five frugal Christmas traditions for family
It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is passed, Christmas is upon us, and the New Year is just around the corner.
Where does the time go? It seems like we just entered a new year!
Nevertheless, it’s that time of year. All the hustle and bustle of Christmas is in the air.
You may be wondering, what do I buy for that special person in my life?
Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. I enjoy the beautiful lights and decorations.
It has such a feeling of hope and peace in December. This time of the year just feels different to me than the rest of the year. I’m sure that’s why I enjoy it so much.
I so enjoy all the family gathering around the Christmas tree. Ready to share gifts with one another and, most importantly, share love with our friends and family.
I enjoy singing Silent Night and O Holy Night, just to name a few of the great classical Christmas songs.
These songs really make it feel like Christmas to me.
I am genuinely a traditional type of person at heart.
While we do our shopping and plan special dinners for our family and friends. While we decorate our homes with just the right Christmas décor, awaiting the arrival of Christmas celebrations, let us take the time to remember what Christmas is about. A special time to remember the birth of our Lord Jesus.
Sometimes we need permission just to slow down and smell the coffee, as the old saying goes.
I know as busy moms, slowing down and taking a breather isn’t something we feel we can easily do.
After all, something must always be done, like… yesterday.
However, I wanted to write this post to encourage us, moms, to remember what the holiday is about in this Christmas season.
It isn’t about running ourselves ragged, tired, or stressed. It’s about enjoying the gifts that God has given us and with whom he has given us.
I want to give some ideas of things our family has done to enjoy this time of year.
FAMILY TRADITIONS
Special Ornaments
As I said before, I am a traditional girl. I enjoy a beautiful Christmas tree, special lights. I enjoy gathering around and having a special meal with my family. However, through the years, my husband and I have created some fun traditions that our kids still enjoy as adults.
One of them is, we started getting each child a special Christmas ornament when my oldest son, now 26, was born. We have always tried to pick one out that reflected the personality and interest of each child.
My baby is eight years old, so we have been doing these special ornaments for 27 years. Our children have come to expect one each year. All our children, including our teens, get excited to see what new ornament they have received this year. I really enjoy having this tradition each year for our kids.
I desire to make each child feel special by taking time to hunt a special ornament just for them.
When my oldest daughter was married, she asked me if I would continue giving her ornaments. That made me feel really good to know she enjoyed this long-time tradition. I still give all the kids that are at home their ornament.
We have two kids married now and have three grandbabies. After the kids got married, I started getting an ornament per family except for new grandbabies. They get a special “babies first Christmas ornament.”
Special Singing Time
Since our family is a singing family and we have stairs. We always have the children wait upstairs until I get my camera out to record our Christmas. Then I have the kids all sing a Christmas song before coming downstairs.
It is something that we have done for years. So, when my son-in-law had Christmas with us at our home. He was a good sport and sat on the stairs with the family and participated in our tradition.
Special Christmas Decorations
We always enjoyed decorating our home for Christmas. I love the beautiful colors and sparkling lights. Where we live, it’s a tradition for the neighborhood. We have usually done some form of decorating inside and outside. Undoubtedly, our neighborhood puts up lights for the children in the community every year.
People all around come to drive through or walk through our streets to see all the decorations starting on Thanksgiving night. So, we have upped our game on decorations for the community. Our children look forward to decorating our house and yard each year.
Since getting our motorhome, we even put decorations in the front of the cab. This is always a lot of fun. Every year, we walk through the neighborhood for blowups, lights, songs, and nativities.
Some of these activities are a way to enjoy and do things together as a family. I hope these things will someday be passed down to our kid’s families.
Of course, hopefully, they will create some of their own.
FAMILY MEMORIES
Like most people, we have enjoyed many wonderful dinners with family and friends through the years.
However, I have realized the importance of doing more activities over buying so many toys, gizmos, and gadgets through the past few years.
With having eight children, I have accumulated many toys and things. While, of course, I still get my children gifts. We have toned down the amount of stuff that comes into our house.
My youngest kids are 12, 10, and 8. Even at that age, they are starting to learn the importance of making Christmas memories instead of having tons of stuff they will eventually stop playing with.
Christmas Activities
Christmas tree light walkthrough
Looking at Christmas lights and decorations
Going to museums
Last year we had Christmas on the beach. It so happened to be really cold when we went to Florida.
It was still a lot of fun, though, even with temps in the 50’s on the beach.
We got hotel suites for all our family, and we had Christmas weekend there. It was a lot of fun just being together and doing something different.
Also, every year my family and I watch classic Christmas movies such as It’s a Wonderful Life, The Nativity, Charlie Brown Christmas, and Polar Express.
Around Christmas, my kids start reminding us that it’s time to watch our movies.
I guess these should have been under traditions we do, but these are family activities as well.
BEFORE PRESENTS ARE OPEN
Now we come to the day everyone is waiting for. Of course, I already talked about singing and hanging out on our stairs before coming down.
After we have fun there, the children, “big ones and little ones,” gather around dad by the Christmas Tree.
Then my husband reads the Christmas story of Jesus to the children before opening presents.
Again, this is another tradition that we do, but I thought this topic needed a whole section by itself.
We want our children to remember why we celebrate Christmas, so we read the story before any gifts are given.
Maybe you wonder why we don’t just read the Bible. After all, that is where the story comes from.
My oldest son was given that book to him when he was one by his grandmother.
So, we have been reading the little book for years now. It’s just kind of special,l since we started reading when he was young. We have continued to read it to all our children ever since.
So, while this time of year can busy. It’s essential to have time to relax and have fun with your family this Christmas season.
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