On Monday of this week, I posted a Facebook status asking for everyone's Christmas tradition. I really liked a lot of the responses I received, so I thought I would compile them here for all to read and possibly gleam a new tradition for your family.I have added our personal traditions along with some of my friends:
* We attend 2 candlelight services on Christmas eve - one at 8 pm and one at 11 pm. Following the 11pm we go to Ihop for breakfast - then home to open presents at 2 am. On Christmas night we go to our church to cook and serve the homeless of OKC. We offer food, movies, stockings and a Christmas to remember
* One friend told me that they allow their children to pick one small item out of their stockings each night before Christmas Day. I liked that idea and decided to find 12 small gifts (the stocking gifts I buy are always under $5) and incorporate that into our 12 Days of Christmas Theme. I somehow disguise the items that would be have been obvious just by feeling inside the stocking!
* We always make a birthday cake on Christmas Eve and write "Happy Birthday Jesus" on it and then consume it for breakfast with our egg casserole - it's a day of eating unhealthy so we pull out all the stops!
* On Christmas morning, we read the story found in Luke and then pray together. One of the boys play a Christmas song on the piano or guitar while we all sing together. It's such a relaxing and reverent time just before the gifts are handed out.
* My husband plays "Santa" and only gives each child one gift at a time. We do not have this "hustle bustle" of paper flying everywhere while the whole event is over in 15 minutes. Each person has their own time where everyone else is watching to see what they received. A million pictures are taken and the whole process usually lasts over an hour!
* Our children only receive three gifts and we do not spend a lot of money. Most of the gifts given to our friends and grandparents are hand made which makes the family time before Christmas memorable as well.
* On Christmas Eve, we sing some fun Christmas songs and then the kids each get to open one gift (picked by mom and dad). It's always PJ's so that they have new jammies to sport for pictures the next day!
* We play Christmas music while we decorate the house and tree. Brownies are always tantalizing us with their incredible smell while baking. When they are finished, we always take a break to devour a warm brownie before we finish 'decking the halls!'
I hope you enjoy your holiday festivities this year and possibly borrow a new tradition or two. Remember that Christmas actually means "more of Christ" so from our family to yours...Merry Christmas!
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