When you think of Christmas is your first response a huge groan? Do you find yourself running out of time going from store to store trying to find gifts for everyone? Or, have you simply just run out of ideas. Then I say start a Christmas tradition. I have an Aunt who makes the most amazing peanut brittle every year for Christmas and has been doing so for probably longer than I have been alive. When her Christmas package comes in the mail, I know exactly what is inside and I light up, smile and rip it open! When I pop that delicious brittle in my mouth and crunch down, my whole body sighs and I know that Christmas has really and truly come. If my Aunt was to decide one year to break tradition and send me a DVD player, I would simply be ticked off and so disappointed, I would probably turn into the Grinch. So, I say to you start a Christmas tradition that your friends and family can fall in love with and begin to rely on through the good times and bad. Become that one Christmas staple that they just can’t go without and in the mean time simplifying every Christmas for the rest of your life. You don’t have to even bake a treat if you don’t like baking, but honestly food goes straight to the soul no matter what people say. Here is a list of several Christmas traditions you can start this year!
Bake a treat, peanut brittle, hard candy, one type of cookie you perfect, or fudge. You can even modify and use sugar substitutes like Splenda.
Give a Christmas ordainment every year (my Aunt ties one to the outside of the brittle box)
Make and send a cinnamon or pine smelling candle, thus leaving a scent memory
One pair of crazy colored, warm and silly socks to keep feet warm on Christmas morning
Handmade soap for friends and family to put out for guest
If you like to sew make holiday place mats or napkins
Send a fruit basket or See’s candies (stay away from that meat log and fake cheese most people hate that)
New scarf, gloves, ear muffs store bought or handmade
Make a cold weather care package with hot chocolate and apple cider packets, tea bags, hand warmers, bath salt, and a disc with your favorite holiday songs and anything else that might give you a nice warm feeling
Send a paint by number craft every year and have them take a picture, save the pictures and show the kids how they have progressed over the years
Once you have decided on an idea that will fit your budget and hopefully is foreseeable that in the future you will not go crazy doing year after year, write a nice note and send it with the new tradition. Explain what the tradition is and how you hope that your friends and family can come to count on the gift year after year to make the holidays more comforting from you. So, start today! Best wishes and Happy Holidays!
