Christmas Traditions

Every family has their own special Christmas traditions - usually a mixture of those passed down from generation to generation and those that have evolved naturally or just become part of the family's holiday routines. Whatever your particular Christmas traditions are, most of us agree that Christmas is about being together, enjoying the holiday, and celebrating the birth of a child. Merry Christmas!

Some of my favorite Christmas traditions:

• I make a huge batch of Christmas cookies (using cookie cutters) with the kids. We cut out stars, trees and circles, and decorate with white icing, silver baubles, green edible glitter and "writing" icing in tubes, and any other Christmas decorations that I can find! We all get very sticky but we enjoy every minute of it!
• We go for a drive or early evening walk around the neighborhood to look at the Christmas lights and decorations, then come home for hot chocolate.
• We bundle ourselves up warmly and go for a walk in the local woods, collecting pine cones for display or to scent the fire.
• We invite a group of children round and make Christmas decorations. I get together a bunch of supplies and usually have some ideas in mind (many of which are featured on the Christmas pages at Activity Village).
• We go to the crib service on Christmas Eve, where we always bump into lots of our family friends, and then home for a Christmas movie or a game of monopoly before sending the kids to bed.

Send me your favorite Christmas traditions - I would love to feature them here! Email me at editor @ christmasiscoming.co.uk.

What's Christmas Without Candy Canes?
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Create Warm Memories with Holiday Traditions
Some lovely ideas for holiday traditions from Norma Schmidt.

Christmas Celebrations and Traditions
A fascinating look at the origins of Christmas and its traditions, including an explanation of why we enjoy mistletoe, the Christmas Tree, and even the Candy Cane!

How Rudolph Became a Christmas Helper
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Christmas Sheet Music - A Family Tradition
This Christmas why not put away the television remote and do some good old fashioned Christmas caroling? Get out some Christmas sheet music or get a Christmas sing-a-long CD and stretch those vocal muscles.  You'll be glad you did.

Poinsettias - Fact and Fiction Surrounding the Christmas Flowers
What makes them so popular?  Between 60 and 80 million are sold in the U.S. annually - all in a matter of weeks.  They flourish throughout the holidays and can bloom annually with proper care.  Their myriad of colors, sizes, shapes and uses have made them America's favorite Christmas flowers - brightening homes and businesses throughout the season.  Where do they come from?  Are they really poisonous?  Find out about these festive flowers and the legends behind them.

The Origins of Mistletoe 
..And this year, just as it crosses your mind that you have no idea why this strange plant became a Christmas tradition, your child watches you and asks: 'What is that?' 'Mistletoe', you answer, hoping that will satisfy him...

The History of the Christmas Tree 
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Also see: Christmas Around The World