‘Tis the Season
December 19, 2019
Written By Lindsey Johnson, Marketing Employee
It’s almost Christmas, and you know what that means! Time with family, lots of good food, and traditions! There’s something so magical about this time of the year, and it’s important to soak in every moment of it. Here are some tradition ideas to get you in the holiday spirit!
Pick and Decorate a Christmas Tree
This may seem like a no brainer, but this can be a great way for families to bond and spend time together while doing something fun. If you don’t want to deal with the upkeep of a real Christmas tree this year, getting an artificial tree and decorating it can be just as fun! If you don’t already have an artificial tree to pull out of storage, going to the store and looking “your tree” can be a lot of fun as well. Next step—put on your favorite Christmas music playlist and get to decorating!
Start an Ornament Collection
When it comes to ornaments, there’s something special about buying them throughout the year and anticipating the day you finally can put them on the tree. Whether you traveled, graduated, got married, adopted a pet—all are good excuses to buy or make a special ornament symbolizing that memory!
If you are on a budget, a fun Christmas tradition would be going to a craft store or Walmart and picking out a few things to make your own Ornaments! This can be a fun challenge to do with anyone at any age.
Pickle Tradition
This tradition may not be for every family, but it is SO entertaining—especially if you have a few siblings. How it works:
Sometime before Dec. 25, a glass pickle ornament is hidden within the branches of the Christmas tree. Then, the first person to find the pickle on Christmas morning gets something special. Each family has their own takes on what “something special is”. For some it could be a gift card, money, or opening the first gift. The fun part is you can make this tradition your own by creating your own rules.
The goal of this tradition is to bond the family over something silly while also avoiding the mad rush to the presents on Christmas morning and appreciating each one. Here is an Amazon link to a pickle ornament one if you want to try out this tradition for yourselves!
Have a Cookie Exchange Party
A cookie exchange party can be fun with family or friends, and it’s super simple. Every guest brings their favorite holiday cookies to share with the rest of the party guests. If you’re gearing up for your next Christmas party and aren’t sure what to take, here are some fun Christmas cookie recipe ideas that are sure to bring some holiday cheer!
Gingerbread House Making Contest
With their gumdrop roofs and candy cane fences, a gingerbread house can create a magical moment in time. Gather the generations for a day of decorating fun, whether you start from scratch (plan a weekend for this) or use a kit. Either way, the merry is in the making when it comes to this family project! Here are some tips if you are wanting to make one from scratch:
- Use royal icing. It makes a great “glue” and looks pretty, too.
- Get creative with candy—incorporate your family’s favorites and enjoy your edible creation that much more!
- Snow: shredded coconut, powdered sugar, or mini marshmallows
- Windows: peppermint discs, Lifesaver candies, or thin red licorice rope
- Fencing: candy canes, pretzel rods, or rice crispy treats
- Roofing: waffle or wafer cookies
And that’s it! Those are some of our favorite Christmas traditions. If you happen to try any of these for the first time, make sure you tag us in a photo on any of our social media platforms @lureccenters!
Merry Christmas, everyone!