CHRISTmas Traditions
Source of Recipe
FFIGE's
Recipe Introduction
Special Christmas traditions reinforce the true meaning of Christmas, while at the same time add warmth, fun to family & friends alike. There are many bad or busy things in our world today that pull families apart, but with good traditions, families can build memories that will unite them and can be lasting influences to be carried on to new generations. CHRISTmas ought to be more than running about buying, wrapping, sending, baking and decorating. This season should be a time when the family can absorb why we celebrate. While enjoying the celebration of birth of Christ, we can enjoy family & friends as well. Families can establish traditions that not only create lasting memories but can be carried on to the homes of their children when they become parents. Below are some ideas that you might decide to try this year, or maybe next year. Don't take on to many, try a few and see which appeal and can work for your family.
List of Ingredients
Recipe
1. Scripture reading and singing hymns. Family members could sing hymns or carols and then take turns reading finding Scripture to go with the song. You don't need a cozy fire to make these ideas keepers in your home. Just some warm hearts filled with love.
2. Make an Advent Candle by painting 24 numbers on the side of a large candle, starting at the top with #1 working your way down the candle. Each evening during December, the candle could be lit, and Christmas songs sung or Christmas stories told by its light, until the candle burns down to the particular number representing that day.
3. Setting up a Nativity scene is a special way to bring the real meaning of Christmas to children. While the Christmas story is read aloud, each member of the family receives a wrapped piece of the Nativity scene. (This adds excitement and also avoids arguments as to whom the pieces are given.) As the Bible account is read, the reader pauses whenever someone or something represented by a manger piece is mentioned, and the person with that piece places it where it goes. When they are through, they turn out all the lights except the tree lights or a lighted candle, and sing "Silent Night."
4. Raid your cupboard or panty. Here is Florida we have a hurricane kit, so that works for us. Take the food place it in individual boxes; shoe, whatever. Wrap it in pretty paper with a ribbon. Bring it to your church or local food bank or anywhere else you know supply's canned goods to the needy.
5. A special family prayer before opening gifts, sets the mood for the true meaning of Christmas.
6. Children can make Coupon Books which are given as gifts, and are good because they are gifts of "time". Often that is the last thing we desire to share of ourselves.
7. Let the children have a part in choosing gifts they will be giving. Let them cut up old Christmas cards to make tags for their packages, and let them help wrap the gifts they are giving.
8. Considering gathering the children together and acting out the CHRISTmas story. Let the children and even the neighbor kids join in. Video tape it and present it to loved ones who don't know the real reason for CHRISTmas. Nothing like allowing our children to follow the CHRIST child and letting a little one lead them to the Babe, Our Savior and King.
9. Purchase a special "family" candle. Each night take a few moments as the candle is lite to share about how you've been making use during the day in sharing the Gospel with someone. Maybe a seed planted, or fertilized ground, no matter what we should be sharing Jesus with others.
10. One family sets up their Nativity scene two weeks before Christmas, except for the manger and baby Jesus. Beside the stable they put a tiny box of straw and each time someone does a sweet deed for another member of the family--a "gift of love"--the doer places a piece of straw where the baby Jesus will lie. By Christmas Eve, the soft cushion of "love" is placed before the manger. Small inexpensive Nativity scenes can be obtained for the children to paint and to have as their own. The reason for Nativity scenes should be explained to the small children so they will appreciate their own scene.
11. One family adopts someone--a recent widow, a foreign student, or a person who lives alone, etc., and during the week of Christmas gives them special attention, such as taking them for a ride, giving them food, gifts, running errands for them, but more importantly, giving them a generous portion of love. Don't share with others what you are doing. Allow this to be a special family time that isn't announced.
