Creative Christmas Traditions

Tradition is an integral part of a happy family. Many of us who grew up in or before the 50s or 60s were able to enjoy many fine Christmas traditions such as going to find the tree, making decorations at home for it (my brother and I would sit at the kitchen table with my Mom for hours cutting and glueing construction-paper chains, stringing popcorn, and generally covering ourselves as well as our creations with a thick coat of Elmer's glue and glitter)and singing Christmas carols together while decorating the tree.

As young children, we loved the feelings of anticipation that came just after Thanksgiving..knowing that there were special family Christmas activities that we had done year after year and could look forward to doing always. Traditions make lifelong memories for kids and encourage them as adults to establish the same for their own children. Strong family traditions are part of the circle of life, and help us to enjoy all phases of it from childhood to old age.

Today there are literally thousands of pre-made Christmas decorationsin all types of cunning styles at reasonable prices in any given store. In-your-face Christmas marketing and television programming starts in October (whatever happened to Thanksgiving? Halloween's still hanging in there, but you can miss Thanksgiving in an eyeblink these days) Artificial, inexpensive Christmas trees that look close to the real thing and are more environmentally conservative can be purchased anywhere from the grocery store to Wal-mart. What's a family to do these days for traditional Christmas activities?

Not to worry; there are plenty of creative alternatives for families to do together over the holiday season. The emphasis here is on projects that the family can all take part in and have fun with together, as well as look forward to doing each year.

-Make a Christmas movie. Instead of just randomly recording your family opening presents, make a Production! Have each family member wear a special outfit (their best clothes or a special costume they put together) Mark this as an event by having specific guidelines to follow: costume or "dress up" themes, a carol or two to learn and sing all together for the production, a project assignment for each ( read a short Christmas verse, sing a song, make a giant Christmas card for the film, act out a little story, etc.) Shy ones can perform a skit or sing with another family member.The sky's the limit: tap your family's creative genius! Make the film each year for family members or friends who couldn't be there with you. Feature a segment that sets this Christmas apart from all others, such as having each member tell on film what their favorite hobby or sport is this year, or what the best thing was that happened to them this year. Send copies to family members and friends, but keep a copy for the family too. This can serve as a "family diary" and provide fun viewing for years to come. If you haven't got a camcorder or recording device, borrow or rent one for "filming day" after rehearsing your production together at home.

-Make a tree for animals. Whether it's for wild birds or squirrels or for homeless dogs and cats at a local shelter, the whole family can get together to create a treat for our furry and feathered friends. String plain (natural) popcorn and frozen whole cranberries (no sauce!) around a tree in your yard and hang seed bells to attract winter birds like cardinals and bluejays. Plain peanuts in the shell are another treat. For the animal shelter, get a small potted or artificial tree. Have the family wrap chew toys, catnip mice, small treats, etc. and hang them on the tree. Make a nice card signed by the whole family and take it to the shelter together. Another nice tradition is to have the shelter save the tree so you can all go to get it each year right after Thanksgiving to be decorated.

-Have a gift decorating party. Gather paper, ribbons, glitter, small favors or toys, silk or plastic holly and poinsettia flowers, small christmas tree decorations, paints and brushes, colored pens, tape, etc. and have a package decorating contest. Family members bring their wrapped gifts to the table and let their creative juices flow!
-Bring back a favorite childhood game and share it with your kids.Have a traditional Christmas Day outdoor game. Ours was the snowball battle royale, with everyone from toddlers to grandparents joining in. If you have no snow, Kick the Can or Hide and Seek is an excellent alternative for an outdoor game that folks of all ages can play together. How long has it been since you've played those? I guarantee you'll all have a blast. Don't forget to do it right-it's "one potato, two potato" or "Eenie meeny miney moe" to pick who's It.

-Make cookie canvases. Each family member gets a roll of sugar cookie dough. Gather colored sugars, nonpareils, toothpicks or brushes, food coloring, paper plates, powdered sugar and milk. Each person can cut or roll out dough with a water glass to make a round or shaped canvas. Bake as directed. Mix the powdered sugar with a little milk on a paper plate to a paste and add a small drop of food coloring. Using the plates as your "palettes" decorate your big cookies with Christmas scenes, pretty patterns, etc. Again, the sky's the limit; make cookie Christmas cards or draw portraits of each other. Toothpicks make good "paintbrushes". Use or cut out your own stencils to use with the colored sugars.

-Remember, good traditions generate delightful anticipation..mark a specific date on your calendar for your activities and have a sense of structure to them. Have a gathering place in your home for your projects where the whole family can sit and work comfortably together (here's where the kitchen or diningroom table comes in handy) Refreshments add a "party" atmosphere, even if it's only hot chocolate and cookies.