Tradition #1 Gift Exchange
After Thanksgiving we pick names from a hat and the only rule is that you can't buy the gift.
Tradition #2 Decorations
Our decorations are super simple and mostly fit in one room. Either the day after Thanksgiving or in the first week of December, the tree goes up with lights and all our collected ornaments [we each receive an ornament every year on Christmas Eve], our three wise men on the mantle, the wreath on the door, a strand of lights on the house, and stockings over the fireplace. This year we brought the ornamental, lighted trees inside to flank the fireplace and I love it.
We have three nativity sets we set out on the table in front of the fireplace and the kids reset them all month long. One new tradition is to remove the baby Jesus from our nativity sets and put him back Christmas day along with bringing him our gifts - service, self-improvement, anything we think Christ would want us to offer of ourselves.
Tradition #3 Christmas Countdown
My sister gave us this advent tree maybe seven or eight years ago and we've reused it every year. We fill each box with one or a few small treats and the kids take turns each night pulling their box. If there are enough, it's fun to see if they'll share.
Tradition #4 Christmas Stories
In addition to our own collection of Christmas books, we are always on the lookout for other good books to read by the tree, usually after dinner. We've found some great ones this year.
1 comment:
Hi Jess, Celeste here. Thanks for your comment! I hope things are going well for you with your husband doing a cards fellowship. (Especially since you're living our intended future life.) Love all your Christmas traditions--especially Christmas lights scavenger hunt and reading Christmas books as a family after dinner. Very fun!
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