Tweet
OK - maybe there's already one of these out there. But I couldn't find it (I admit I am not a search ninja when it comes to these things.)
Reading some of the stuff posted here, and thinking about what seems like a whirlwind rollercoaster ride approaching as Christmas nears got me thinking about some of my favorite Christmas traditions. I love talked to my kids and seeing what stands out to them - which traditions they think they'll follow with their own kids and which will fall by the wayside. There are definitely some I care about and others that I wouldn't miss.
Our oldest daughter is supremely sentimental. If we've done something once, then we "always" do it - particularly if she liked it - because she is quick to adopt one time events as new traditions to be carried on. And she notices when we don't. Always has.
Anyway - some of my favorite family traditions are:
My Mom always has a family gathering Christmas Eve. Dinner and a short program that includes reading through Luke 2. When I was a kid, we would put on costumes and act out the nativity as it was read. A few years ago my Mom picked up some hand puppets of all of the characters - with PLENTY of shepherds, sheep, etc., to make sure that every kid who wants to participate has a role. Then each of my siblings shares either a story or a song or some other Christmas focused item. We try to keep it short and sweet, but it's a lot of fun because everyone participates.
Christmas morning, the kids all sleep in the same room and then line up to go into the tree and open the presents. Stockings first, then my wife likes to have us pass out one gift at a time and let everyone watch while each is opened. This isn't a stringent/formal one-at-a-time process. It goes pretty quick. It just means that the kids don't each tear into their own pile without regard for what each other is doing.
My in-laws have a tradition of an extended family Christmas morning breakfast. We gather at their home around 10am for ham, eggs, and her Grandma Reese's famous bran muffins. I'm not sure why they are famous - just that Grandma baked enough for the whole crew every year. Now that she's gone, my wife and I have taken up the responsibility. We've got an awesome recipe written in Grandma's shaky 90 year-old handwriting that we cherish (much more than the recipe itself, truth be told).
I could go on and on - but I'll stop with this one last thing. I work for a small non-profit. Our CEO used to give us a small "thank you" check, which they identified as based on performance ("but don't call it a bonus"). As budgets got tight, that was no longer possible. But wanting to still show appreciation to staff, she began giving all staff the time between Christmas and New Years off.
The first year we did this, my wife and I planned a series of "a-thon"s. Everyone gets something to read for Christmas, so one day was a read-a-thon. We'd usually get a new game or two, so another day was a game-a-thon. Video games entered the picture, so we also had a video game-a-thon day. My wife's family had a tradition of the family getting a puzzle for Christmas, so one day was the puzzle-a-thon (which worked great for watching sports - I'd pick the day with the best games on for this one.)
That has become one of the most cherished traditions simply due to the time we get to spend together - especially for the youngest who always wants to spend more time with her older siblings. This started years ago - and as the kids have gotten older we've had to adapt with shorter a-thon days and knowing some will miss out at times. But it's been a fun tradition that I hope to continue with grandkids some day.
This year our married son is headed to Arizona to spend that week with the in-laws. He's already told us which traditions he wants us to schedule on a day that he and his wife will be around to participate.
Tell me about some of your favorite traditions. I'm not to proud to steal the ones I hear and like from others!
Reading some of the stuff posted here, and thinking about what seems like a whirlwind rollercoaster ride approaching as Christmas nears got me thinking about some of my favorite Christmas traditions. I love talked to my kids and seeing what stands out to them - which traditions they think they'll follow with their own kids and which will fall by the wayside. There are definitely some I care about and others that I wouldn't miss.
Our oldest daughter is supremely sentimental. If we've done something once, then we "always" do it - particularly if she liked it - because she is quick to adopt one time events as new traditions to be carried on. And she notices when we don't. Always has.
Anyway - some of my favorite family traditions are:
My Mom always has a family gathering Christmas Eve. Dinner and a short program that includes reading through Luke 2. When I was a kid, we would put on costumes and act out the nativity as it was read. A few years ago my Mom picked up some hand puppets of all of the characters - with PLENTY of shepherds, sheep, etc., to make sure that every kid who wants to participate has a role. Then each of my siblings shares either a story or a song or some other Christmas focused item. We try to keep it short and sweet, but it's a lot of fun because everyone participates.
Christmas morning, the kids all sleep in the same room and then line up to go into the tree and open the presents. Stockings first, then my wife likes to have us pass out one gift at a time and let everyone watch while each is opened. This isn't a stringent/formal one-at-a-time process. It goes pretty quick. It just means that the kids don't each tear into their own pile without regard for what each other is doing.
My in-laws have a tradition of an extended family Christmas morning breakfast. We gather at their home around 10am for ham, eggs, and her Grandma Reese's famous bran muffins. I'm not sure why they are famous - just that Grandma baked enough for the whole crew every year. Now that she's gone, my wife and I have taken up the responsibility. We've got an awesome recipe written in Grandma's shaky 90 year-old handwriting that we cherish (much more than the recipe itself, truth be told).
I could go on and on - but I'll stop with this one last thing. I work for a small non-profit. Our CEO used to give us a small "thank you" check, which they identified as based on performance ("but don't call it a bonus"). As budgets got tight, that was no longer possible. But wanting to still show appreciation to staff, she began giving all staff the time between Christmas and New Years off.
The first year we did this, my wife and I planned a series of "a-thon"s. Everyone gets something to read for Christmas, so one day was a read-a-thon. We'd usually get a new game or two, so another day was a game-a-thon. Video games entered the picture, so we also had a video game-a-thon day. My wife's family had a tradition of the family getting a puzzle for Christmas, so one day was the puzzle-a-thon (which worked great for watching sports - I'd pick the day with the best games on for this one.)
That has become one of the most cherished traditions simply due to the time we get to spend together - especially for the youngest who always wants to spend more time with her older siblings. This started years ago - and as the kids have gotten older we've had to adapt with shorter a-thon days and knowing some will miss out at times. But it's been a fun tradition that I hope to continue with grandkids some day.
This year our married son is headed to Arizona to spend that week with the in-laws. He's already told us which traditions he wants us to schedule on a day that he and his wife will be around to participate.
Tell me about some of your favorite traditions. I'm not to proud to steal the ones I hear and like from others!
Based on DH's photo, the industry isn't too far from that.
Comment