Create Warm Memories with Holiday Traditions: Homespun Pleasures
Long Remembered
I remember just a handful of the Christmas presents I received
as a child: My first Barbie doll, with her skinny black sequined
gown. My soft, pink Pat-a-Burp doll. The microscope I got in
second grade.
But I have many, many memories of our holiday traditions. The
lovely aromas of holiday ethnic food. Riding the South Shore
train into Chicago to visit the "real" Santa. Using a paintbrush
to decorate sugar cookies with colored frosting. Setting up our
manger scene.
Traditions add so much joy to the holidays. Traditions give a
child a sense of belonging and identity. They strengthen bonds
across generations and live long in memory.
A family rich in traditions has a powerful antidote to
commercialism. The more focused we are on pleasures that cost
little or nothing, the more all the gifts tend to stay in their
appropriate place.
Best of all, many traditions are perfectly suited to today's
busy families. Here are a few favorites:
SIMPLE PLEASURES
Light candles at dinnertime. If December mornings are dark where
you live, light candles at breakfast, too. (For safety, never
leave candles unattended.)
Take an evening stroll or car ride to look at Christmas lights.
Serve warm chocolate with candy canes for stirring.
Sing holiday songs together while cooking or cleaning up.
Leave your Christmas tree lights on, but turn off any star,
angel or other light at the tree's top. Then, turn out the
lights in the room, and lie back with your child to see all the
wonderful shadows on your ceiling. If you wish, carefully slide
your heads under the tree branches and look up for an
interesting view of lights and decorations. Use care as you
slide out again.
THE JOY OF GIVING
Let kids in on the excitement of finding and wrapping gifts for
those they love. Compliment them for being able to keep the
surprise a secret.
As a family, decide on a charity and make a donation. Our
favorite is Heifer International (www.heifer.org).
Take a plate of cookies or other holiday treats to a homeless
shelter or to a police or fire station.
Help children make or get free or inexpensive gifts for siblings
and other family members.
GRATITUDE
Give family members strips of paper in holiday colors. Let
everyone write or draw something they're thankful for on each
strip. Link the strips into a chain and hang as a decoration.
Write thank-you cards to each other, sharing what you appreciate
about each member of the family. Decide together when to open
them.
CONNECTING GENERATIONS
Interview grandparents, aunts, and uncles about holiday
traditions they remember from their childhood. Adopt any
traditions that fit your family.
Ask relatives for holiday recipes that have been handed down in
your family. Or, search the Internet for holiday recipes related
to your ethnic origins.
As a gift to a family member, tape an interview with a favorite
elderly relative about their childhood memories. You may want to
give a transcript of the tape as well.
NEW YEAR'S EVE
If your kids are little, it works fine to celebrate the new year
at 9 PM instead of midnight!
Pull out photos and videos from the past year and share your
memories.
Keep a box of inexpensive noisemakers and party hats that you
can re-use each year. The kids will enjoy pulling out their old
favorites.
NEW YEAR'S DAY
Decorate a box in which you'll put photos, ticket stubs and
other souveniers of the coming year. Talk about your hopes and
wishes.
Let each family member put their intentions for the coming year
into individual envelopes. Mimi Doe, author of Busy But
Balanced, suggests sealing the envelopes with wax -- a nice,
magical touch.
(c) Norma Schmidt, LLC