Family Christmas Tradtions: Getting Your Family Together to Enjoy the Holidays

Christmas is nearly upon us, and with the gross commercialization, so many people are not looking forward to it with great joy. What can you do to bring back a little bit of family togetherness, a little bit of celebratory spirit? It may be time to create some new family traditions, or at least breathe a little life back into the old ones.

'Christmas Prep' Weekend

Sometimes the simplest way to get your family excited about Christmas is to get everyone together. Set aside a 'Christmas Prep' weekend and let the whole family know that they will be expected to participate. Then, plan out activities according to existing family traditions, or new traditions that you would like to start.

For example, Saturday might be your tree day. The whole family could pick out the tree together - letting everyone have input on your final selection. That evening, you might enjoy a special meal together, then decorate the tree as a family. Continue the family-togetherness day with by gathering near the freshly decorated tree for Christmas stories: traditional Christmas tales, religious stories of Christmas, or even just your families recollections of their favorite Christmases.

So what to do with Sunday? Why not take a family shopping trip? You can save gas by all riding together, and then split up at the store (and take turns watching kids too young to shop alone) so that everyone can get one another's presents "secretly" with no worries of peeking! Add in a lunch or dinner out, and finish the day by pointing out all the great Christmas lights on the way home. Wrap up your gifts, and have everyone bring them to the tree to give it an even more festive look.

Christmas Light Hunt

Families with older children can have a Christmas light hunt. Each family member can keep a lookout for great light displays. The weekend before Christmas, the whole family drives around together to see all the best displays that they found. Your family can vote on whose find was the best display - and you can even create a special "prize" for the best find.

Younger children may not be able to drive around finding light displays in a Christmas light hunt, but they will still enjoy the pretty displays. Part of the family tradition could include filling a couple of thermoses with hot chocolate and walking around the neighborhood or driving around to look at all of the displays. It can also be fun to keep a 'light journal' or a list of which houses or neighborhoods had the best displays. Then, the next year, you can check out your favorites to see if they are great again.

Friends and Family You Won't See Christmas Day

The holidays are so busy that it's not always possible to fit everyone into Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Also, there are all those out of town relatives to consider. Why not add that to your list of family Christmas traditions?
Set aside designated days or times for calling and visiting. Then get your whole family together to make those long distance calls. Imagine your relatives' delight when their Christmas call this year includes the chance to say hello to your whole family!

Make an 'open house' night and invite friends (and children's friends) or family that you won't see Christmas day to all stop and visit. You can make it less work by letting everyone know that it will be "munchies only" or by asking everyone to bring a plate of their favorite holiday cookies. Or, get your family together and select your favorite Christmas songs. You can carol your way to the houses of those you don't expect to see, and pass along your Christmas greetings.

Family Christmas traditions do not need to be elaborate or time consuming. There is certainly no need for more stress and this already-busy time. Consider your family's interests, and create some activities that will bring you all together to enjoy the holiday season.