How to Create Holiday Traditions for Children that Will Last a Lifetime

No matter the holiday that you celebrate, creating memories through special traditions for our children is a special part of parenting. One of my favorite Christmas memories was the year that Santa ripped his pants on our fireplace grate. Imagine our amazement when we found that piece of red material Christmas morning. Christmas is such a magical time of year, and we as parents have the ability to add those extra special memories for our children. Theese are some of our favorites traditions.

We have continued the tradition of Santa leaving evidence each year that he has been there. He dropped part of his naughty and nice list one year (we made sure that all of the names had been checked off to not worry my daughter.) Imagine her amazement when she saw friends' names on the list. Poor Santa also ripped his pants at our house. He has dropped presents in the fireplace. He has left boot tracks on the fireplace hearth. This year, he will either be leaving his spectacles or a white glove. Poor Santa seems to be quite forgetful these days.

We have also started a tradition of family Christmas pajamas. The theme changes slightly each year - snowmen, penguins, Scotty dogs, and snowflakes. Each year, we open our new set of pajamas on Christmas Eve. The number of retailers carrying family holiday pajamas seems to increase every year. We have purchased from Gymboree, Pajama-gram and Hanna Andersen.

Each year, we present our children with a new ornament that represents something important about their past year. My daughter started horseback riding last year, so we gave her a beautiful carousel horse ornament. Our intent is that when they move to their own homes, and have their own Christmas trees, they will have a memorable set of ornaments to start their own collections.

Our traditions also involve the true spirit of the Holiday-giving. We participate in adopting families through my daughter's school, my husband's work and our Church. We always try to adopt families with children the age of my children. It is always a good reminder of their blessings to see that there are children asking for socks and pajamas for Christmas.

Our favorite tradition was started the Christmas before I had my daughter. I was very pregnant at that point, and my unborn daughter gave her Daddy a beautifully illustrated copy of The Night Before Christmas and asked that he read it to her every year on Christmas Eve.

Happy Holidays to you!