Christmas is such a magical season – the Christmas tree, the lights. The traditional songs and hot chocolate. Santa bringing presents. And you can’t forget all of the delicious food! It can be easy to get caught up in the commercialism and the traditions, and look right past the true meaning of Christmas.
What if we all took a step back and started some new traditions? New traditions that remind us of the true meaning of Christmas – Jesus! What better way to celebrate Jesus’ birth than to show His love to others?
Below, you’ll find 6 traditions that you could start this year to remind your kids of the true meaning of Christmas. (And I just bet that they’ll touch your heart, as parents, too.)
Tradition 1: Volunteer for Those Less Fortunate
I have a distinct memory as a child of volunteering around a holiday. I don’t remember if it was Thanksgiving or Christmas. I don’t remember where exactly we were or what exactly we were even doing. I’m not sure how old I was. But I remember trying to hide the fact that I was crying. It was COLD outside, and we were serving a meal outdoors. There were people (even kids like me) that didn’t have heavy coats or gloves to wear. And they were there because they were hungry and didn’t have a hot meal on the table every night at home like I did. Some of them didn’t even have a home. This experience offered a perspective that I wasn’t exposed to very often, and opened my eyes to how blessed I really was. I’m still emotional to this day writing about.
Get in touch with local food pantries, homeless shelters and other family service organizations. There are many, many opportunities to give your time to those in need.
Tradition 2: Donate Toys
TOYS! That’s what Christmas is all about, right? Well… hardly. But we can all appreciate seeing a child’s face light up when they get that new fun toy they’ve been admiring on TV. Christmastime is a great time to teach kids the joy of not only receiving toys, but giving toys to others. It’s a perfect time to clean out the play room, and for kids to pick gently used toys to donate to other kids who may not have as many. There are lots of local organizations that will accept these like-new toys for other families to enjoy.
It’s also a nice sentiment to encourage your kids to donate a NEW toy. This can either be purchased from money in their piggy bank, or can be given as part of their own Christmas gift allotment for the year. Toys for Tots is a more widely-known organization that accepts new toys, but there are many local options as well.
If you’re having trouble finding a place to donate, find a Facebook group in your community, and ask the question. There are sure to be many responses and opportunities.
Tradition 3: Spread Random Acts of Kindness
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. If you purchase products linked in this post, I will make a small commission from Amazon at no additional cost to you. All thoughts are my own.
We have all seen the Elf on a Shelf, which is a fun way to encourage kids to be good. (Elfie is watching!) But just recently I saw a more heartfelt way to encourage kindness throughout the season. It is called The Giving Manger. When you do something kind, you add a piece of straw to the manger. Then on Christmas day, you lay baby Jesus in the manger as a reminder of the ultimate gift of love. (How sweet is that?!) The set comes with the following items:
Tradition 4: Remember the Elderly
We all know things get harder as we get older. Those over the age of 70 feel that in a very real way – especially around the holidays. Have a fun day making cookies and pass them out at a nursing home. Take the time to talk to the residents and hear about their Christmas traditions when they were young.
You can also make fruit baskets or other treats for those in your neighborhood that have trouble getting out of the house. Reminding kids to love and respect the elderly is heart-warming – sometimes as much for the kids as it is for the adults.
Tradition 5: Provide Company for the Lonely
Christmas is a hard day to be alone. Whether family members have passed, are out of town or there is a broken relationship, it all hurts. If you know of someone who will be spending the holiday alone, put yourself in their shoes. Consider inviting them to your holiday event.
Having time with your own family is special and might not happen often, so inviting someone to join might not be at the top of your list. That said, consider inviting them for even a small portion of the day. Alternatively, invite them to one of your Christmas celebrations that may not be on Christmas day, but is still a chance to celebrate together.
Tradition 6: Read Luke 1 – 24 on December 1 – 24
The 24 chapters of Luke in the Bible align so nicely with the 24 days before Christmas in December. Starting December 1, read one chapter of Luke per day. When you wake up on Christmas morning, you will have read about the life of Jesus, and be in full celebration mode!
My 4-month-old isn’t quite old enough to appreciate this yet, but once the kiddos are big enough, designating a special time (like right before dinner or right before bed) makes this a tradition the whole family can look forward to.
This Christmas, no matter what traditions you choose to practice, I hope you feel the love of Jesus in your heart. More than that, I hope you spread that love to others who may need an extra boost. It’s a beautiful time to celebrate. Start traditions with your family today that will change hearts and make memories for years to come.