My favorite holiday tradition is the advent chain I make for my kids. I cut twenty-four pieces of construction paper, write a holiday activity on each one, and then staple them together into a chain. Each morning the kids take turns tearing off a piece of the chain and that's our activity for the day.
Weekdays are pretty busy around here, so I keep the activities short: do a treasure hunt, read the nativity story together, or put candy canes on the Christmas tree. Weekends we can do more time-consuming activities like making Christmas cookies or having a family game day. We've been doing this since my kids were little. I figured they'd get tired of it eventually, but now they're teenagers and they're still excited to pull off the chain every morning.
What traditions do you share with your family during the holiday season - whichever holiday you celebrate?
I'm going to take the rest of the year off blogging to spend time with my kids over their break from school, so happy holidays to you all! See you in January!
That's a really cool idea, Susan. Better than just a daily piece of candy.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Christmas!
Way, way cooler and much more fun than a piece of candy.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and have an Oogie Boogie New Year.
Cheers.
What a great idea! Almost makes me want to have kids again - almost :)
ReplyDeleteCute idea!
ReplyDeleteWe decorate the tree together with holiday tunes on. Watch Elf once a year together. Go to a holiday brunch with family. Such a fun (busy!) time!
Have a wonderful Christmas with your family, Susan!
I made an Advent chain this year, too--I thought I invented it. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome, Susan! We have quite a few traditions, but my favorite is Christmas morning when our entire family comes to our house and we share breakfast together. It's really relaxed.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a joyous holiday season! One pf our traditions is to gather around the TV Christmas Eve and watch The Homecoming!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas woman! I'm taking off after Friday. *sigh* (Committed) I love traditions. We have a lot here. I incorporate them into homeschool. We're making peppermint bark (Yummy)on Thursday. Friday we'll make peppermint bath salts for presents.
ReplyDeleteI love your idea of the chain. Have a safe Christmas and new year celebration. Hugs!
I love this idea. I'll have to remember it for next year.
ReplyDeleteWe celebrate Christmas Eve with the traditional Finnish dinner and Christmas Day with the English one.
Have a very Merry Christmas Susan!
ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful idea, Susan. My family has been enjoying this cool, interactive advent calendar from British artist Jackie Lawson. We also have advent candle lighting and follow an advent prayer guide after dinner through the season. Happy holidays to you too!
ReplyDeleteHow lovely! Susan, your kids must have the greatest time, I'm happy for you.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
Jai
sounds like a lovely tradition, Suzie. Happy Holidays to you and your family
ReplyDeleteAww, that's a wonderful tradition! The most we do is have muffins for breakfast on Christmas day as a sort of tradition.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays!
That sounds fun! My kids have made those chains in school and brought them home, but nobody made one this year! I don't really have a lot of traditions we do every year -- though we do do little advent readings after dinner. This year my hubby made gingerbread houses with the kids. And we will make Christmas cookies soon. :) Fun times!
ReplyDeleteI love your family tradition. It must be super cool if your teens still enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteMy family tradition is that we sit around a table and play poker on Christmas night. We bet with 1 and 2 cent pieces that get returned to the bottle for another year at the end of the night. And we pick at leftovers from the big Christmas lunch.
I'm about to shut down for the holiday as well, Susan, so here's my best wishes to you and yours before I say goodbye until 2013.
ReplyDeleteHappy holidays and have a fantastic blog break. See you in 2013.
ReplyDeleteThat's an amazing tradition! I have a few traditions for my kids, but my husband and I have talked about doing specific ones that will make for a more meaningful Christmases. Have a lovely break, my friend! <3
ReplyDeleteThat is such a cute tradition! I'll have to remember that one. :)
ReplyDeleteWishing you and yours a happy and blessed Christmas and new year, Susan!
What a great activity, or activities! And I love that your kids are still enthused by the advent chain. Traditions are fun that way.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and happy new year!
What a fantastic idea, Susan!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful holiday season and we'll see you in the new year!
That's so nice!
ReplyDeleteI bake a lot of Christmas cookies and the kiddo and her friends MUST help. LOL And I always have them decorate a gingerbread house.
Merry Christmas!!
Wishing you a Happy and Prosperous New Year, Susan!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteYou have a wonderful tradition. If your kids as teenagers still look forward to taking from the chain, I say you have a keeper there. Awesome.
Velva
what a wonderful holiday tradition!
ReplyDeletea neat idea which I will most likely adopt if I ever have kids :)
Nutschell
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