Christmas is the best time of year. And with that come lot of traditions. Each and every family has their own way of doing things, which makes us all positively unique. I love hearing all the different traditions for all different families, as it gives me new ideas for which to add to our family.
Growing up, I had the absolute best childhood. My parents always went out of their way to make each Christmas one to remember. Each year contained the same traditions, but was memorable in their own ways. Here are a few of my favorite traditions I appreciated as a child and new ones that we enjoy recently.
PJs All Day
Every year, my mom made sure to find the perfect pair of new pajamas, of which we opened as our one gift on Christmas Eve. This allowed us to snuggle eagerly in our PJs on the night Santa arrived. Plus, they made for perfect photos on Christmas morning.
Where’s Rudolph?
We have always spent every Christmas Eve at my maternal grandparents. It is always so much fun to enjoy a home-cooked steak dinner, laugh often, and spend time with family. When my brothers and I were just young tots, it was tradition to search for Rudolph in the nightly sky on the way home from the family festivities. I now know those blinking red dots flying through the stars were only airplanes, but the magic of finding Santa’s sleigh made us believe!
Ornament Ordeal
Each year, my mom would take my brothers and I to search for one new ornament of our choice. I particularly liked visiting the Hallmark store, as they always had the most intricate ornaments, such as Millennium Holiday Barbie, Glinda the Good Witch, and all the Disney Princesses. Now, when we decorate the tree, we have a small momentum of each Christmas as a child.
Life is Short- Eat Dessert First!
I have always had a love for baking, and the holiday season brings out that passion even more. I grew up indulging in my mom’s fudge, my late Oma’s jelly cookies, and lots of pies! My Oma’s German heritage has seemed deeply into our Christmas traditions, most specifically in the food, which is my fave!
Buddy the Elf, What’s Your Favorite Color?
I mean, what family DOESN’T watch Christmas movies! I like to start playing them November 1st! A few of my favorites: Elf, The Santa Clause (all 3 sequels), Christmas with the Kranks, and Four Christmases.
What Number Are We On?
One of my closest girlfriends has recently started a holiday bunco party which always turns into the best time with our spouses and friends! We all dress up in the most glamorous holiday outfits and enjoy cocktails and yummy food while making a classic game extra intense! It is always so much fun and we look forward to it every year.
All is Bright
For the past 27 years, the local park in Elizabethtown has hosted a drive-thru light show, with different displays sponsored by local businesses, churches, and organization. Known as Christmas in the Park, this attraction is visited by most locals here in our town. And it seems that each year the light shows get better! I have went each year as a child, and now my husband and I go every year as a couple, bringing our sweet puppy along to enjoy the light show with Christmas music blaring on the radio.
The Spirit of Giving
A recent tradition Josh and I started is shopping for the Angel Tree organization. We choose 1 boy and 1 girl and go shopping together as a couple for the children’s needs and wishes. It is a bonding experience for the both of us and is one of our most favorite things to do together. It is not only our duties as Christians, but as human beings to help those that are in need. And in some ways, it helps our own hearts more than it helps the children. A giving heart is the best one to have, and I am so thankful to share that with my husband.
As our little family starts to grow, I cannot wait to use these same traditions I enjoyed as a child and begin new ones together so that our children will remember them as their own traditions and create the joy of the holiday season.
J- Jesus first
O- Other’s second
Y- Yourself last
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