Inexpensive Christmas Traditions

What family doesn't love getting together for Christmas. Traditionally Christmas is the time of year where families get together and celebrate together. My family and I love going into the stores beginning in October and seeing the new decorations and lights. One way to give your family something to cling to during the holidays is to establish some Christmas traditions. So what can you do?

1. Go look at Christmas lights. This is a great way to get out of the house. Pile the family in a van and go on the hunt for the best decorated house in your area. To make this a little more exciting establish some type of digital camera scavenger hunt that goes along with the Christmas light displays. One thing you can consider in your scavenger hunt is perhaps a picture of the strangest Santa Claus, or ugliest light display. You can do this for several weeks leading up to Christmas and on Christmas day have all your family vote on the pictures that were taken. Crown a winner with an extra Christmas present from the family.

2. Movie Night. There are a plethora of Christmas movies available for your family to view together. Let each member of the family pick their favorite movie as you lead up to Christmas morning. As a family, select one movie that you will all watch together on Christmas day.

3. Work a puzzle. Puzzles can bring families closer together because they bring you together to accomplish a goal. Pick a puzzle that you would like to put together as a family. You can start your puzzle before Christmas and finish it, or just commit to starting and finishing it on Christmas day. Finished puzzles can be preserved and put on display each year as a remembrance of previous years.

4. Bake something before Christmas that the family can enjoy all day long on Christmas day. This is a great way to come together and do a little baking. Pick a dessert or bread that everyone likes and work together to get it made. Take a family picture around the baked item and save them to remember Christmases past.

5. Read a Christmas story. Whether you would like a secular or religious story, pick one that your family can enjoy together. If you are the religious type read passages of the bible that detail the birth of Christ. If do not prefer religious stories, choose a story like the night before Christmas.

6. Serve Christmas dinner at a homeless shelter. What a great way for a family to come together and give back during Christmas. Your children will never forget spending Christmas with those who are less fortunate. They especially won't forget Mom and Dad giving of their time to do the same.

7. Choose a different Christmas Dinner. Tired of the same old Christmas dinner. Allow family members to vote on a dinner theme for Christmas. Maybe it is Italian night, Mexican night, or a theme that draws on your family heritage.

8. Attend a church service together. Churches in every community offer services for Christmas. Some may hold a candle light vigil, or a retelling of the Christmas story. There is usually something for ever denomination.

Hope these help you and your family find something new to do together at Christmas time.