3 Christmas traditions to start this year

[bettypaige]

Christmastime has always been my favorite time of year, mainly because of the strong family traditions I was raised with. Every Christmas Eve we would have a small program where each of us would present some Christmas-y talent, we’d sing Christmas carols, and then drive around and look at homes decorated in Christmas lights in the area. These traditions are what created our sense of family unity, which has lasted years later after we’ve all gone our separate ways.

Family traditions can be started at any point in a family life cycle, it doesn’t have to be the first year you and your spouse were married. What’s important is just that you have traditions—things your children can look forward to and count on each year. Here are some ideas for patterns you might start this year.

Elf on the shelf

This is a new fad I’m considering starting for my own children. The Elf on the Shelf is an actual stuffed elf that usually comes with a book that explains his exploits. He’s been dispatched by Santa to keep an eye on the children of the world, making note of who’s naughty or nice. Each day of December he moves to a different position in the house so he can get all angles of the family’s comings and goings. This might be the incentive your children need to be extra nice to each other for at least this month of the year as they remember the true reason for the season.

Ornament collections

Some families have themed trees with specific colors and materials of ornaments. Others have traditions of getting a new ornament that represents each member of the family each year. Think about what you want your Christmas tree to symbolize for your household. Decorating it as a family can be a fun way to spend a wintry evening.

Christmas Eve gift-giving

Another tradition is that of each family member opening a single gift on Christmas Eve. The best thing to do is have the gift picked out ahead of time so you know it’s something the kids will be able to use or something symbolic. A popular choice is to give pajamas on Christmas Eve that the children can then wear to open presents Christmas morning. JumpinJammerz.com offers a unique selection of footed pajamas with patterns and styles the whole family will love. From Batman to Superman and Wonder Woman to Hello Kitty, you’ll find the right one for all ages and genders.

Source:
babycenter.com/0_family-traditions-15-holiday-favorites-you-can-try-at-home_5649.bc

[spacecaps]

"The Elf on the Shelf" became a Christmas tradition when a book of the same name said it should back in 2005. Basically, it involves placing an elf doll somewhere in your home and telling your children that he's there to watch them and report the findings directly to Santa Claus, which he does by going all the way back to the North Pole every single night. He then "returns" the next day, positioned in a new spot, where he can once again rule over your child's behavior using nothing more than his dead-eyed stare.

This, apparently, goes on night after night until Christmas finally rolls around and everyone realizes the elves must have said good things because, sure enough, there are a bunch of presents from Santa underneath the tree. First of all, this is a total perversion of what Santa's controlling power over children is supposed to be. Much like God or the devil, Santa is to be known about and feared, but never seen. Keeping your children in check by simply suggesting that some unknown but all-knowing entity is watching them is a powerful parenting tool. Working a doll into the mix does nothing short of destroying the legend surrounding Santa's powers of surveillance. He's never needed an elf to tell him who's naughty or nice.

Even without all that taken into account, this is a trend that needs to die for no other reason than its seemingly limitless ability to turn Christmas into one long month of creepiness. See, several websites have popped up that encourage parents to send pictures of their "wacky" ideas for where to stash their elf each day. As seen in this series of nightmares ...



... the results ...




... are often ...



... horrifying:


This, clearly, is not a tradition for children. This is a tradition for bored soccer moms who've run out of stamping and scrapbooking ideas. Cut it out.

[megomania]

If I see one more Elf on the Shelf post on FB or Instagram............................

[HardyGirl]

Y'know, I never even heard of this til last year.

If I see one more Elf on the Shelf post on FB or Instagram............................

[jwyblejr]

There was a cartoon in the paper last week where they had The Shelf on the Elf.

[PNGwynne]

[I]"The Elf on the Shelf"...then "returns" the next day, positioned in a new spot, where he can once again rule over your child's behavior using nothing more than his dead-eyed stare...(T)his is a total perversion of what Santa's controlling power over children is supposed to be. Much like God or the devil, Santa is to be known about and feared, but never seen. Keeping your children in check by simply suggesting that some unknown but all-knowing entity is watching them is a powerful parenting tool. Working a doll into the mix does nothing short of destroying the legend surrounding Santa's powers of surveillance.

Hmmm. So, we've supplanted Cthulhu with a Zuni fetish doll at the holidays? Until we Americans embrace the krampus, I say let's try it.

[Hedji]

My family has always done Krampus, believe it or not.