Christmas Traditions

Christmas traditions are different from family to family, but all are equally cherished. The traditions that work to bring families closer together are usually the kind that last year after year. Some traditions have been carried out generation after generation. Here are a few ideas that your family might enjoy. Who knows? Maybe you’ll establish a new family tradition this year!

•  Establish and plan an annual family Christmas vacation

•  Sing carols at a few of your neighbors’ homes

•  Personalize a nightly Christmas bedtime song for your children

•  Read a special Christmas book with your spouse

•  Prepare an annual Christmas supper of your family’s favorite dishes

•  Before going to sleep on Christmas Eve, read aloud the Biblical account of Jesus’ birth from Matthew or Luke.

•  Include a special Scripture with your plates of treats or small gifts given to your mailman, garbage collector, teachers or other individuals you remember at the holiday season

•  Allow the children to set the Christmas table anyway they like for a meal

•  Create an annual New Year’s time capsule (made from an oatmeal container). Open it each year, and plant a new one.

•  Give “Happiness Pills” to your kids. (Order empty gelatin capsules from the pharmacy, then place in each one a tiny slip of paper on which is written a gift, such as “Breakfast with Dad,” “No dishwashing this week,” or “Mom will read to you.”)

•  Distribute “Invisible Hugs” for the road (grasp at the air and place “hugs” into your children’s pockets in case they need one during the day)

Enjoy the traditions that keep you close to those you love. Create new ones to celebrate occasions big and small, and let go of those that get in the way of the joy of the occasion. Traditions can create wonderful memories that a family can cherish forever.

The Christmas Treasure Hunt

Christmas can turn into a very materialistic holiday if we aren’t careful. The Christmas Treasure Hunt is a good idea to keep the number of gifts to a minimum, while engaging kids in a creative and exciting way!

1. Limit gifts to three—a book, a game, and a toy (stocking stuffers, sibling gifts, and little gifts can also be sprinkled in).
2. Leave the books and games under the tree, but hide the wrapped toy somewhere in the house, yard, garage, or car. Those can only be uncovered via The Christmas Treasure Hunt.
3. Starting from the youngest to the oldest (switch order year to year), have the kids follow clues to lead them to their gifts.
1. Use pictographs for the kids too young to read. (Example: a drawing of a wall hanging in the family room, etc.)
2. For older kids: puzzles, cryptic messages, symbolic Bible verses, and e-mail and voice mail messages are fun
4. Use five or six clues to lead to the hidden gift.
5. Follow each child, one at a time on their quest, until all gifts are discovered. Bring them back to the Christmas tree and open them together.

Over the years, the “toy” can turn into a more age-appropriate special gift, but The Christmas Treasure Hunt is a tradition that can be enjoyed at all ages.

Christmas Book Club

There are many lovely Christmas books that tell beautiful stories, and many of them are not very long. Host a book club afternoon with a few of your friends. Tell them to bring their favorite Christmas book and introduce it. (Try to obtain a list of your friend’s books beforehand to prevent duplicate presentations.)

Be creative with the invitations! You could use a bookmark or a miniature children’s book with the details written on it; the ideas are endless.

Serve coffee, tea, and finger food. Play soft music and fill the room with candles. (Think of your favorite coffee house and emulate the style.)

Gift Wrapping Party

Wrapping Christmas gifts does not have to be a daunting task! Invite a few friends over for a gift-wrapping get-together. Instruct everyone to bring gift-wrap, tape, ribbons, scissors, writing utensils, card stock, old ornaments, silk flowers, and other ideas to get creative with your wrapping.

As host, prepare finger food, or order in. Keep plates, cutlery, napkins, glasses, and drinks ready throughout the evening.

Make this fun and special gathering a yearly tradition!