Christmas Traditions

Here are a few of our family traditions.... (I realize some are not traditions since we haven't done them long, but, our family seems to enjoy them!)

One of the things that we do, starting on December 1st, is read at least one book every evening about Christmas. It helps us keep focused on what Christmas is all about. Of course, all are centered on Christ's birth and steer away from Santa Claus. One of my favorites is "One Wintry Night" by Ruth Bell Graham.

Another family favorite is "What God Wants for Christmas".

On the night that we read "The Legend of the Candy Cane", we decorate a small tree with little candy canes. That way, whenever we see the "Candy Cane Tree", it reminds us of Christ's love for us.

(We have a lot of Christmas books that we share together and in a future email, I will list them all, for those of you interested.)

Then, on Christmas morning, before we do ANYTHING else, we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and read the Christmas story.... We did this when I was a child and I have read it since I was old enough to read, and now that I have my own family, and Zach is old enough to read, he gets to read the Christmas Story. It is about the most precious thing you've ever heard, a child reading the Christmas Story for the first time. Then we all get to see what Santa brought and rummage the stockings.

What kinds of Christmas traditions does your family celebrate?