Christmas Traditions
Christmas is an annual festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25th each year. Christmas is both a religious and cultural celebration observed by billions of people around the world, both Christian and non-Christian.
The observance of Christmas occurs in 160 countries worldwide and celebration varies by country. Some countries celebrate on Christmas Day or December 25th. Australia, New Zealand, Bolivia, South Africa, Argentina, and Madagascar celebrate Christmas in another month other than December.
Christmas celebrations around the world can vary greatly in Christmas traditions. They usually involve setting up a Christmas tree with lights, hanging Advent wreaths and stockings, candy canes. Churches and families set up nativity scenes depicting the birth of Jesus Christ. Families also send out Christmas cards, exchange gifts, and prepare a Christmas feast to share with their family or their extended families.
I have practiced the following traditions most of the years or done it in a different way as time changed in the recent years.
1. Send Christmas Cards or Letters
I wrote a Christmas letter one year to print it on the Christmas stationery. After that, I switched to sending photos. I picked photos that represented the major activities or events of that year and included descriptions of them. The first couple of years, I made a collage of photos with Publisher, saved it as Jpeg, made 5”x7” prints to send them out. Then I switched again to order the 5”x7” Christmas cards from Costco. For the last two years, I ordered two-sided cards.
2. Exchange gifts
My husband came from a large family. In the early years, instead of giving gifts to everyone, members of the extended family drew a name to be the receiver of the gift. The members of the immediate family, of course, exchanged gifts on their own. I bought gifts for my immediate family and wrapped them and put them under the tree. For the last five to seven years, I no longer bought gifts to send to my daughter’s family. Instead, I asked them what they would like to have for Christmas, then ordered them on Amazon, Macy’s, Columbia Sportswear, REI, or Sierra. The stores sent the gifts directly to them. If the clothes, shoes, or other items are not exactly right, they would return them, and I would order the right size until they’re happy with them. I don’t wrap Christmas gifts anymore.
3. Have a Christmas Dinner
Our extended family used to have the Christmas dinner on Christmas day around 1:00 p.m. After dinner, some members would go to visit their in-laws from another part of the town, or another state. After the children are grown and married, most of the members spend Christmas with their grown children and grandchildren. We don’t meet as a large family.
I have been going to Portland, Oregon for many years to spend Christmas with my daughter’s family and enjoy our time with the grandkids.
4. Advent/Christmas Countdown Activities
One friend brought a 2’x2’ wooden Advent calendar with drawers to a women’s meeting to share her tradition with us. She used this calendar for years during the growing-up years of her kids. She had age-appropriate activities for her four children. Another friend who was a teacher brought a 2D calendar to share what she did for her second-grade class for many years. Ideas such as filling 24 drawers with notes, candy, small toys, or keeping special ornaments in each box! For a 2D calendar, each day can be a window that opens to show the activity for that day.
5. Decorate a Christmas Tree
We’ve had a Christmas tree almost every year ever since we live in a house. We only have the artificial tree, though. When I first decorated a tree, I covered the entire tree with garlands and ornaments. Several years ago, my daughter inspired me to do it with minimal decorations. I like it. It leaves so much room to show the green. My daughter and her husband pick their tree either from the national forest or tree farm. People can get a permit from Recration.gov to purchase a permit. It cost $5 for a permit of each tree plus $2.5 for the online processing fee charged by the website.
I think they got their tree from a tree farm this year. Autumn and Nora had a great time helping to pick one.
6. Start a Holiday-Themed Collection
My sister-in-law collects snowmen. She hosts Thanksgiving dinner for many years. She put up Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving to make the event festive. She decorated the entire house with snowmen, from ornaments to wall hangings, stuffed snowmen, snowman candles, to a ten feet tall figure. I collected Santa, angels, and nutcrackers, but didn’t go too far before I stopped.
7. Attend a Christmas show or see The Nutcracker Ballet
I have done both. We bought the season tickets to see the Broadway shows at Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theater for many years. The Christmas show is always a heartwarming story of Mr. and Mrs. Santa. The last song is an invitation for all the kids to come on the stage with the help of the elves. Mr. and Mrs. Santa would pick the youngest kids to sit on their laps when they sing the last song.
When I was teaching, I took my students to see The Nutcracker ballet every year as one of my field trips. I teamed with another class to go to share the cost of the school buses. I also took my daughter to the theater to see The Nutcracker. When I stopped going to see it in the theater, my daughter and I still watched the DVD at home.
On Saturday, December 11, 2021, my daughter Mercy took her older daughter, Autumn, to see The Nutcracker. They’ll start a new tradition.
8. Watch a Christmas Movie
My favorite Christmas movies are White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, and The Polar Express. There are many newer Christmas movies. I don’t watch too many movies and I like these old ones so much that I seem to watch the same ones all the time.
