I hope you enjoyed my Thanksgiving traditions post.
This really is the most wonderful time of year!
I love the crisp cool air, the bright colored leaves are still turning and falling. My neighborhood being lit up with festive lights.
This can be a busy and frenetic time of year. Here are some traditions that help me actually slow down, take time to be intentional and notice the magic and beauty in life teeming all around me.
- FINDING JESUS
As we unpack the boxes of Christmas decorations to deck these halls one very simple tradition is that in setting up the creche, the person who unwraps the baby Jesus gets to hide him. The general rule is that he has to be hidden in plain sight. Whoever finds the baby Jesus then quietly re-hides him. This sets up a sense of expectation. It’s a very simple way to remind us that Jesus is always hidden away in our hearts, that He is always around us waiting to be found. It’s a simple little tradition that packs a big punch. Often I have seen my son smile for no reason when he either notices that his hiding place has been found out or that he has found Jesus! Jesus has been on the ceiling fan, in the Christmas tree, perched on shelf or in a corner. He has been high and low and everywhere in between. My son is 13 now, he still isn’t tired of this hide and seek.
- CHRISTMAS CARDS
This one is a BIG production. My mom is actually the most excited about it. I don’t get to this every year but it is fun and creative. I only make 50. I make rather elaborate handmade cards. It usually takes up the entire dining room table and I start right after Thanksgiving. If you are the creative type, why not use this as an outlet? I know very few people send Christmas cards any longer, so this is a more artistic way to put your craft out into the world.
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- ADVENT CALENDAR with a sort of TO DO list
I found this Advent calendar at Starbucks many years ago. The back is magnetic chalkboard and those are tins. Inside each tin I have placed two tiny pieces of paper. One is a random act of kindness. Depending on the ages in your family, you can search on google or pinterest for “25 days of Kindness Calendar.” There are many free ones, some to purchase. Why not do it ALL YEAR?! In any event, a few years ago I took the time to clip out all 25 and fit one inside each tin. The second thing in there is the daily dare from Ann Voskamp’s Joy Dare calendar. It is a free resource and something I try to stick to all year to keep me searching for the lovely things in life. By putting it in the advent calendar, it’s something I can share with my son. Of course I also put in a candy treat, just so my son will even open it! The tins are NEVER in order, which again, keep us searching for each day’s tin.
- IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
It isn’t Christmas without an annual viewing of the 1946 classic It’s a Wonderful Life. There is a beautiful old time vintage theater where I live that had an annual showing but I don’t see it on their calendar this year. It’s a beautiful restored venue with huge red velvet curtains, a very ornate ceiling and vintage marquis and tiny ticket booth in front. This year, it looks like we’ll be watching from the comfort of our own home.
- EPIPHANY AND A DEEP HONORING BREATH
All the halls stay decked until January 6, the day of Epiphany or Day of Kings. Did you know that THESE are the 12 days of Christmas? The 12 days after Christmas. No way is ANY of it coming down before that. I love all the decorations and lights all over the neighborhood and I am in absolutely no hurry to take any of it down. So, when we do take it all down and pack it away. We hold hands, circle all the boxes and take some deep conscious breaths together. We consciously honor all the time we spent together, all the gifts, all the giving, all the food, wonder and awe. We give the season space and time to rest in our memories and hearts.
Do you have any unique traditions? What do you think of these? Are there any that resonated with you? Are there any that you think you might try this year? Please let me know in the comments below-I LOVE hearing from you.
I wish you a season full of wonder, peace and love.
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I had a quick question that I’d like to ask if you don’t mind.
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Hmmmm, tough one! I’m holding myself to writing consistently. Even if the only thing I do is respond to comments! I respectfully disagree that the first 10-15 minutes are “wasted.” They are your thoughts. Perhaps fodder for something later. Try deep breathing and asking for an intentional topic and inspiration and go with THAT! Happy 2022!! WRITE on!! haha
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Love your traditions. Wish I would have known a couple of these when my kids and grandsons were little. My tradition is putting up the tree and decoration the day after Thanksgiving and watching It’s a wonderful Life while decorating, along with several other times during the season. My favorite movie! Driving around looking at all the Christmas lights with thermoses (sp?) of hot cocoa. Making family recipe of enchiladas and sometimes tamales, sweet corn cake for Christmas Eve dinner in Honor of my father’s birthday. Going to church on Christmas eve.
Ha! Deb-I should have been a little more specific and said “Watching It’s A Wonderful Life with my soul sister!” Well, I’m taking you to SF to see Van Gogh this year. I LOVE your celebration tree and how how you change it every couple of weeks as each holiday from Oct to New Year heads our way!