When we were pregnant with our first my husband and me started to discuss traditions. Growing up both of our families had somewhat of similar ones. We also wanted to start some of our own as well. Here are 5 of our Christmas traditions we started with our family and hope that they will continue throughout the years and move on to our grandchildren if we could be so lucky.
1.) Advent
This is a new one that we have started. We both didn’t grow up in Christian homes so the idea of advent was never implemented. We do this two ways. We have a Charlie Brown felt board that helps us to tell the Jesus story that we do each night before bed starting on December 1st.
The second is our pal, Ruby. Yes, we are THAT family that has an elf. However, we use her in a bit of a different way. Each morning Ruby will be “hiding” in a different location around the house with an advent activity for us to do.
Some of the activities that we do are:
Make a Christmas picture/craft
Eat by candlelight
Get a tree
Have a tea party and drink Christmas tea
Do an act of kindness
Go ice skating
Watch a Christmas Movie
Read a Christmas book
Write letters to each other
2.) Get a Real Tree from a Tree Farm
I grew up always having a real tree in the house. It is one of my fondest memories as a child during this season. My husband didn’t but he was game when we had our first Christmas together which was actually even before children entered the picture. Now we converted his family and we all go together each year!
My BEST memory together as a family now was when we just had Abigail with us and we had my small little dodge car and stuffed the tree in the back somehow, half of it was out the window I think and I drove while Jon held the tree steady inside!
3.) Open 1 Gift on Christmas Eve
We both did this in our families so carried it over to ours. We added a little addition to this. We make a box for each child with PJ’s, a snack, a new Christmas movie and a new ornament to hang on the tree. After they’ve opened their gift we hang the ornaments, change into our Christmas PJ’s, pop in the movie and get cozy on the couch together with our snacks.
4.) Gingerbread House Decorating Contest
Okay, so right now it isn’t that much of a contest as we only do one as a family because have such small kiddos and we don’t want to upset anyone. Once they get older we will be making it a fun contest to see who can decorate theirs the “best.”
5.) Christmas Play
My father in laws church always puts on the Nativity Story play and we go. Some years I have stayed back with the younger ones as they can’t stay up late but this year we will all be able to attend. It’s nothing too fancy but it is such a great and simple way to teach our kids more about why it is we celebrate Christmas. We choose to have Santa as a part of our Christmas so we like to make sure they understand that Santa is just a little fun part but not the reason for the season, Jesus is.
I would love to add more as the years go on and they get older but for now I love how simple each one is and the memories we have made so far together before children and as each child came to be with us.
What is one of your favorite traditions you have in your family? Children or no children, I would love to know!
-Adventurous Mama
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