Preserve Your Holiday Memories with a Christmas Time Capsule

A Christmas time capsule is a fun and different way to share holiday memories through the years.

How to package your Christmas Time Capsule:

If you're going to bury your time capsule, put it in a weather safe non-biodegradable container like a small plastic storage bin. Try painting a shoe box to look like a fruitcake or put it in a shirt box and gift wrap it with some strong tape for the inner box or if you're storing it inside.

Where to bury and when to open:

If you're not doing a progressive time capsule, now is the time to choose the year to open your Christmas time capsule. In addition to the year it will be when you open it, you should also choose a specific opening day. You may want to choose Christmas or Christmas Eve, or make the opening an event in its own right by selecting a day in December or late November. Opening the time capsule before Christmas day itself can give you a much needed burst of Christmas cheer in the work days leading up to Christmas day.

Those of you with a backyard can choose the traditional route and bury your time capsule. Just be sure the spot you choose is free of underground pipes and wires before you dig. Also, put it in a place where dogs are unlikely to dig it up. Even if you don't have one now, who knows if you will on opening day?

If you don't have a backyard, you can store your time capsule with your other holiday decorations. You may want to do this even if you have a backyard as a safety measure or if you plan on moving before it's time to open the capsule.

Progressive Time Capsules:

Every year you can open your Christmas time capsule and add something from the current year to it. Try to make it something unique. If you reused your Christmas decorations from the year you made the time capsule, there's no need to add a bauble this year. Instead, take a picture of the current Christmas tree and add it to the capsule.

Ideally, you should set a date for when the time capsule goes back into the ground or storage. While you could add items throughout the year, most of the fun of a time capsule comes from not being able to access it freely. Unless your family celebrates Three Kings Day, I would recommend choosing a date between December 26 and January 2^nd.

What to include:

Ornaments

Whether you bought a new set of ornaments this year or not, consider adding one to your time capsule. If you make your own ornaments this year, make an extra ornament for the time capsule. Snip a piece of garland to add or even retire a tree topper to the time capsule.

Pictures

You can add pictures of anything Christmas related here, but I have a few must take suggestions. Your first priority should be to take pictures of the family and friends you share Christmas with this year. Be sure to include the family pets. You can give them a new Christmas toy or look out for the opportunity to have your pet's picture taken with Santa at a local pet store. Then take a picture of your Christmas tree and any other traditional family decorations. Take at least one picture from your Christmas feast or parties you attend. Pictures of gifts received this year will make great reminders and conversation points later on.

Christmas Cards

While you could store all of the Christmas cards you receive in your time capsule, I think it's more poignant to pick one or two favorites. Choose the card or cards that had the biggest impact on you that year. Choose the funniest or most endearing.

Family Letters

Letters in a time capsule don't have to be complex. Just give your family members a piece of paper with a few simple questions and prompts like: What was the best part of Christmas this year? List one gift you received this year (it doesn't have to be your favorite). Which dish did you like best at Christmas dinner?

Make sure you include a space for the writer's name, or time capsule opening day could become handwriting analysis day.

Odds and Ends

If you go to a holiday concert or play, save a program and ticket stub for your Christmas time capsule. Use tinsel or wrapping paper as filler and cushioning for your items. Add a branch from a live Christmas tree or wreath, but be sure to let it dry and wrap it in plastic wrap and paper as a precaution against tree sap. Put in a handwritten recipe for your favorite holiday dish or a new dish you tried that year. Get creative with your additions. As long as it will fit in your time capsule, won't spoil or rot, and reminds you of Christmas you can put anything in it.