New Traditions for a Newlywed's Christmas

You two are in love. It's been an incredible year with parties and the wedding you planned for months. You have moved into your married life and perhaps a new home. The holidays are coming, another magical time in your first year of marriage, or will it be? Most newlywed couples get through the first months of adjustment with loving joy and patience then the holidays begin and the trouble can start. Newlyweds question and even argue over, " Where do we go, who do we spend time with and what do we do at Christmas?"

Two becomes one - Merry First Christmas The first thing a newlywed couple needs to do is sit down and have a mature conversation together about how to spend the week of Christmas. It is advisable to do this at Thanksgiving time. Start your first tradition by deciding where to go if you must travel for Christmas. It is wise to take turns between your parents so that you, your spouse and the parents, siblings are all happy. If you all live a manageable driving distance away you can split the day between both homes or see one on Christmas Eve and the other part of the family on Christmas day. If you plan ahead the two of you are less likely to argue over your families during the time you should be rejoicing in your first Christmas as a married couple.

Tree A simple little tree full of decorations can cause a newlywed uproar. Compromise is the name of that carol you two. One can have the real or artificial tree while the other can drape the garland the way, "my family always does it." Next Christmas get the opposite kind of tree and let the garland fly in the other direction. No one gets hurt. Start a new tradition for just the two of you by either buying or making a Christmas ornament for you own tree. Over the years you will have a nice collection that the two of you have picked out or worked on together. Have them personalized with the year for a special touch. If your wedding is coming up think about placing a tree skirt on a round table at the reception and have all your guests sign it with a permanent ink or paint marker. It would be a special touch to your tree over the years ahead.

Togetherness Start the tradition of spending a quiet time together amidst holiday rush. Book a sleigh ride and carry a picnic along, take a car ride and enjoy light displays after a nice meal at a favorite restaurant or go out doors and decorate a tree with treats for the wildlife in your area. Simply spend some quiet time doing something you both enjoy and relax.

The Lord's Birthday Years ago after our engagement my fiance produced a bundle of packages for me to open on Christmas day. Each one held a candle or a brass candlestick. There were three of each. The candles were 3 colors. He placed the red candle in one base. This is for you. Next a green candle was for him. Solemnly he placed a pure white candle in a slightly taller candlestick. This is for Christ. Every year we will light these candles for the Lord's birthday. We will take time out during the festivities of Christmas day to honor His birthday. Later he grinned, when there are children we will make sure they have a candle too.

This has been a beautiful tradition for us. A lady I know bakes a birthday cake for Jesus every year. She and her husband along with the children sing happy birthday to Jesus for the start of their day together.

Newlyweds have a chance to form a strong foundation together. Christmas is such a special time of year and the both of you have waited to finally have a cherished spouse by your side. Plan out how to make it special for one another and find a tradition that will be close to your collective heart.