We put our Christmas tree up last weekend. The kids helped out, and by “helped out” I mean dropped hooks on the ground and placed multiple ornaments on a single branch about two feet from the ground.
Trimming the tree is one of my favorite traditions in a holiday season filled with them. Most of the ornaments we own have a story behind them, whether it’s a souvenir from our travels, or a gift from a grandma, or a memento from our early years of dating. It’s fun strolling down memory lane as each ornament goes up on the tree.
Here are a few of our other holiday traditions:
- I make up a batch of fresh guacamole to eat while we decorate the tree. Not sure how this started, but green avocado and red tomatoes fit the Christmas theme.
- The kids each get to buy one ornament every year. This year, Ben picked Superman and Lucy chose My Little Pony. I use a Sharpie to write their name and the year on the ornament.
- We usually go on at least one Christmas music-enhanced Pajama Run to look at the twinkling holiday lights.
- We have a real pine advent wreath displayed prominently on our kitchen table to serve as a constant reminder of the reason for the season and all that we have to be grateful for.
Family traditions are important. They provide a source of identity and security, strengthen the family bond, connect generations, and create lasting memories. They also lift us out of the mundane ruts of everyday life, which is where Adultitis likes to fester.
If you’re looking to go on the offensive against Adultitis this year, look for an opportunity to resurrect an old family tradition, tweak one that’s gotten stale (ugly cookies, anyone?), or create a brand new one!
What is YOUR favorite holiday tradition? Let’s see how many awesome ideas we can collect!
It has been a tradition to set out the first little elf (grandma Mary always called them “Pixies”) snowman and manger scene on the first of December.
We always go & cut our Christmas tree. Now that both boys are out of the house, them come along with their girlfriends & cut their tree also and then its off to have some cocktails & lunch. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
So cool to have your tradition “grow” with you as your family does, Gail!
Our family tradion for Christmas eve dinner is banana split bar and everyone MUST wear big stuffed animal slippers, the bigger the better!
Love it! I think I might invite myself over :)
I love this idea. Maybe I can use your idea to tweak our New Years Eve tradition I started with my girls. We stay up to watch the ball drop of course, but we always have root beer floats on New Years Eve. They would love the slipper idea. P.S.I should note that alcoholism runs on both sides of our families so I began this tradition with my little girls to also take one more step towards ensuring that my girls don’t reach for alcohol on New Years Eve when they are adults. A fun, cozy tradition that maybe they will stay nostalgic about and New Years Eve just won’t seem the same without a rootbeer float!
Playing Christmas carols while decorating the tree.
We put up our real Christmas tree and decorate it while watching “White Christmas” and singing along with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye! A tradition we have had for many years with our children who are now 24 and 30!