Being part of a family inevitably means there will be traditions passed down through the years. Many people share specific Christmas traditions with their family that they learned from their own families while growing up.
But maybe you're just beginning your Christmas holidays as a family and you don't really have any traditions of your own yet!
There are many popular traditions that you can pick from and make them a part of your own holiday traditions.
Home made Christmas cards
One favourite holiday tradition in many families is making Christmas cards to send out. You can choose to send cards personalised with your own family photo and a poem or a few lines telling the recipient what they mean to you. If you don't have the time to make Christmas cards, you can get store bought ones and add your own poems to them, or pop in a letter or photos.
Letters to Santa
Young children can write letters to Santa and take it to the local post office. The Royal Mail will make sure Santa gets the letter and if you include a stamp and your full address, your child will also get a reply. Santa's postal address for Xmas 2014 is:
Santa/Father Christmas,
Santa’s Grotto,
Reindeerland,
XM4 5HQ
(More details at http://www.royalmail.com/letters-to-santa.)
Decorating the Christmas tree
Kids can also get involved in decorating the Christmas tree. If you have ornaments from the family, or even ones from life before kids (remember that?!), as you hang the ornaments on the tree, you can share bits of your past with your child or talk about the meaning of Christmas.
Putting up the tree can become a time of sharing conversation that children look forward to. You can start a tradition of listening to certain songs as you put up the tree. For example, one family listened to Bing Crosby Christmas songs while putting up their tree over forty years ago, then their grown children kept up the tradition, and later passed it on to their children.
Christmas Lights and Pantomimes
Most cities have Christmas parades or Christmas light ceremonies that you and your family can attend. Most UK theatres put on an annual pantomime (oh yes they do), usually based on classic fairy tales. Whilst many bigger pantos feature familiar TV stars, this doesn't necessarily make for a good panto, especially for little ones who have no idea who these people are! So, don't be afraid to go to a no-name panto, or even one out on by the local am dram group in the village hall. Some theatres present Christmas show instead based on childrens' classic, and often these are far more engaging for younger ones, who often find the sheer noise and excitement of a 'star' pantomime overwhelming.
Christmas Eve can seem endless for young kids, so make it something special. The night before, begin the tradition of reading a Christmas book, sharing the Christmas story, or watching a much loved Christmas movie together.
Whatever traditions you decide to incorporate into your family, you'll be glad you did. It'll make the holidays more meaningful and give everyone something to look forward to.
But maybe you're just beginning your Christmas holidays as a family and you don't really have any traditions of your own yet!
There are many popular traditions that you can pick from and make them a part of your own holiday traditions.
Home made Christmas cards
One favourite holiday tradition in many families is making Christmas cards to send out. You can choose to send cards personalised with your own family photo and a poem or a few lines telling the recipient what they mean to you. If you don't have the time to make Christmas cards, you can get store bought ones and add your own poems to them, or pop in a letter or photos.
Letters to Santa
Young children can write letters to Santa and take it to the local post office. The Royal Mail will make sure Santa gets the letter and if you include a stamp and your full address, your child will also get a reply. Santa's postal address for Xmas 2014 is:
Santa/Father Christmas,
Santa’s Grotto,
Reindeerland,
XM4 5HQ
(More details at http://www.royalmail.com/letters-to-santa.)
Decorating the Christmas tree
Kids can also get involved in decorating the Christmas tree. If you have ornaments from the family, or even ones from life before kids (remember that?!), as you hang the ornaments on the tree, you can share bits of your past with your child or talk about the meaning of Christmas.
Putting up the tree can become a time of sharing conversation that children look forward to. You can start a tradition of listening to certain songs as you put up the tree. For example, one family listened to Bing Crosby Christmas songs while putting up their tree over forty years ago, then their grown children kept up the tradition, and later passed it on to their children.
Christmas Lights and Pantomimes
Most cities have Christmas parades or Christmas light ceremonies that you and your family can attend. Most UK theatres put on an annual pantomime (oh yes they do), usually based on classic fairy tales. Whilst many bigger pantos feature familiar TV stars, this doesn't necessarily make for a good panto, especially for little ones who have no idea who these people are! So, don't be afraid to go to a no-name panto, or even one out on by the local am dram group in the village hall. Some theatres present Christmas show instead based on childrens' classic, and often these are far more engaging for younger ones, who often find the sheer noise and excitement of a 'star' pantomime overwhelming.
Christmas Eve can seem endless for young kids, so make it something special. The night before, begin the tradition of reading a Christmas book, sharing the Christmas story, or watching a much loved Christmas movie together.
Whatever traditions you decide to incorporate into your family, you'll be glad you did. It'll make the holidays more meaningful and give everyone something to look forward to.
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