How About an Old Fashioned Christmas this Year?
Wouldn’t it be nice to get really excited again about the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year”?
I hear so many people say they really don’t enjoy Christmas because it’s so stressful. This is a darn shame. This has unfortunately been slowly happening to me over the last few years and I’ve been telling myself every year that this Christmas will be more relaxed and I will spend more time giving instead getting caught up in the rush of it all. Yeah you know what I’m talking about. But then it comes and goes and I flop onto the couch after the festivities are over and say “Oh crud I did it again”.
My most vivid memory of my Mom’s Christmases we’re waking up in the morning to the smell of sauteeing onions, celery, sage and butter. All day long I was tantalized by the big bowl of traditional turkey stuffing sitting on the counter. Fresh pumpkin pie and my favorite, strawberry rhubarb. The old hi-fi stereo blaring Christmas carols by none other than old blue eyes himself (Frank Sinatra) and Dean Martin. (I still love Deano to this day). So the point of my memory lane trip is that this is my best memory from childhood Christmases and it doesn’t involve huge expensive gifts. The gifts are not what anyone will remember forever but the house being filled with love, family, smells and sound will.
My Mom is long gone and I am the one who attempts to keep her traditions alive for my siblings and nephews. I have decided this year to start bringing back some old fashioned Christmas traditions. Yes don’t worry kids you will still get gifts but I have instructed my family that the only gifts I want to receive are those that are made with love and thought or something that is required for the Holiday celebrations. They can make me something, bake me something, or give me some of their time. Don’t get me wrong I will still be doing a little shopping this holiday but I can tell you that I’m not a big fan of receiving useless or unidentifiable gifts because someone else thinks it’s what I need. I do like gifts that I get that someone has put thought into however, because they know me. These are the ones that make me smile as it does many people I know as well.
Everyone seems to go with the flow of the shopping to find the latest hot toy or gadget for their children and spending night after night of trying to find that perfect gift when it is OK to create your own holiday traditions and return to some of the old fashioned Christmas ideas. All of the events of Christmas time focus around family activities but most families are trying to save time and get everything done before the “big day”. How about making these activities what they are meant to be and teaching children again that this is what Christmas is really about.
Getting the tree- Don’t just stop on your way home from work and grab the tree like a grocery item make it a family event with a thermos of hot chocolate and maybe some caroling on the way.
Decorating the tree- What about those great “old school trimmings”. Yes I know they take time but again make it part of Christmas instead of a chore that is done before Christmas. I for one have had good intentions in the past to string my own popcorn for the tree. This year I’m doing it! I have a friend who mentioned the same thing so I thought what a great way to spend time together with her and her kids and make tree trimmings-edible ones at that. So we made a plan to swap popcorn stringing nights at each other’s houses. However I did find a groovy recipe for marshmallow popcorn balls and these even look easier than stringing the popcorn. There are tons of ideas for homemade decorations. My other favorites are: Christmas cookies, and the shiny cutters, pine cones & cinnamon sticks, walnut shells, and cranberries. I would love to put real snowflakes on the tree but we all know that won’t work.
Decorating the outside of the house- this is my most dreaded task of the season. Here’s how it will go: I will fantasize about super duper outdoor decorations because I love seeing my house all lit up and when we get outside to actually perform the tasks I will down size dramatically because it always takes more lights than you think. And I just don’t have that many lights. Then I will walk away and let Jonny do his magic. I think all kids should have to participate in this activity just so they will appreciate the decorations more!
Christmas Dinner-Here it is, the biggest holiday activity. This event takes up the entire day and yet in my experience the kids and all family members are not involved. So after you’ve slaved all day in the kitchen chopping, cutting, peeling, dicing, kneading, cleaning up again and again it’s time to sit down to an amazing repass that takes approximately half an hour to devour. So prep time: 8 hours, family time: 30 minutes. The point of this is that instead of having Mom or the same people prepare the celebration meal year after year this needs to be a family activity. Most kids can help with some chore that is required in the kitchen that will give someone a break and teach valuable lessons. Again it’s a Christmas event that too often becomes a chore. The more in the kitchen the merrier. Don’t forget that kitchen cleanup is a great family activity too!
Christmas Day- Yes the kids will want to be playing with their new toys but how about watching a classic Christmas movie like “It’s a Wonderful Life or “Miracle on 34th Street”. This isn’t a day for the newest gory flick. It is a day for sappy family movies and snuggling up with full bellies.
Last but not least Christmas gifts- What to buy. Yes I know I’m not a parent so I can’t possibly know that parents must succumb to the peer pressure of the latest technology but you can slip in some more traditional gift ideas that are much more appreciated by the seasoned person. There are tons of these ideas if you google it. My favorites:
Crafts I remember my Mother saved everything I ever made her. Looking back on those items after 20-40 years is a warm memory you also can’t get from the newest and improved gadget in the world. Kids don’t know this now as I didn’t when my mother asked me to make her something . But they will.
Christmas Baking I have always been excited to receive my favorite cookies delivered in a tin. This gift could definitely free up some time for someone who bakes constantly over the holidays.
Themed Gift Baskets So if you know someone well you should know exactly what they would like in a basket just for them. Could be spa items with lotions & potions, or romance with wine, cheese and candles (ps I know where you can get some great wine). Knitting Basket with all kinds of yarn and accessories. The possibilities are endless.
Gifts of Time or Skill OK kids and adults can give this one. I believe Gram & Gramp or would love a coupon for a free driveway snow storm shovel out redeemable on short notice. Maybe you are a computer whiz and you can go “clean up” Uncle Bob’s computer because it’s running slow. Or what about Aunt Martha’s house that has been in need of painting for 6 years. And just for kids how about a few “Chore Coupons” that don’t have an expiry date. Or simply a gift of time, such as a night of babysitting, or going to see Grama just for a “visit”?
I know an “old fashioned Christmas” requires some work and conscious changes in the hectic holiday schedule but I believe everyone would feel less stress by incorporating some family traditions back into the holidays. I know of many families who still do many of these traditions together and it always makes me smile. So here’s to hoping you can find a few special things to do for this year’s holiday season that makes you feel in charge of the “craziness” again and puts a smile on someone else’s face.
Stacey Kelley
