On Christmas Eve night, having dinner with my mom, sister and brother…everyone opening their gifts. Then on Christmas morning, having breakfast together, and the three siblings spending Christmas day with my dad and his side of the family exchanging gifts, playing games and eating lots of food. Those are the memories I have of my Christmases as a teen. I looked forward to those things each year and loved the stability of knowing that they would take place. We did not have a whole lot of money growing up, but we had a whole lot of love. Christmas traditions do not have to take a lot of time nor money.
They can even be free. It’s the building of lifetime memories that may be passed along from generation to generation. We don’t always remember the toys or clothes that we receive, but we will remember the special time spent with family, friends, and loved ones. As an adult, I have created traditions of my own with my children. All throughout the year, we save our change/coins (well…actually MY change/coins) in a jar. About 2 weeks before Christmas, we turn the coins in for dollars. We split the money 3 ways…they each get to buy each other a gift, and then they jointly select a gift for mommy. They get so much joy out of being able to purchase a gift for each other and me. Those are usually the first gifts to go under the tree…and they wrap them themselves! My children have also come to anticipate the day after Thanksgiving because they KNOW that the Christmas tree and decorations will go up that day. Then they begin the countdown to Christmas Eve because, as my family did when I was a child, we each get to open one gift. Also on Christmas Eve, we bake cookies. When they are done, we have some cookies with milk as we watch Polar Express and set out a plate of cookies and milk for Santa. It warms my heart when, during the weeks before Christmas, they see the commercial on TV for the movie and they say, “Mom…our favorite movie is coming on!”
This year, establish your own family Christmas traditions. Borrow some from your childhood or create new traditions. Below I have listed a few “suggestions” that may spark your creativity. Remember…it’s YOUR memories that you are making…be creative!
This year, establish your own family Christmas traditions. Borrow some from your childhood or create new traditions. Below I have listed a few “suggestions” that may spark your creativity. Remember…it’s YOUR memories that you are making…be creative!
- Making homemade gifts for everyone
- Setting out milk and cookies for “Santa”
- Reading “’Twas the Night Before Christmas”
- Reading the Christmas story (about Jesus’ birth)
- Making a birthday cake for Jesus
- Making gingerbread people/houses
- Opening 1 present on Christmas-Eve
- Going to church
- Watching Christmas movies (i.e. Rudolph…, Charlie Brown…, or The Grinch)
- Volunteering with a charity
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