Start a Creative Tradition with Your Family This Holiday Season

Why make traditions? It's a great way for your family to celebrate the unique fellowship and bonds that you have. For young families starting out, or for families with older children, Christmas traditions can help to unite your family and give you something to look forward to each year. Also, in times like these it is comforting to have at least one thing that you can expect and count on.

One holiday tradition that you might start with your family is to have a tradition dealing with your heritage. For example, if you are of Austrian or German descent, you may decide to decorate the tree with candles, ornaments and candies. The tradition of decorating the tree is fairly universal by now, however to use candles and candy may make your families tree decorating and Christmas celebration even more special.

Another tradition you might consider incorporating into your family's celebration is a tradition that will certainly sweeten the holiday season. Spend a night making fudge as a family, and then wrapping it up to disperse as Christmas presents. You're family will have fun working together and also get to take care of your friends and family.
Another Christmas Tradition is to have a family Christmas program. Each family member is responsible for contributing a song, poem, reading or artistic presentation of something that is either inspirational or encouraging. It may be something the family member themselves have created or just something they want to share. This tradition gives everyone a chance to contribute and share as well as be encouraged by their family.

Another Christmas Tradition is to have a White Elephant Exchange. This fun exchange of gifts is cheap and fun. It is also a chance to see how creative your family and friends are. A White Elephant Gift should be something you already have, but that the receiver would be able to laugh at. For example, if you are giving to the one person in your family who is always late, you may want to give them your watch. Or if you are trying to get a white elephant gift for someone who has a fun personality you may want to consider giving a feather boa or some other random gift. This is a great way for a family to unite with laughter and love.

Have a neighborhood open house. This is one tradition you'll be glad you started! By inviting the neighbors over for an evening of appetizers, desserts and even a round of White Elephant gifts, you'll build community and security in your neighborhood. This is a great way to meet the neighbors and strengthen those ties. You'll also build relationships and teach your children that you value community. Just stick an invitation in the mailboxes of your neighbors and ask to RSVP as well as bring a White Elephant gift.

Another great holiday tradition is to make your own advent calendar. Or, make an advent calendar for your children! This is a tradition that requires an early start. Throughout the summer and fall, collect small gifts (you'll need twenty four). Then, using a poster board, decorate it with a Christmas theme. This is something the kids will love getting involved with. You can use wrapping paper, ribbons and bows, or whatever decorations you prefer. It may be cut out in the shape of a fireplace or cut out the poster board so that it is shaped like a Christmas tree. You'll then wrap the twenty four little gifts. The gifts can then be fastened on to the poster board using ribbon with a visible number attached to them (1-24). The last step is to unwrap a little prize for each day in the month of December until Christmas