Family Traditions at Christmas

CHRISTMAS is an exciting time of year for millions of families - and it has been down through the ages. Part of the reason that the Christmas season has become so very special to us is because of family traditions. There are hundreds of inherited practices, acquired behaviors, customs, and characteristic ways of doing things that have been passed-on in families since the time of Christ.

Something as simple as putting up a Christmas tree with colored lights and ornaments has been repeated over and over again in untold numbers of families for many past generations. Thus, there are some traditions that many families share because of a common culture. However, in addition to commonly shared customs, there are other traditions that are more unique to fewer families. And, it is possible for only one family to have specific Christmas traditions that no other family has ever heard of or practiced.

In an effort to focus attention on family traditions at Christmas, I conducted an online survey which included members of several families from around the nation. The respondents came from a wide variety of backgrounds, places of birth, family histories, experiences, and present locations. Below, in random order, are their responses.

-- Grandma would hang envelopes on the Christmas tree for grandkids with money inside.
-- Mom would let me pick out a doll from the Sears and Roebuck catalog every Christmas.
-- Having jam cake for desert
-- Having a devotional at our family time - after family dinner but before gifts
-- Hearing the jingle of bells and having Santa burst through the door; exciting for me and my cousins
-- Decorating the outside of our house with lights
-- Have a birthday cake for Jesus
-- Have a birthday party for Jesus with cake and song; go to church on Christmas eve or Christmas day
-- Have a family meal; read the Christmas story from the Bible prior to opening gifts
-- Have team contests where we were given trivial things to fill-out on paper about Christmas
-- Have a gag gift exchange
-- As a parent I would always be the first one up on Christmas morning and wake up everyone else

-- Placing Christmas cards on our Christmas tree

-- Open gifts from family on Christmas eve; on Christmas morning little ones look through stockings from Santa, but do not open gifts until after Mass to celebrate the birth of Jesus

-- Bake Christmas cookies, fruit breads, cakes, and make several different kinds of candy for friends and neighbors

-- Read the Christmas story from Luke and sing Christmas carols; family members name a favorite carol and we sing it

-- Put up the traditional Christmas tree with traditional decorations
-- Write Christmas checks for children and grandchildren
-- On Christmas eve have pizza for dinner and let the kids open one present
-- When kids were young they were asked for a wish list. One said "anything but socks and underware." Since that time they always receive socks and underware!
-- Making gingerbread cookies

-- Hanging Christmas stockings on the mantel

-- Our family tradition is Polish. Everyone gets a sheet of unleavened bread. Then, you break a small piece off of someones sheet and that person breaks a small piece off of your sheet. Each person wishes the other person a Merry Christmas. This continues until all the bread is gone.

-- With children age 5 and under, put the Christmas tree in a wooden playpen and surround it with presents. Works like a charm!
-- Make chicken pies in advance, freeze them, and later serve for Christmas dinner. It is easier on the cook!
-- On Christmas eve starting in the afternoon, travel around to homes of family members for gifts and snacks at each home, with a big Christmas dinner plus gifts later in the evening at the last home.

It is fun to ponder those special memories of Christmases already gone-by. No doubt several things will stand out as we think of the times when we were kids, teenagers, or maybe even adults. Perhaps most of us will best remember past Christmas seasons as parents. In any case - this Christmas - delight again in those time-honored traditions of the past, and/or create some new ones for now and for the future. It is highly possible that family traditions at Christmas will again warm our hearts, and for many of us, contribute to the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ so many years ago.