9. Visit Christmas Lights, before or after Christmas
Since 1932, each house on Peacock Lane – Christmas Street, in Southeast Portland Oregon, has been decorating for Christmas. The residents of Peacock Lane are happy to share that they will display their lights from December 15th – December 31st. For safety reasons, the Portland Police may shut down the Lane to motor vehicle traffic. My husband and I joined my daughter’s family to stroll up and down Peacock Lane one year. Each house had themed light decorations. The address is SE Peacock Lane, Portland, OR 97214.
For the last four years, except in 2020, my husband and I went to Newport Beach to take a cruise to watch the Christmas Boat Parade.
10. Build a Gingerbread House
One year, our church fellowship group had the Christmas catering dinner at a retirement facility. Every year the chef starts months before the season to use his own time to build the Gingerbread Village. He built one house at a time, and the trees, the decorations, and put them in the freezer. Right after Thanksgiving, he would set up the village and add the operatable train. The residents and visitors admired this creation with wonder.
My daughter built a Gingerbread house with Autumn. I know many families do this activity with their kids.
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You may have practiced some Christmas traditions for years, but you no longer keep them because of life changes. You may still keep some, or you want to start a new one. How about traditions your parents had? How about traditions your grown children have with their families?
Please describe them and share them with us in the comments. Thank you!
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The Showers of Blessings 
Thank you for sharing your traditions, Miriam. I do many of the same, although we haven’t put up a Christmas tree the past few years. I have bad knees and it’s hard for me to stand for extended periods to decorate. Once I have knee surgery, we’ll do that again.
Christmas movies are another tradition in our house. White Christmas is one of my favorites. We also like A Christmas Carol (with George C. Scott), and A Charlie Brown Christmas. That brings back special memories from my childhood.
Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.
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These are all such great traditions, and as I’m reading them, I realize I do almost all of them. ACK. But traditions during a holiday really do make the time special. I love your Christmas card – nice of you to share it here on your blog. I also make one (using Shutterfly) with photos from the year. We buy a real Christmas tree and decorate it. The last five years we’ve had our grandson (now 11) help us bring it in the house and put up the lights. Another grandson comes over and bakes xmas cookies with me (peanut butter kiss cookies his favorite). Every year we take our granddaughter (now 13 – this is the 7th year) to see the Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker. She’s a ballerina herself and just danced as the Mouse King in her studio’s production. My guy and I watch White Christmas. I get no help in wrapping gifts, and with grandchildren here and on the other coast, I still do a lot of wrapping. Lastly, my college roommate made me a lovely large Advent wall calendar (made of fabric) that I bring out year after year. Brings a lot of good memories, too. Thanks for such a joyful, festive post, Miriam.
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How wonderful that we share all of the same traditions, Pam! Since I had our card made, I might as well share it here on my blog. Sometimes I post something with other kids, some bloggers thought they were my grandkids. I would appreciate a real tree, but our weather is dryer in Southern California. The water for the base drys out fast. You’re fortunate to have your enthusiastic grandsons helping you with the Christmas tree. It’s memory-making for them also. Does your grandson bake cookies with you? Wow! But, why not? Baking is not only for girls. My granddaughters do many things braver than boys. How exciting that your granddaughter plays the Mouse King. That’s a major role. My daughter did the goat in The Sound of Music, and another role in Wizard of Oz when she was six and seven in our city theater.
I haven’t done the advent calendar but I can see many fun ways of doing it. Your fabric one from your roommate must beautiful. I’m so glad these memories make us young and lively again! Thank you for sharing your, Pam!! ❤
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Keeping our holiday traditions DOES keep the child in us for sure, Miriam. You’re so right. And yes, all of my grandsons love to bake with me. In fact, I think I’ll blog about that tomorrow. 🙂
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How lovely, Pam! I’ll make sure to check it out! 🙂
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HI Miriam, this is a lovely post. I enjoyed learning about your Christmas traditions, present and past. I also do some of these things, but not all.
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Thank you, Robbie! I’m doing less than half of them this year.
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Lovely traditions, Miriam, and many are the same for my family. Even though our kids weren’t with us when we picked out the tree, we’ll see them for Christmas, so we’re counting down the days! Oh, and seeing the holidays lights and Christmas movies are always a must each year. Besides the movies you show, a couple of our favorites are It’s a Wonderful Life, and for good laughs, Christmas with the Kranks. Thanks for sharing this beautiful post, and I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season. ❤️🎄
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We’re seeing my daughter’s family also and excited about spending time with the grandkids. We started making plans. So far, we’re going to the Christmas Eve service at the church. We’ll cook Christmas dinner together and will have time to sing some Christmas songs. My daughter’s birthday is the day after Christmas. We haven’t made any plan yet. Are your son and daughter coming home?
