Christmas Traditions

I love tradition.
Maybe it is the scheduler in me, or the childhood memories I have of Christmas growing up. Or possibly it's the desire to create special times for my children to remember...
Whatever the reason, I love tradition!

What is a tradition?
The dictionary describes tradition as 'an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior'. Traditions can be as simple as always putting a tree up or as detailed as always eating the same menu on the same day at the same time with the same people.

Why do I think traditions are important?
I think they are a wonderful way of creating memories and making the season (whatever that time of year may be) seem special.Traditions make your family different that other families. I think they also strengthen your family by encouraging continuity and connectedness.

You probably have more traditions in your family than you realize. I will share a few of our Christmas traditions with you in hopes that you will share what you do with me.

• We buy a real tree to decorate. This year we went on December 1st. I think I like that day. It might become a new tradition.
  
• We open an Advent Box each December day leading up to Christmas. Inside each little box is a piece of paper with a special activity (to do that day) written on it.
  
• We bake (and decorate) cookies, party mix, and snacks. We love to share them with our friends and neighbors.
  
• My Grandma, who is from Norway, use to make Norwegian cookies every Christmas. She is unable to anymore so we have taken on the job. We always make Rosettes and Krumkake, some years we also make Sanbakkels and Kransekak.
• We also make easy Gingerbread Houses and Igloos out of sugar cubes (multiple times throughout December and January).
• We spend Christmas Eve with my husbands family and Christmas Day night with my family. We do our family Christmas, Christmas Day morning.
• Christmas Eve, right before bed, our children each open one gift. It is always a new pair of PJ's. They wear them to bed and are allowed to wear their new PJ's all Christmas day.
• The children open their Stockings up first, then we open our gifts from each other. Stocking gifts always include socks, underwear, CD, gum, candy, and other misc little items.
  
• Christmas Day Breakfast consists of Homemade Cinnamon Rolls, Sausage Egg Casserole, Fresh Fruit and Hot Cocoa, Milk and Juice. My Father-in-law comes over and eats with us.
  
• This year my children drew each others names and bought a 'Secret Santa' gift for each other. I hope to continue this and elaborate on it as they grow into doing little things for each other all month.