Since I've been married, I have found myself gravitating toward things that could potentially become part of a family tradition. I'm stockpiling these Christmas season ideas already, and just want them in one place, so I thought I'd share what I'm thinking through and how I want to use them. This is so random.
- Hope Ornament: I saw an ornament at Hallmark that I want to create myself. The basic idea is that you have everyone write a wish on one side of a decorative strip of paper, roll them up and put them inside a clear ornament. What I want to do: When we gather to decorate our tree the following year, we will start by opening that ornament and reading what each person wrote. We'll write more hopes and prayers for the next year on Christmas Eve.
- Twelve Days of Christmas Salad Plates (Pottery Barn): Dave really likes to have the table set for Christmas from the day after Thanksgiving to New Year's Day. I'm thinking of something fun that involves getting the entire table set in the amount of time it takes the family to sing, "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Could be disaster. Could be memories.
- Stockings: I want to do something different with stockings. Maybe each person in the family will pull the name of another family member and they need to put something in that person's stocking for each week in Advent (four weeks, each with a theme and goal). We could open the gifts and light a candle on the Advent wreath each Sunday night.
- Giving and Serving: Still working this one out. Wondering about giving each family member a choice to give up one of their potential gifts in order to shop for one gift that will be given to someone less fortunate. I don't know how to make that feel more like a real choice and sacrifice.
What about you? Thinking through any Christmas traditions? Already have good ones?
6 comments:
awe so cute!! what if you gave up one of the gifts you really wanted that you received on christmas day! that would be a real sacrifice!
but i love all these ideas. totally cute. maybe you need a yearly movie...made in the 80's...with welsh people...
Wonder if they still sell these hope ornaments? Love this idea
After 35 years of marriage and stages of parenting I'd have to say that traditions sometimes have to evolve and change and that doesn't make them less meaningful. Or maybe I'm just rationalizing by inability to keep traditions going forever.
We used to have tons of amazing traditions on holidays... But then my brother moved to Arizona, my grandparents passed away, and next our cousins started doing all their holidays with the other side of the family.
Those traditions now just make me super super sad and I miss everyone...I suppose it's time for new traditions.....
We were thinking of giving up gifts and getting ones out of the samaritan's purse catalog... like giving a sheep..etc....we did it last year but we couldn't talk Andy's fam into doing it with us....
I'm a particular fan of Samaritan's Purse and giving up gifts to help those in need. Definitely have to get everyone's cooperation up front, though. I gave my oldest daughter gifts from the SP catalog along with small token gifts one year but she's not walking with the Lord and was offended. She felt that SP bribed people to turn to the gospel in order to get aid. That makes no sense to me since believers know there's no life change without willing repentance. Made for a kinda miserable Christmas morning (not a tradition I want to repeat.)
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