, it is a great way to get involved and you can click here for the "How to" aspect if you are interested.  In Past years, our church has also put together ministries that allows anyone in church to sign up and adopt another family for Christmas. Families that are struggling to make ends meet can sign up for the program, and are then put together with families who want to help. Our whole family has been a part of that. It is very rewarding to see the faces of those children when you bring Christmas to them.
10. Create a special day during the Christmas season, to celebrate with family or friends that you won't be able to be with on Christmas day, but would still like to celebrate with in some way. In years gone by, we have had an early Christmas with some sides of our family, when we knew we wouldn't be able to be together on Christmas. It made us feel as if we were able to have a double blessing this way.
11. Have a Christmas Tea party: Some of my  friends and I and our daughters have done this almost every year, for either Christmas or Valentines. It is a highlight of the year to me.
    
12. Celebrate advent: Start December off by creating some advent traditions with your family. I love some of these ideas.
    
13. Read the Christmas Story aloud to your family: We like to do this every Christmas Eve; Steve is the one who usually reads it to us. It is a special treat, that helps us remembering what Christmas is all about.
    
14. Make Birthday Cards for Jesus:  My dear friend Barbara started this tradition years ago, and has been doing it ever since. She and her family get together on Christmas Eve, and among the rest of their Christmas Eve activities, they make these cards. I have always wanted to try it, because of the joy that they have had doing it every year.
15. Invite those that are alone to your Christmas Day celebration.  Some of the hardest times of the year can be Christmas time and the Holidays, to those who have lost loved ones.  Even when all of our children have left home, it can be lonely during the holidays. I know for us, we have experienced  loneliness when our children have moved away. We have been so grateful to the open invitation of friends, during those various holidays, and have always tried to remember others who are alone during the  holidays, and invite them to share the day with us.
16. Make Christmas Ornaments with the Kids: We love to do this in our home, but we have also loved being a part of the various Church and Homeschool Groups over the years that have provided a craft or ornament making day for the kids. Those days have always been a highlight for the kids and for us, and we have a wonderful collection of all that they have made over the years.
17. Have Communion on Christmas Eve: A wonderful way to keep "Christ" in "Christmas", is to serve and participate in "Communion" on Christmas Eve. Not only do we celebrate Jesus's birth on Christmas, but also we remember His life and death which was offered to us and is the greatest gift of all.

However you make traditions every year, and in whatever way you celebrate, May your Christmas be merry and bright, and May you have a very blessed New Year.