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Each family is unique onto itself. There is no disputing that comment. Not every family enjoys the same sports, the same campgrounds–or camping at all–nor, the same ways to celebrate.
One family might enjoy going out to dinner to celebrate, while another’s idea of celebrating the holiday is staying home and cooking a meal together.
Why, then, should every family be expected to have the same types of traditions for the holidays?
Many families will put up a Christmas tree, but not everyone will use an artificial tree. Some families wouldn’t understand purchasing a tree from just anywhere, either, it might have to be from the corner tree sale on Ninth and Broadway. For that one family, it has to be; they’ve been purchasing their tree there for the past 20 years and aren’t about to change a family tradition. Yet, another family has been searching the live Christmas tree spots, choosing their own tree as well as chopping it down. Little Timmy has always ridden in the sled with the tree...it’s tradition. Now that Timmy’s 24 years old and weighs 210 pounds, the family still pitches in and pulls Little Timmy back to the car along with the tree.
Tradition is tradition.
No one wants to break the rules; everyone enjoys things just the way they are. When Timmy is 44, chances are, he’ll still be in the sled getting a ride back to the car.
The human race is filled with creatures of habit. We want things that make us feel good to remain the same, year after year. There’s no shame in that.
If your family doesn’t have a special Christmas tradition, come up with an idea and start one this holiday season. Years from now, when everyone is going through the same motions as they did the last year and the year before that, and smiles are big and bright, you’ll be glad you were the ingenious one who started the tradition.
One nice Christmas tradition that can be shared with friends and family is a Green’s Party. At this party, no one leaves without a Christmas wreath to add to their front door or living room wall. And everyone has to help in the making. The hostess usually provides the base materials, such as rings (wire coat hangers work great), wire, and several bales of spruce and/or cedar. Guests should bring all the trimmings.
Each year after Thanksgiving, but before Christmas, throw the Green’s Party and invite all your lady friends and family. Encourage everyone to bring some kind of greens from their own yard. This can be clippings from their evergreen trees, cedar bushes, rose hips, snippets from a burning bush, etc. The materials are then shared. At the end of the evening, swap wreaths for more fun, but make sure no one leaves empty handed.
Another good idea that can be turned into a family tradition is correspondence. Christmas letters tucked inside Christmas cards makes a wonderful tradition and keepsake. Everyone in the family is requested to write a letter, photocopy it and slip it into each Christmas card sent out. Everyone should receive the same information about the family’s year-long doings at the same time. When holiday rolls around, everyone should be up to par on the comings and goings of everyone else. It makes for great conversation over the holiday table.
Other tradition ideas:
1. Hold dinner at someone else’s house each year, be sure to ttrade off
2. Hold a cookie exchange
3. Exchange hand-made gifts
4. Wrap the family gifts without identification tags and watch the fun
5. Make sure specific hand-me-down recipes are used each year
6. Purchase or create an ornament for each family member
7. Buy gifts at the dollar store
8. Exchange gag gifts
9. String popcorn and cranberries together
10. Draw names for stockings (then fill that person’s stocking)
11. Adopt a family for the holidays
12. Drive around town together...or walk...and look at the Christmas lights
13. Go caroling
14. Donate a Christmas tree to an orphanage
15. Play a special card game with the whole family on Christmas Day
16. Visit grandparents and bring the meal with you
17. Go ice skating, play in the snow, make a snow dinosaur or dragon (Kool-Aid and Jell-O powder add a whole new dimension when creating colored scales)
18. Watch a classic movie together–the same one every year or a different one–but include everyone from the baby to the grandparents. Pop popcorn and drink lemonade.
The hard part is getting started. The best part is that the family bonds are tightened.
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