12. Instead of having a Toy Advent Calendar, have one with items to do with Christ and his birth. The children will have just as much fun choosing camels, wisemen, shepherds and especially baby Jesus from the pockets, as they do choosing toys. You can even make a homemade one. Use candy canes for each day (they make sugarless ones). We have one that is totally made of felt. It's just about a yard of felt long and about 6" wide. At the top is a big old white cloud. A little tiny felt Baby Jesus was made. Down the banner are tiny little safety pins attached. At the very bottom for CHRISTmas day is a manger made of felt as well. Each day the little felt Baby Jesus is moved down from the cloud closer to the basket. He has on the back and he hangs on each pin. We've had this since the kids were 10 & 5.
13. Choose someone who has done something especially nice for the family during the year. Everyone including the children can write a little note of appreciation and accompany it with a homemade treat.
14. Make hand puppets to recreate a CHRISTmas song. Let each puppet represent some part of the song. Allow the children to play and act out a different song each year.
15. Have one room in your home decorated with items that pertain to the Spiritual side of Christmas, not the commercial side.
16. Have an area set aside with a nativity. Where what would be the hay for the babe, lay pieces of paper that each family member leaves that shares just one Word of what Jesus means to them.
17. A caroling party is fun with family or neighbors. Warm up afterwards with a warm bowl of chili or hot chocolate. Prepare cards ahead of time and insert various churches bullitins and information within them. Also adding a CHRISTmas tract.
18. One family spends the month of December rounding up all the toys in the house and mending, painting and gluing the ones that need repair. They then can be dropped off at shelters around your town.
19. Take the 12 days of CHRISTmas and instead of song, give purpose to those twelve days. Prepare your family's hearts by visiting sick friends or relatives or a lonely neighbor. Sneak treats on doorstops, ring doorbells and run; make someone's bed or do a chore for them and surprise family members in other pleasant ways.
20. Take each one of your children shopping alone with you, in the weeks before Christmas. Let them purchase gifts with their money they have earned or from their allowance, so they can share in the excitement of giving. The little gift they might buy for just a few cents or a $1 will have a lot more meaning than a $5 gift you buy for them to give.
21. One of my friends gives all her children and grandchildren new pajamas every Christmas Eve so they can sleep in something new and look cute in their new pajamas on Christmas morning.
22. Remember your neighbors at Christmas with a traditional gift such as bundle of wood tied with a fancy bow, a goodie plate, a new ornament for their tree or even a year's supply of light bulbs! Let them know you love them and appreciate their friendship.
23. One family bakes a big rice pudding with one almond in it. (any dessert would do) This pudding is eaten on Christmas Even and whoever gets the almond gets a special gift or special favor. This is announced before they eat. What a great way to start fellowshipping with the neighbors as they come back over for their gift.
24. Make going to choose your Christmas tree a family tradition--whether it is from the forest or the tree lot. Let the children take turns each year choosing the kind of tree they want. Sometimes a potted tree could be welcome addition to your yard.
25. Write all the family members names down on paper and fold up and place in basket. Have each family member draw a name to buy a gift for. Have it be a secret and leave little gifts, notes, or candies up until CHRISTmas morning when they find out who left them all the nice memories to have until next year.
26. Start a tradition of making and giving homemade ornaments that have Scripture verses on them. One year I made a whole CHRISTmas tree using apple ornaments. As you looked up each Scripture from top to bottom. Each beginning part of the CHRISTmas story tree had a start: The Gift Promised, The Gift Given, and The Gift Received. If you'd like the Scriptures that go with this let me know. Each apple followd with Scripture in sequence to tell the story of Christ's birth.
27. Begin a cooking baking party. Decide who's house to bake at. Each person comes with prepared dough. Make a pot of tea/coffee/cocoa and bake and share together. When everyone is finished baking divide up the cookies accordingly so that each person goes home with a nice assortment of cookies.
28. We've always had open house CHRISTmas breakfast. We prepare scrambled eggs, french toast, and use the ham from our CHRISTmas eve family dinner. We have hot tea or coffee/juice and our CHRISTmas cookies about. We've never ounce run out of food and the blessing I believe always was ours in serving family and friends on CHRISTmas morning as they come and go. We can't afford to do this right now, but if God has the season for this come again we will all be happy to serve.
