Christmas traditions are many; however, we say some of the very best Christmas traditions start with your own family.
Low down on Christmas traditions and folklore…
The most common Christmas traditions involve gift exchanges, Christmas trees, Santa Clause, Christmas stockings, Christmas carols and of course, Christmas dinner! (One of Laura’s favorites!)
Aside from the super Christmas story about the birth of Jesus, what are really special are memories of Christmas with their families that people hold in their hearts and treasure forever!
Family Christmas traditions can be as simple as having home-made hot cocoa by the fireplace on Christmas morning or as unusual as taking the family on sleigh rides (or even hay rides) in the late afternoon.
What makes the activity a Christmas tradition is doing the same thing year after year.
Create your own Christmas traditions!
Creating your own, unique family Christmas traditions is limited only by your own imagination! Here are some examples of some incredible family Christmas traditions that have been carried on from one generation to the next in families…
Traditional Christmas dinner in the United States generally consists of turkey and dressing, maybe some ham, lots of veggie dishes, home-made breads, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. However, some families do something a bit different year after year which makes family Christmas traditions.
For instance, some may serve cinnamon apple rings in place of cranberry sauce, or banana splits instead of pumpkin pie. The traditional turkey may be replaced with a nice rib roast, or even with steak and seafood. Any of these, or something altogether different, can be wonderful family Christmas traditions.
If you live in snow country and often have white Christmases, you may skip Christmas dinner altogether and take a nice picnic lunch with you for an afternoon of sledding with the family – a fabulous and truly original Christmas tradition.
Did You Know…In some parts of Italy it is a Christmas tradition to serve fish dishes for a Christmas banquet with Capitone (eel) being the primary entree.
Making Christmas crafts together, such as ornaments for the Christmas tree, or baking and decorating Christmas cookies are very memorable and special Christmas traditions.
Some families use Christmas traditions as a way to bring the true spirit of Christmas back to life. For instance, rather than having a family gift exchange, they may donate money to a charity, serve Christmas dinner to the needy, or dress up as Santa, Mrs. Claus and Santa’s elves and take gifts to an orphanage, a hospital or a nursing home.
With a little thought and a lot of love, you are sure to originate your very own fun and exciting Christmas traditions!
