Christmas Traditions

Probably the most important part to me about Christmas are the traditions that we create as a family.  As a kid, we had traditions of which presents we opened when and where we went for dinner.  As I now have a family of my own, I feel that traditions are important to instill within my children.  It sounds silly, but I think children thrive on tradition - it creates an expectation and a sense of routine, but it also creates magic and spirit!

Some of our Christmas Traditions include...

St. Nicholas Day - This is actually a holiday that many people do not celebrate, but it is one that I brought from my childhood and carry on with my family.  I even celebrated it with my college roommates!  The way in which my family celebrates is that on the evening of December 5th, the children write their letters to Santa and place them in their stocking.  Then the children wake up on December 6th, with their stockings filled with oranges and small gifts (usually like stationary or a small nutcracker or toy).  They also learn that St. Nicholas came and is personally delivering their letters to Santa Claus.  It was something that I remember as a child being so excited for!  My children also love this feast day, too, as it generates that Christmas Spirit!

Christmas Lights - I know many people take family trips to look at lights, but we take it one step further...Usually the night of the last day of school, we all come home, get into our jammies and pile into the car.  We drive to the local Coldstone Creamery and have Ice Cream for dinner.  Yes - I know it is not your typical holiday meal, but that is what makes it exciting and extraordinary!  Then we get back into the car and drive around to look at lights.  We have a few favorite neighborhoods - including one that sells popcorn and cocoa!  Each year we find new light spectacles to add to our list, too!  Gary likes to take notes...someday...





Rudolph Monopoly - This is a tradition we started just this year!  Following Christmas Children's Mass, we all come home and enjoy an appetizer dinner while playing Rudolph Monopoly.  As the boys get older, it is fun to adjust our traditions a bit.  It used to be just an appetizer dinner, but now we have added monopoly.  It was great fun and PJ was the first annual winner!

Those are just some of our major traditions.  Of course we do the classic traditions of cutting down a Christmas Tree, decorating our home in lots of lights, attending Christmas Children's Mass on Christmas Eve, and baking Christmas cookies.  But it is always fun to do something a little different and exciting!

What traditions do you have???