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Traditions Make Memories Last A Lifetime Start planning some fun family activities for each day in December to make magical memories that will bring your family closer together and start traditions that will have your family talking about for years! The activities you choose can be simple yet meaningful and fun. They can be adapted for younger to older children. Use a dash of your Christmas spirit and a pinch of your Christmas creativity and you've got a winning recipe for a great time!
Grab your calendar and take a look at December. Check your local newspaper or university website to see what fun upcoming concerts, activities, or plays will be scheduled in your area. How about extended family parties or school activities? Take all of these things into consideration as you plan your holidays.
Hand out calendars to each member of your family and let them help plan the month with you.
IDEA 1:
Purchase or make an advent calendar.
We have many to choose from. Click on Advent Calendars to make your selection. Then December 1st everyone meets in the morning to sing a Christmas carol and open the first door on the calendar. Repeat this each day.
IDEA 2:
Decorate a candy house together. Either build your own out of gingerbread or take a variety of boxes and make a cardboard house. You can also do the traditional little graham cracker cottages. Mix up some frosting and use different cookies, candies, pretzels, etc...to adorn your candy home. There are ready made kits as well that you can use instead of your own creation. This is a kid pleaser activity that children of all ages enjoy!
IDEA 3:
Pop popcorn and watch a Christmas DVD together. There are many great older movies with a Christmas theme as well as some more modern movies that will put everyone in the Christmas Spirit.
IDEA 4:
Everyone don their PJ's except maybe Mom & Dad drive to your local doughnut shop or grocery store. Everyone gets to pick their favorite doughnut. Then drive around and look at the Christmas lights while you enjoy your pastries!
IDEA 5:
Christmas Around the World! Share customs and traditions of other countries with your children. You could even have a dinner where you sample various foods or desserts from other countries. Celebrate an actual custom from another country for example at our house we celebrate the Austrian custom of St. Nicholas Day on Dec. 6th. The kids put one shoe out before bed and magically it gets filled with yummy treats and a few fun surprises. Another thought is to have a pinata! Invite a few of your children's friends or cousins over and let them help partictipate. Sure to be festive!
IDEA 6:
Attend a live performance of the "Nutcracker" or rent the movie and watch it as a family. You could also read the children's book together before watching the movie so that little ones kind of have an idea of the story line.
IDEA 7:
Have some sugar cookies ready to frost. Let everyone frost and decorate them. (Or make a batch of fudge.) Bundle up warm and go Christmas caroling. Deliver cookies to neighbors or special friends. When they are all delivered, head back home and have hot chocolate with peppermint stick or candy cane stirrers. (If you don't have time to make goodies check out our Bella's fudge in Christmas Twigs Gourmet Fudge Shop.) Let little ones put a festive bow on the fancy tins of fudge and deliver them with a Christmas carol to their door. Sure to please anyone you give it to. It comes in a variety of holiday flavors. Beautifully packaged! You may want to try several!
IDEA 8:
Picnic under the tree! Spread a blanket or a tablecloth on the floor and serve a special dinner under the Christmas tree. Turn out the lights and eat by the light of the tree.
IDEA 9:
Go for a sleigh ride! Check around your area and find a place that gives old fashioned sleigh or buggy rides. You can also go sledding or tubing as a family for some fun in the snow. Don't forget the hot chocolate!
IDEA 10:
Go caroling and deliver a gift to your neighbors as a family! Ideas include:
*1. Fill a clear gift bag with small marshmallows and put a container of hot chocolate in it. Gift tag could read..."We wish you a merry Christmas! Have a cup of good cheer!"
*2. Deliver some eggnog and frosted, decorated homemade or store bought sugar cookies with a tag saying, "Hope you have a sweet Christmas!"
*3. Give a paperback book of Dicken's "Christmas Carol" and a gourmet tin of Bellas Confections gourmet fudge found in our gourmet fudge shop. The book is easy to find at most book shops around this time of year. The tag could read, "Have a Dickens of a Christmas"!
Be creative there are many clever ideas to show neighbors and friends you care! Browse through our selection of gifts and decor at Christmas Twigs for more ideas to remember loved ones!
IDEA 11:
Take a doll cradle or a picture of a manger. Have some pieces of straw or (little stars cut from cardstock or construction paper and put glitter on them). Each time someone in your family does something nice for someone else...they get to put a piece of straw in the manger or write their name on the star and put it on the picture of the manger. This will inspire lots of good will in your home throughout the holidays!
IDEA 12:
Make some yummy Christmas Hot Spice Drink and sit around the fireside or your lit Christmas tree and share your fond memories of Christmas's past or your favorite Christmas. Invite grandparents or friends or other your extended family to come and enjoy some time together! Take pictures and write down the memories...after Christmas compile the memories shared and give everyone a copy of the pictures and stories as a gift from your family! It will be treasured for years to come!
This recipe is a family favorite that has been handed down through the years!
***HOT SPICE DRINK ***
3 Cinnamon Sticks
2 t. whole cloves
5 quarts water
3 c. sugar
1 small can orange juice
1 small can lemonade or 1/2 cup lemon juice
Simmer at least 1/2 hour and serve hot!
This list of traditions should get you on your way to making Christmas a fun and memorable one for your family. Add a few of your own and there you go! Here is one more that is a treasured family tradition.
Santa Rides Again On New Year's Ever
Santa returns every year at our house on New Year's Eve after everyone has seen the New Year in and goes to bed. He leaves a small gift and some treats for everyone in the family. This helps to lift spirits after the Christmas holiday and Santa can correct any mistakes he may have made on his list!
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