29. Keep all the CHRISTmas cards you receive. Place them in a basket, and after CHRISTmas is over pull a new card each week at the dinner table. While saying the blessing include a prayer for the individual who's card you drew out of the basket.
30. Take advantage of the holiday. Whether you homeschool or not, have each child write what CHRISTmas means to them. Over the years there idea of the meaning of CHRISTmas will change. When they are older prepare the letters in an album and give to each child.
31. As a family, spend an evening putting up and decorating your Christmas tree together. As bedtime rolls around, have all the children bring a sleeping bag and pillow and place it by the tree. The foot of their bags should be next to the tree so they can look at the tree while laying down. Turn out the living room lights, turn on some good Christmas music, and plug in the Christmas tree lights. Softely sing carols to the children as they fall asleep.
32. As part of your children's traditional "sleep out" under the Christmas tree, you may want to serve refreshments. Make reindeer sandwiches by cutting out pieces of bread in a triangle shape. Put each triangle on a separate plate and cover with peanut butter and honey. Use straight pretzels for antlers, raisins for eyes, and a red cherry for a nose. Serve with egg nog (if your children like it)...or else hot cider or root beer.
33. Early in December, as part of Family Home Evening, explain to the children that you are going to have a Christmas door decorating contest. Each child can pick one door in the house and will be given one week in which to decorate it. Have lots of construction paper and glue available for their use, and check out some Christmas craft books from the library to help give them ideas of what they may want to make. At the next Family Home Evening, a week later, Dad serves as judge. Make certain that prizes are given to everyone, so that all are "winners". The first place winner gets to choose his or her prize first, second place winner chooses next, and so on. Prizes might include a package of Oreos, a bag of candy, etc. Any of their favorites that they don't usually get a whole bag of.
34. Make a special day out taking down the decorations. This is a perfect time to explain how Jesus came and will never leave the heart that accepts Him.
35. Have a Thank You card writing day. If you live somewhere cold make it a picnic on the floor. If your in a warmer climate, encourage the writers to finish up so that you all can head off to the park for a picnic.
36. Start a tradition of everyone gathering before bed on CHRISTmas eve or CHRISTmas morning for cocoa. When the kids are older and moved away you can continue the tradtion by sending "Snowman Soup" out to them. Maybe even special mugs for cocoa.
37. For the whole month of December eat dinner by candlelight. Make it special by not allowing anyone to leave the table until each person has shared a Scripture for the day with everyone and why they picked that particular Scripture.
38. Take a green wreath and decorate it with whatever characterizes the special memories and interest of each family member during the past year: a Scout badge, a small ballet shoe, a memento from a campout trip, a tiny bride and groom to recall a family wedding. With florist wire and picks, attach these items to the wreath and weave bright thin ribbon in and out in a festive way. (It is simplest to buy the wreath and "make" it your own with your mementos, ribbons and decorations.) Hang the wreath on your front door to welcome all who come in during the holiday season. Then after Christmas, cover the wreath with a big clear plastic sack, and save it as a "snapshot" of your year, a little bit of history.
39. If you homeschool, or for family devotions this coming year is a perfect time to start a Godly character Bible study with your children. Next CHRISTMas be prepared to write special letters of appreciation and to each of your children explaining the character trait you see most expressed in their life. It's nice to buy special stockings or a box to store these letters. Then when your children are older they will have these boxes filled with letters of encouragement.
40. Let your children know that each year after helping to take the tree and decorations a special ornament will be given to them and stored away. This CHRISTmas ornament box will then be given to each child when they leave home so that they will have the makings for the beginning of decorating their own tree.
41. Start the tradition of writing thank-you notes for Christmas gifts. In your child's stocking, include a box of colorful thank-you notes and stamps so he or she can express appreciation to grandparents, aunts and uncles, or friends for gifts received at Christmas.
