By
Sherrie Le Masurier
Show your children the holidays are more than commercially-purchased gifts and Christmas turkey by creating some fun new Christmas traditions. Sharing Christmas traditions contributes to family bonding, gives a sense of belonging and helps create lasting memories. Time honored traditions also have a way of helping kids, as well as adults, get through tough times of pain and loss. The
nice thing about Christmas traditions is they don’t have to be elaborate,
expensive or time-consuming. Sometimes traditions can even help simplify the
planning process for special occasions. It’s a comfortable feeling to know
what to expect, what to do, what to bring and where you are supposed to be at a
given time on a certain date. In other words, traditions give families a sense
of rhythm to their holiday celebrations.
Sometimes
the best Christmas traditions are the ones a family creates just for them. A
family tradition is simply a special event that honors your family’s unique
values, priorities and styles rather than replicating someone else’s
traditions.
In honor of your baby’s first Christmas purchase a living tree. After Christmas, plant it in your yard. That way, you will always have a living reminder of her very first Christmas. Learn About Customs in Other Countries Instead
of usual bedtime stories, read to your children about Christmas customs in other
countries. Give
A Special Ornament Every
year, give each child special ornament that reminds you of him or her. It could
just be a nice ornament or one that has special meaning like a baby’s first
year, a first communion or in the case of a blended family, your first Christmas
together. Or, you could recognize a goal your child has achieved e.g. learning
to play a violin or becoming MVP on their soccer team. Over the years, your
child will have built a nice collection of ornaments for his own tree when he
leaves home. Speak
Of Christmases Past Tell
your children about your Christmas celebrations when you were their age. Turn
Ornament Making Into A Family Affair Reserve
a night for the entire family to make ornaments for your tree. Special
Family Outings Go
with family or friends to the lighting of your town's Christmas tree, a concert
or a local performance of The Nutcracker. Better still, attend a Christmas Eve
candlelight church service. Read
Together Sit
in front of a fire and read O Henry's The Gift Of The Magi aloud. Serve mulled
cider and popcorn. Or, gather the whole family, and read aloud the Gospel story
of Jesus' birth. Other
good titles include The Littlest Angel, by Charles Tazewell, or The Little
Drummer Boy, by Ezra J. Keats. These tales illustrate the true meaning of
giving. A
Merry Message Book Start
a special book for guests to write holiday messages in. When relatives gather,
ask everyone
to describe a memorable Christmas. Get out the old books every year, and
reminisce about Christmases past. Holiday
Scrapbook Start
a holiday scrapbook. Include notes about family events, favorite cards, and
photos and
letters to Santa. Add to it each year. The
Finishing Touch Give
your youngest child the honor of placing the star or angel on the top of the
Christmas tree. Say
Cheese Take
a holiday family photograph each year in the same spot, such as by a favorite
tree in
your yard. In the years to come, you'll have a wonderful record not only of the
growth of your family, but also of the growth of your tree. Set
Aside Family Christmas Card Time Open
Christmas cards as a family activity each night at the dinner table. Read the
messages aloud. Oh,
How They Grow Here’s
another idea to keep an eye on how fast your children grow. Make a basic
Christmas tree skirt out of white felt. Pour a little fabric paint into a pie
pan and have your child dip her hand in it. Press her hand against the skirt.
Add her name and date underneath. Each year add another handprint and relish in
how much she has grown. The
Story Of Each Ornament If
your tree is anything like ours, you have a host of individual ornaments with
special meaning. It’s always fun to reminisce about the individual ornaments
as we trim the tree. Host
A Holiday Baking Day Invite
an older relative and ask her to teach you and the kids how to make a treat
that's part of the heritage you all share. Assist
With Gift Giving Lists Set
aside some time at the beginning of the holiday season to help your children
plan their gift-giving lists. Record
Christmas Activity Videotape
your child doing a specific Christmas activity such as placing the star on top
of the tree or handing out the first present. Each year record more of the same
activity. Over the years, you will have created a wonderful memento of your
child growing up.
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