Christmas Traditions

I love Christmas traditions.  There is just not enough time over Christmas to fit all the traditions in.  There are a few we've tried out over the years and some that have stuck as tried and true traditions and others we've said good-bye to.  The following are a few of my favorites.

Caroling - Every December we get together with a group of friends and go caroling.  The group consists of families, singles, couples.  A great mixture.  Each family unit picks two places they'd like to go carolling.  We pack into cars and vans whatever way we fit.  We bring along jingle bells and other percussion instruments.  We usually meet before we go carolling for a potluck supper and then after carolling for Christmas goodies and hot apple cider.  Not only is this a fun activity for all of us, but it's also doing something kind for others in our community.  My kids talk about this all year.  In March they're asking, "When are we going carolling again?"

Christmas Sleepover - We all sleep under (actually it's beside) the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve.  We drag blankets and matresses and all cuddle up together to enjoy the Christmas lights and wait for Santa and Christmas morning to arrive.  It's a great way to build family togetherness and excitement.

Christmas Movies - I always pack away our Christmas movies and only allow them to be watched during the Christmas season.  Our family favorites are Polar Express, The Grinch, and Sound of Music.  I'd like to introduce one more 'oldie', but not sure which one.  Any suggestions?

We watch these as a family with popcorn, Christmas goodies and lots of snuggles.

Christmas Baking - On the day I do my Christmas baking I pull the kids out of school (my husband and I are both teachers and it's okay for your kids to skip school for some important family bonding).  My mom joins us and we bake all day.  I run out to pick up a special take out lunch that day.  When the baking is done we arrange some on paper plates to give to friends and neighbours, and the rest we arrange on platters and freeze for Christmas gatherings that I'm asked to bring treats to.  We also make up a little box the kids can bring to their teacher the next day. 

Christmas Eve Caroling - This is my favorite tradition.  On Christmas Eve our family goes to a local church's Christmas program and following that we meet a group of people at the nursing home just down our street.  We all meet at about 8:30 pm.  The halls in the nursing home are dark.  The night staff have just arrived and it feels like a lonely holy place to be.  We walk every hall, very slowly and sing for the residents.  Every year the staff tells us that a resident has asked if it was angels they heard singing last night.  Last year we walked in and the staff told us that they'd just heard that another staff member was killed in an accident an hour before we got there.  They thanked us again for coming and told us how much it meant to be thought about on a night we you want to be with family and friends, but instead you're stuck at work or in the case of the residents by yourself in a lonely room.  I love, love, love doing this every Christmas Eve.  It fills me up.

We have quite a few other traditions and maybe I'll post them all yet.  These are a few of my favorites.  What are some of your favorite traditions?