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Wonderful traditions, Miriam. When do you find time to sleep! Lol. I think photo cards are great and should probably do something like that. They’re fun. My grandson loves Advent Calendars and I would love to make a gingerbread house… just one… not a whole village! Lol. But how festive. Have a great Christmas with family and friends and I hope you check off everything on your list. Hugs. 🙂
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This year, I sent out Christmas cards, have a simple tree, three parties, and one concert. We may watch a movie or two. No shopping, just ordered gifts from my daughter’s suggestions. We’ll be with them for Christmas. Making a gingerbread house is good. Probably my daughter will do it with Autumn. ❤ 🙂
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That still sounds busy to me, Miriam. But fun and a wonderful way to make memories. ❤
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I may reduce it even more in the future years. Who knows how much energy I’ll have? I’ll see my grandkids for sure. ❤
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This is a most beautiful post Miriam. I love all your Christmas tradiditons! You have a very photogenic family! Your photos are wonderful.
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Thank you, Dwight. My daughter and her husband love to take fun photos. They look lovely and lively.
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Wondeful!
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Thank you!
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You had some really beautiful traditions, Sounds like such fun.
Pat
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Thank you, Pat! They are fun traditions. I’m down to just a few simple things. The most important thing is to be with my daughter’s family and enjoy the grandkids.
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Yes, I can see how down sizing happens as the kids get older. Now is the time to revel in the grand kids🙂 Have a healthy and happy holidays!
Pat
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Exactly, Pat. I’ve been decluttering to make life simple, but increasing the frequency of visiting the grandkids. Happy Holidays to you! 🎄😊
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🌲
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Beautiful celebration Miriam. Wishing you very Happy Holidays. ❤
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Thank you, Debby! Happy Holidays to you! ❤ I saw your post with Rebecca and read some comments! I'll listen to the podcast tomorrow! ❤
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I saw you there Miriam. Thank you so much. I enjoy Rebecca’s interviews. Even more when I’m the subject, LOL ❤
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Hi Miriam – these are some wonderful customized traditions. That’s the key, to make them work for you and your situation. Sometimes the best way is to simplify things, like the way you order gifts to be delivered directly to family. We’re moving towards keeping our traditions low-key and relaxed!
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Exactly, Barbara! That was what we’ve been doing gradually for the last five to seven years. I don’t sign up for many activities or go to too many parties. Most of our close friends are retired. There may be less than five who are still working. The retired friends don’t want to cook to entertain people at their homes. We may get together at a restaurants. So life in general slows down a lot. Wishing you a relaxed holidays! 🙂
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A wonderful celebration post of Christmas. Well done. I love it.
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Thank you, Suzette. I’m glad you loved the post. Christmas is a jolly time of the year.
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Yes, it is! Cheers 😊
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Cheers, Suzette! 🙂
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Great post, Miriam 🙂 We do a lot of simlar things. I just added the advent calendar to our adult traditions. Its been years since I’ve attended midnight mass, but I never miss seeing the lights! Such a fun time of the year xo
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An advent calendar for the adult is fun, Denise! I could think of many ways to make it fun like one memorable event each year leading up to the current year. I’ve never done an advent calendar for our family. I’ve done something like that for my classes. We may go to Peacock Lane with my daughter’s family if not raining or snowing. Where do you go to see the lights? ❤ 🙂
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We drive around town and sometimes go down to Roseville where the have a neighborhood that decorated.
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We have some nicely decorated homes in our neighborhood. One neighbor has giant decorations and they added one every year.
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What wonderful traditions that your grandkids will love. I’ve done many of them and they always put me into the season. Have a lovely holiday, Miriam!
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You must have started your Christmas traditions already, Jacqui! Having a Christmas up for five or six weeks is always good. The traditions give the kids and grandkids wonderful lifetime memories. I remember a lot of family traditions and they always put a smile on my face. Happy holiday to you and your husband!
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I don’t do most of them anymore, but my kids carry on. I love when they send me their pictures using family decorations.
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It also warms our hearts knowing the kids carry on our traditions. My daughter kept some ornaments I made for her and she hung them on the tree. She also kept some Christmas decorations. When she was decorating, she let Nora played with one that has four snowmen on the swings and two sat on the side. Nora pushed the swings. Mercy took a video and sent it to me asked if I remember giving it to her.
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I wonder if kids appreciate how much we mothers love seeing our kids carry on those traditions. It warms my heart hearing your story.
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I think my daughter knows that!
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what a wonderful set of traditions; it is a fun time of the year…
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I have a few more that we don’t do anymore, Jim. The fun time is a wonderful way to break the routine.
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some tradtions just fade away; the best part is just being together…
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Exactly, Jim. Being together with family and close friends is more important. I don’t have company or political parties anymore.
