It is the familiarity that we have with Christmas that makes it such a comforting time of the year. We think back to how excited we were as children, the sights, the smells, and happiness. The visits to relatives and our own home full of guests. It is happy memories like these that we all aspire to pass on to our own children and grandchildren.
Having some family traditions is a great way to help create these memories. Reliving them every year will quickly bring feelings of joy and happiness that will last a lifetime. Remember, the traditions you instill in your children, or grandchildren will likely be passed on by them to their own children and grandchildren. This will forge a link between generations that are passed on down through your family for years to come. The ten ideas we suggest are:
- Create a Christmas memory book.
- Create a reverse advent calendar.
- Put on a Christmas show.
- Do something special for someone you don’t know.
- Go to a Christmas light switch on.
- Go and choose your Christmas tree.
- Take a family photo on Christmas morning.
- Watch your favorite Christmas movie as a family.
- Dress up smart for the big day.
- Go for a Christmas walk.
Are you ready to create some memories? Then read on and see which ones you think your family and their families will love.
1. Create a Christmas memory book.
Sadly, the magic of Christmas starts to fade a little as children grow, and the time you have, while they are still young, is truly magical. So why not create a book full of Christmas memories that you can cherish forever? We suggest buying or making something quite large as you will want to add to it each year. Fill it with photographs, recipes, wish lists, and even photocopies of their letters to Santa. Not only can you treasure it once they have flown the nest, but you can continue to it again once you have grandchildren.
2. Create a reverse advent calendar.
We all know that Christmas is a time of excess, and most of us already own more things than we will ever need. The saying that ‘Christmas is all about giving’ remains true to this day. So why not create a reverse advent calendar and teach your children about giving to those less fortunate than themselves? Rather than take something hidden from the calendar, the idea is to do the opposite and add something. It can be large or small, but each member of the family should add something every day. You can then either donate your box of goodies to your favorite charity or sell them at a yard sale and gift them the money.
3. Put on a Christmas show.
Yes, that’s right, a show, a performance! Do you like singing? Dancing? Comedy? The rules are simple, there are no rules! Get creative and get the whole family to contribute something. Maybe Aunt Ethel can sing her favorite Christmas song while the children perform a dance routine they have choreographed themselves. What about a play with a small set, props, and lighting? Be as creative as you wish. Once the show is prepared, then set a time and date, print off some tickets and invite your friends and family for an evening of pure delight. Maybe you can even use it as an excuse to raise money for your favorite charity?
4. Do something special for someone you don’t know.
Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a loving family to support them. Whereas some people, especially those in the emergency services, work over Christmas. They do not get to spend this special time at home with their families as they are out there keeping us safe. What about your elderly neighbor who lives alone a few doors down the street? To truly evoke the spirit of Christmas, we all need to do our part and help those who either need it or deserve it. Why not invite that elderly neighbor to dinner, so they don’t have to spend Christmas day all alone? Why not bake some cookies and give them to your local firefighters who have to work on Christmas day? Do something special for someone you don’t know what could be more festive than that?
5. Go to a Christmas light switch on.
No matter where you live, town, or city, large or small, the Christmas light switch on is usually a big event. It is also more than just switching on some lights. There may be entertainment, market stalls selling Christmas gifts, as well as festive food and drink. Apart from all this, we believe that the most important aspect of these sorts of events is the feeling of community spirit it generates. Go along, have fun, but also go to wish your neighbors a Merry Christmas – even the ones you don’t know! Make an effort to go every year and be a part of your local community.
6. Go and choose your Christmas tree.
There are many advantages to having an artificial tree, but getting to go and choose one every December, is not one of them! Buying a tree should be treated as a special event rather than a task to be got out of the way. It is the start of Christmas for most families, and we like to think of it as when the countdown really begins. So, why not make it into a family adventure?
Pack a flask of something warm and some road snacks, and then sing along to your favorite Christmas songs on the drive there. The most important question, of course, is how to choose your tree? Well, we have a handy article to help you: How to Choose the Perfect Christmas Tree. The second most important is who gets to choose the tree. Ideally, it should be a family decision, and everyone should agree. Unfortunately, getting a family to agree on anything can be tricky, so why not take it in turns?
7. Take a family photo on Christmas morning.
One way to help retain all those happy memories from Christmas is to make sure you take lots of photos. Include photos of your home, the decorated tree, your festive feast, and your children unwrapping their presents. But what about taking a family photo early on the big day? No, not when you are all washed and presentable! We mean when you are still in your pajamas, and your hair is un-brushed. No makeup, no effort, and with discarded wrapping paper all over the floor. This photo will bring a smile to your face in the years to come. Of course, you can still take a family picture later on in the day, and we encourage you to do so, but doing so early helps to capture the natural joy of the moment. It would also be a great addition to your Christmas memory book.
8. Watch your favorite Christmas movie as a family.
We all love watching a Christmas movie, but how about starting a tradition where you gather to watch the same one every year? It is really quite a simple idea, yet also a compelling one. Pick a movie you all enjoy (there are plenty to choose from), and get together every year to watch it. What you will find is, rather than getting bored with the same film every year, both the movie and the event will become part of the excitement building up to the big day. If it becomes an annual event, it will anchor your family to the festive season and bring back happy memories from years gone by.
9. Dress up smart for the big day.
That’s right, make an effort. Of course, dressing up can mean different things to different people. It may be enough that the whole family wears Christmas jumpers, or it could mean everyone spending the day in their festive onesies. But why not go a little further? It is such a special and magical day, so why don’t you really go to town on your outfit? How about a tuxedo and evening gown? Or maybe even top hat and tails? Don’t forget, any children need to be a part of this too. How about shirts and little bow ties or dresses and sparkly headbands? Or you can ask them to decide how they would dress to go to tea with the Queen. Whatever you choose, try and make an effort so that it feels special.
10. Go for a Christmas walk.
You don’t necessarily have to do this on Christmas Day itself, but getting out into the fresh air at any time over the festive period is a joyful experience. If you are lucky enough to live close to somewhere with snow on the ground, then that will just add to the experience. There is nothing better than having a cold nose on the outside but a warm heart on the inside. Of course, you can only work with what you have and, if you happen to live in a place with warm sunshine at this time of the year, then that is okay too. Just being outside with your family is the only experience you are really looking for.