Our Christmas Traditions

Many families have special Christmas Traditions that they do every year.  I thought I would share with you some of ours.

Every year we go to the Christmas Tree Farm to pick out and cit down our tree.  We have a family picture taken in front of the tree and put it up and decorate it as soon as we get home.


One of the fun things the children like to do is decorate a gingerbread house.  I buy one that is already put together and has the icing and candy already in the box.  The children look forward to this every year, and I don't have the stress of the walls falling down while we are trying to decorate.

A few years ago we went to the three gift rule for Christmas.  Each of our children get three gifts for Christmas symbolizing the three gifts that Jesus received.  Not only does it have symbolic meaning, but I think it helps the children appreciate the gifts they do get more.  I would much rather have them enjoy three gifts then rip open and never play with (or break within a day) a whole pile of toys they don't care about.  It also makes it easier for me when buying their gifts.  I just need to make sure they each get three.  They also get candy and a few small items for their stockings.

Every year we go to the candle light service on Christmas Eve (weather permitting.)  It is my most favorite church service of the entire year.  After we get home the children get to drink some hot cocoa, eat a cookie and head to bed.  Then Art and I get to wrap all the gifts and put them under the tree.

Breakfast on Christmas morning is bagels, muffins, and donuts.  That way the children can go and grab themselves something to eat when they get hungry.  When I used to make a big breakfast, it never got eaten because they were too busy playing with their toys. 

We do a traditional ham, mashed potatoes, corn , and rolls for the afternoon meal every year.  Supper is leftovers or sandwiches.

Dessert on Christmas Day is always a birthday cake for Jesus.  Christmas is Jesus' birthday so we make and decorate a birthday cake.  It is not incredibly fancy, just a simple cake decorated for Jesus.  It helps the children to remember why we have Christmas.