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👍
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When I was a kid my family used to do the same as Pete’s—Midnight Mass followed by opening one gift when we came home. The other presents were opened Christmas day. I haven’t been to Midnight Mass in years, but I’ve been thinking about it a lot this year for some reason.
And I just saw the movie White Christmas for the first time two days ago. I loved it!
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Going to the Midnight Mass and opening one gift are wonderful family traditions, Mae! It’s the traditions such as these that give us memories and connections, horizontally and vertically. It gives me the strength to press on, and I need that a lot every day. I love the songs and the story of White Christmas. It’s uplifting and inspiring!
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I loved seeing your traditions, Miriam. My family traditions have changed a lot over the years, especially recently. But the one I won’t let go of is singing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus on Christmas morning before we do anything else. I think it’s important to keep the reason for the holiday in the forefront. I never wanted my kids to put the festivities first. Now that they’re both out of the house, I’m proud to say they kept their priorities in order.
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Singing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus on Christmas morning is a precious and important tradition, Staci. I’ll mention that to my daughter. I remember a friend said, my daughter (five years old) taught him to sing “Jesus Loves Me This I Know.” He helped us move and my daughter was riding with him. She sang the song all the way. She now read the devotion to Autumn at bedtime after reading two books. When I read to Autumn, she reminds me of reading the devotion! After the story, there’s a Bible verse and a one-line prayer. I had her repeat it after me a couple of times. It keeps us centered in the world of confusion.
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Lovely traditions, Miriam. A tradition I started many years ago was decorating the house the second week in November. I love all things Christmas. The lights and the music are things I want to enjoy as long as possible. Plus, it’s a lot of work getting everything out of the attic and put up.
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Your tradition is wonderful, Jill! Most of our neighbors put up the lights outside the week after Thanksgiving. Since my daughter’s family came for Thanksgiving, we decorated the house and the tree before they came. I used the picture frame ornaments to put their pictures in them. They love to look at them. You’re right, it’s a lot of work, might as well make it stay longer. I have a collection of Christmas music CDs and play them as much as I could.
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My husband and I still go out and look at the lights every year. On Christmas Day, we have a nice meal and keep a fire going in the fireplace while we watch movies.
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It’s wonderful for you and your husband to go out to look at the lights. People are getting so creative in light decorations. Having a nice meal on Christmas day, a fire, and watching movies sound good to me, Liz. We now spend Christmas with the grandkids, we watch the movies before Christmas.
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As long as we’re spending time with the people we love, that’s what matters most!
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Exactly, Liz! It narrows down to my daughter’s family, and some of my husband’s siblings. I think we’re easier to be content when we know what matters most!
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I couldn’t agree more about what makes us content!
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When we were younger, probably we want to be many social friends and be popular. But they come and go. Only family remains! 😍
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I was never a social butterfly to begin with. I was content with just a few close friends.
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I was not a social butterfly either. When I was working, there were company and political parties required me to show my face. I don’t mind getting together with family and close friends.
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I hated those office parties. I was always the one in a corner wondering when I could beat my retreat without getting into trouble.
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I know, Liz. I don’t have “friends” in my office. It’s so political. I could hardly say anything without worrying the consequence.
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Our writing community is such a big improvement over the higher ed administration snake pit!!
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This is such a blessing to us, Liz!
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🙂
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So beautiful Christmas traditions. Wonderful Christmas card photo. Beautiful share yours Christmas different activities. Good work. I I like. Iam so happy.nice picture for Advant. So nice information for Christmas festival.✍️🌷
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It’s a happy time of the year, Rajkkhoja. I’m glad you liked the Christmas card and other Christmas activities I shared. Merry Christmas to you. 🙂
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Thank you so much Miriam!♥️ Iam so glad .
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That’s wonderful, Rajkkhoja! ❤
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Thank you for the remembrance on all these wonderful christmas traditions, Miriam. Here, without children. we lost a lot of these traditions, only the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve – like Pete mentioned too – is a duty, and brings a lot of memories back. Of course, we also have a Christmas Tree. 😉 Best wishes, Michael
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I have only one daughter, Michael. With her grown and gone, I lost many traditions also. It’s interesting to watch her start her own traditions. It’s wonderful to keep some traditions like going to the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and having a tree. Merry Christmas to you! 🙂
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We used to go to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. That was a big deal because I was pretty little and not used to staying up late. Then, we’d come home and open up one present. We had to wait until the morning for the rest.
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we did the exact same thing! it seemsl ike most churches have gotten rid of the midnight mass…
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It might be the generation thing. Boomers stopped going and younger generations don’t go.
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The Midnight Mass is a big thing, Pete. Our church got rid of many traditions. I wonder if they try to do new things to attract the newer generations. Opening presents is another various tradition among families. A friend’s family opens all the presents on Christmas Eve because they go different ways on Christmas day.
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