42. Make a friendship tablecloth. This is fun to use when guests come to share holiday or other meals throughout the year. The tablecloth can be of simple muslin or other solid fabric. After the meal, sketch around your guest's hand print on the tablecloth. Later, sew in bright embroidery thread around the hand print and stitch the person's name beside it. The "Friendship Tablecloth" can be brought out and enjoyed each holiday with its record of guests with whom the family has shared the joy of Christmas through the years.
43. On a table where it can be left out, set a new puzzle of 500-1,000 pieces. Make it a goal to have the whole picture completed by Christmas Eve (or New Year's Eve). As family members are in and out, the puzzle provides little slow down spots of time to gather, put a few pieces of the puzzle in, and chat. When visitors stop by, they too can enjoy putting together "a piece of the puzzle". We were able to get a 3 pack of Thomas Kincaid with a beautiful winter scene at Wal-Mart for only $9
44. Make sure to have a special weekend night designed for CHRISTmas movie night. Have everyone gather together and choose CHRISTmas movies. Prepare popcorn and hot chocolate, and make a movie memory.
45. Put a small basket in the center of your dining room table and encourage each person, big and small, to do little odd jobs and earn extra money to put in the basket. Each family member contributes something, no matter how small. Then just before Christmas, parents and children go to the grocery store to select items for a holiday food basket for a less fortunate family in the community.
46. Take a decorated miniature Christmas tree to someone in a hospital or nursing home.
47. Buy tiny little gifts that you store in a beautifully decorated basket by your door. Each time someone visits your home during the holiday have them receive this little hostess gift from you. Decorate the packages and let them take it as they go out the door. Make sure to mark them he/she
48. What better way to make happy memories and start the holidays when school lets out than with a party for neighborhood children? What better time then now to have a CEF CHRISTmas party club. Contact your local chapter of CEF. They do all the teaching, you just hand out invitations and provide what ever refreshments you want.
49. Take time now to go through your closets and gather warm clothes to take to a local shelter. When you do this as a family, you reinforce your commitment to think of and act compassionately toward those who are less fortunate.
50. Let the children prepare a basket of inexpensive gifts--soap, crayons, cookies--wrapped and ready for friends who come to see you. Use color-coded stickers to indicate boy or girl gifts. What a way to let them experience "giving".
51. Begin a Christmas journal. Write down memories your family will share; events you attend, presents you give and receive, and the inevitable problems that occur as well. Write all the blessings that allowed you to be content in this HOLYday season no matter what you faced.
52. On a clear night, find the bright North Star and sit outside sharing the story of the Wise Men.
53. The Lollipop Tree: Kids are always asking "How many days till Christmas?" For the last twelve days before Christmas make a "Lollipop Tree" and they can count the days. Cut a white piece of posterboard or heavy cardboard in the shape of a big Christmas tree, and mount it on their bedroom door. Decorate the cardboard with a colored tape border and write their individual names at the top. Buy strips of lollipops for ease in making rows. For the base of the tree, cut the bottom half of a disposable paper cup and decorate with foil or red wrapping paper. Tape the base of the tree to the cardboard. Put one lollipop at the top of the cardboard for the point of the tree, and then make strips of lollipops across in rows in the shape of a tree. Each day until Christmas one lollipop gets to be taken off and eaten. (This can be adapted to any number of days before Christmas.)
54. Reserve an night for the entire family to make ornaments for your tree.
55. Learn about the Christmas customs and traditions in other countries. Try to incorporate some of their celebrations into your holidays.
56. Mend a broken relationship with a friend or relative during the holidays. What better gift could you give? This is a very good one for women as we tend to practice forgiveness without forgetfulness.
57. Try the Swedish custom of writing a short, lighthearted poem on each of your gift cards that half reveals the contents of the package.
58. 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.
59. Take the family on a drive every year to look at all the Christmas lights and decorations. We do this on CHRISTmas eve. In years past if weather permitted we bought alone hot chocolate, candy canes or cookies.
60. Open Christmas cards as a family at the dinner table. Take turns reading them aloud so that each family member appreciates the sentiment of sending a CHRISTmas greeting.
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