Christmas is a very special time of the year. It's a time filled with music, family, friends, and traditions. Many of us have our own set of traditions for celebrating the holiday. For our family, Christmas time begins on Thanksgiving Day. After the turkey has been gobbled up, along with the accompanying side dishes, everyone's name goes on a gift tag to be placed in a hat. As each person draws a name, we begin thinking about what to give the chosen person for Christmas. We started doing this as the family grew, since it was just too difficult to take each child shopping for every other child. The kids could really put some thought into what they would give as a gift, and it was possible to have two or three children at a time accompany us on a shopping expedition. The day after Thanksgiving, the Christmas music comes out and we put up the Christmas tree. Some people like trees with flashing lights; others have trees that revolve. I prefer a quiet tree, with no blinking lights. It is so much more peaceful, and much more conducive to sleeping under the Christmas tree.
Years ago, when the kids were little, some very dear friends told us about this tradition. It seemed like so much fun, we started doing it ourselves. The night of the last day of school before Christmas, the whole family would sleep under the Christmas tree. We would spend the evening at the dining room table with boxes of graham crackers, assorted candy, and royal icing, assembling individual "gingerbread" houses. And that night, the living room would be filled with sleeping bags, pillows, music, and lots of laughter as we camped out around the tree. We didn't get much sleep, but we sure had fun! As the kids got older, they continued the tradition, the teenagers laughing and playing games around the tree as Mom and Dad slept peacefully in our room.
Most of these traditions cost very little money, but these are the things that the kids enjoyed most. Making homemade cards for each other, baking cookies, caroling and stringing popcorn for the tree are little things that create lasting memories. Long after the presents are opened, and the Christmas candy is eaten, children will remember the special things you do as a family to celebrate the birth of our Lord. Take some time this year to make some memories. You may just find yourself sleeping under the Christmas tree!
No comments:
Post a Comment