Christmas Traditions
// December 19th, 2007 // Family Life
My dad is a huge sap and I have come to learn that my mom is all about traditions as well…she just doesn’t make as big of a deal about it. Traditions and family bonding things were a big deal to them. As the kids have grown up, we have become so much more appreciative of the times they set aside to do those things that brought us together as a family, even if it meant embarrassment as an early teen.
Growing up, we would always go to a local Christmas Tree farm. We knew the man well because we would go earlier in the year to pick blueberries at his blueberry farm. My mom would bring him food and talk to him. We would always walk around and pick out a tree…of course about half way through looking for one, the youngest kids would lose interest and go running about. We would decorate with colored lights, popcorn and cranberries and homemade Christmas decorations.
Mom would always pull out the nativity scene she had. I loved that thing. I would sit there and play with the little pieces and imagine what it must have been like when Jesus was born. We had a record or tape that was always pulled out too. I wish I could remember the name of it, but we LOVED it. I know if I heard it today it would bring back a flood of memories.
We had an Advent Wreath most years and we would have devotions and light candles associated with the various days of Advent. My brothers would get distracted by the fire and inevitably one would end up getting in trouble for not paying attention.
We also tried to adopt a family or older person in the community that was in need. Mom would spend much of her time baking and would pull out canned goods. We would get them presents and there were times mom would get us to choose a toy of ours to give them. It was a wonderful way to teach us the importance and joy of giving.
We never did Santa Clause which I am glad for. They would always have a few presents under the tree and on Christmas Eve would pull out the remainder of the presents and the stockings. We were able to get the effect of the surprise without the lie of Santa. Then after all the presents were open, but before breakfast, we would read the Christmas story. It was such a neat time as a family.
This year my oldest is getting into the traditions of Christmas. It is time that we start thinking about some of the traditions that we want to begin with our family. I want them to have the same appreciation for the time of year and the reason we celebrate. We got a wonderful book at the Christian Book Store that tells the story of Christmas with some great pictures. We have begun to read that to them every night. She and I have also started a tradition of going to a local place that lets you paint pottery and they fire it for you. One year we did an ornament. This year she chose and angel.
She is funny about traditions. She likes to come up with what she thinks should be traditions. This year her idea was to take a long time to decorate the tree and each night the kids could choose and ornament to put on the tree. It is actually a good idea, but I am far too impatient for that…I like the tree to be done and everything put away! My mom gave me the nativity scene that we had growing up. She remembers how much I loved it. My girls are as enthralled with it as I was. They sit there and play with the pieces and make up their own stories or act out the nativity story. I am so excited to begin to pass the traditions we grew up with down to our children and come up with some new ones of our own.
What are some things you did growing up and do now? I would love to hear the things that are good memories to you.