Christmas Traditions that Won’t Break the Bank or Zap Your Energy

When my son was born years ago, I panicked when Christmas rolled around. I wanted to fill his life with traditions he would remember until he was an old man. So, I started taking stock.

Turns out, I already abided by a lot more traditions than what I realized, thanks to those my mother had established for me.

Here are some suggestions. But, you don’t have to do these. Be creative. The point is to create memories.

1. The Christmas Story – Curl up with your family, by the tree or fireplace (if you have one) with cups of hot chocolate, and read the real Christmas story: Luke 2:1-20. If your children can read, let them take turns, too. Talk about what you’ve read and what it means for each person.
2. Church Services – Take part in special Christmas services that your church offers. My family always enjoys a Christmas Eve service, and on another night, caroling from door to door. Remember: Christmas IS the reason for the season.
3. Movies – Find a family-positive, Christmas-oriented movie that you all can enjoy together and consider adopting it for annual viewing. At my house, it was always How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It’s easy to tie the themes of love, forgiveness and charity to the real reason for the season. As my son got older, we added the Chevy Chase movie, Christmas Vacation. It’s a little rough around the family edges, but it has a beautiful underlying theme – a family man wants to be surrounded by the people he loves at Christmas. You’ll have to decide if it’s appropriate for your children, based on their ages and personalities. But, by all means, talk about where it differs from your values.
4. Ornaments – Make one new ornament (or more!) each year for your tree…but at least one special ornament. Be sure to write the year on it. Try a different art medium each year so that your collection offers variety.
5. Christmas Meal – I think dining together as a family is always important, but never more so than on Christmas day. Spending that time together is so special. Now that my son is grown, he helps cook the meal. We like to invite friends and relatives who otherwise might be alone or whose families are spread far and wide.
6. Christmas Lights – Choose an evening close to Christmas day and take a drive just to see the lights that other people hang on their homes. Don’t combine it with any other tasks; make the soul purpose to see the lights. This helps to add a truer appreciation for them.
7. Food – Bake some goodies with your children, wrap them festively and deliver them to friends and neighbors…or better yet, take them to new people you’ve been meaning to engage in conversation.
8. Volunteer – Help at a shelter, collect toys for children, drive neighbors to the Christmas Eve service. The point is, just volunteer for something. It helps others, and it teaches your children the value of giving.
9. Christmas Tree – Due to a huge fiasco years ago in bringing home a live tree (we’ll just let that little story go into obscurity where it belongs…), I now have an artificial tree. However, if you are one of the wise and brave who still appreciate and prefer a live tree, then take the family to get one together. You may be surprised at how your children will enjoy this undertaking.
10. Visit Family – Yeah, even mean Uncle Charlie. Take him a ham or a popcorn ball. Wish him a Merry Christmas. Remember, your children are watching.

Bonus: The smells of Christmas are special: Christmas cookies in the oven, the scent of a live Christmas tree, pine-scented candles, etc. You can re-create many of these smells in a pot on your stove and keep the smell going the whole Christmas season. Consider: lemon, rosemary springs, oranges, cinnamon sticks, vanilla extract. Experiment!

What fun traditions does your family undertake at Christmas time?