- Are you looking to start family Christmas Traditions?
- What Christmas traditions are handed down from your family?
- Christmas is not about just the presents.
Create Family Christmas Traditions
I love Christmas. As a child, my family had very little. So I always said that my kids were going to have these huge, gift filled Christmases with every gift they ever wanted under the tree. Great idea. But trust me, that does not happen in our house! As an adult, I want my children to understand the spirit of Christmas – it is not about how many presents you receive. It is about giving, and family, and being truly grateful for all that you have. Creating family traditions is part of that.
Traditions are a way to bond as a family. Participating in family traditions makes family members feel part of something special. Traditions can be anything from eating specific foods, attending religious services, having family get-togethers and gift giving. What is important is the tradition is a shared activity that you do with your family year after year. Traditions can be something family members look forward to each year and can be handed down to generations to come.
Here are some simple ideas to create your own traditions. What is important in creating traditions is that it is something that works for your family. My traditions may not be your traditions. Your family will tell you what it is that they want to do year after year, that will be memorable.
- Decide what is important to your family and what activities everyone enjoys. For example, if your family is active, consider starting a tradition of skiing or sledding on Christmas Eve. If your family loves music, make it a tradition to attend a Christmas concert. If religion is important to your family, attend worship services together.
- Think about the values you want for your kids. Start Christmas traditions that reinforce those values. Some examples are thoughtfulness, generosity and the importance of family. Create family traditions around more than gift giving.
- Don’t forget the spirit of the season – not necessarily religious beliefs. Christmas is a time to think of others – especially those less fortunate than you. Consider a tradition to give a donation of toys, food or money to a charity such as the Salvation Army, Toys for Tots or other worthy causes in your area.
- Spend time together enjoying the activities of the season. Make it a yearly event to go caroling or tour the neighborhood to look at light displays. Go to a Christmas play or a tree lighting ceremony.
- Make special meals or desserts. Ask other members of your family for traditional recipes. Make special dishes that you would not regularly eat and get the whole family involved in the preparation. Some ideas: bake and decorate Christmas cookies; have a Christmas Eve pot luck dinner; or host a Christmas morning brunch.
- Decorate, decorate, decorate. Kids love lights and shiny things. Make getting the family Christmas tree a special occasion. Find a Christmas tree farm and search together for the perfect tree. Let each family member buy one new ornament each year. Spend an evening together decorating the family tree.
Whatever traditions you decide to start, make it special for your family. In 20 years, your kids will not remember what toys the received, but they will remember the time you cut down your own tree and got lost on your way back. Sometimes, the memories will be something you never expected.