Dread Pirate Jimbo and I are feeling pretty jaded about Christmas these days (and I suspect we’re not alone), and I was trying to think up new traditions we can start to get more enjoyment out of this season. Things that don’t take a lot of money, and don’t buy into the commercialism of the season, that is.
So, what do all y’all love about the Christmas season? What do you people do to get maximum enjoyment out of a season that has become all about gifts? We figure there has to be things we can do that we can make special to this time of year.
(Oh yeah, we don’t have kids, so if you could make it things that didn’t require kids, we’d be much obliged.) Thanks, all.
When I’m feeling kinda depressed, the best thing I can do is to help others. This time of year: I clean out my cupboards and give lots of stuff to the food pantries; never pass a Salvation Army kettle without putting something in; try to count my blessings. If I didn’t have kids, I’d probably give a lot more money to charities, and do more volunteer stuff (because I’d have more time). I don’t know if this is the kind of thing you’re looking for, just sharing what works for me.
I try to pay close attention to each day of the Christmas season. Find the uniqueness of it.
Take time to really listen to Christmas music. (I recommend finding a particular album that you like rather than listening to the radio.)
Mix some pickling spices, cinnamon sticks and cloves together and put them in a pan of water on the back of your stove. Bring it almost to a boil and then let it simmer uncovered on the stove. You can use the same batch through the whole season.
Have hot chocolate every morning or every evening.
On Christmas Day, open your stocking presents (gag gifts are fun), have breakfast, and then open your main presents.
Consider asking friends and family to donate to your favorite charity in lieu of presents to you.
Visit a nursing home or assisted care facility and just let people talk to you. Ask them about how Christmases were when they were growing up.
Make Christmas breakfast really something special. We have scrambled shrimp and eggs and champagne – a courtesy and tradition extended by our hosts.
Throw a party every Christmas Eve and invite everyone you know to drop by.
Try to do something special for someone every day – even if it is in secret. (You know – little surprises)
It’s never about gifts or commercialism for me. I especially enjoy the lights (decorations), Christmas tree smells, and baking cookies or making candy, something I rarely do otherwise. I try to be with people I enjoy. If I can’t, I enjoy walking around wherever I am. I like the above suggestions.
I like giving to Toys for Tots or a simlar charity. The gifts don’t have to be expensive to make a difference. It’s also a good excuse to go play with all the toys at the toy store. I usually get a selection of inexpensive, educational toys like Rubix Cubes and model kits, wrap them up, label them, and take them down to the Boys and Girls Club.
I also put up some clear Christmas lights on my porch, which is separated from my living room by a sliding glass door. I put them on a timer so they come on right at dusk. Makes it cheerier now that it’s getting dark earlier.
When Christmas gets a little closer, going for walks or drives to check out the neighborhood lights and decorations is fun.
Go caroling! I’m a Jewish agnostic, but I love caroling, and you’ll be surprised how many of your neighbors do, too. This year we’re hoping to do some at a children’s hospital and/or nursing home.
We make a list of our favorite Christmas movies, and set aside nights in December to watch them. They don’t have to be Christmas-y Christmas movies persay, The Thin Man for example, is just a good movie that happens to take place at Christmas time. We try to hit both old favorites and films that are either new, or new to us.
During holiday movies, light some seasonal candles, and plan a nice snack. It might be a little commercial, but you can usually pick up Christmasy mugs for fairly cheap at the supermarket. One of my favorite movie snacks is hot chocolate in a Christmas mug, garnished with a candy cane.
driving around subdivisions to look at christmas lights is a must, at least around here. after a few years you know the hot spots, and you go back every year to see what they’ve done differently. the good ones always do something new!
Every year for most of my life, we’ve decorated a tree for wildlife (I did this with my parents growing up, and now I do it with my Little Sister).
Find a nice small evergreen out in the woods somewhere, or at a park or even in your yard
String popcorn and cranberries on thread and circle the tree with it
Put nuts in the crooks of branches
Spread a light layer of peanut butter on pinecones, roll them in birdseed, make a loop out of thread and hang them like ornaments
Scoop the fruit out of orange or grapefruit halves, fill with suet and birdseed, and either hang them or put them in the crooks of branches
Put ears or half-ears of dried corn-on-the-cob out, or again, hang them with thread
It’s always a fun and invigorating thing to do and you’re helping out some animals in a time when food is hard to find. Come back to visit the tree a few days later and see how much as been taken!
I also really enjoy going to the midnight (or very late, anyway) services at churches on Christmas Eve. There’s one in particular that I go to that is not my regular church, but they do just fabulous services, with a chamber orchestra, choir, readings from members of the community, candles… it’s a very joyful, vibrant celebration. Hopefully you can find one in your area that gives you that same sense. It helps me utterly leave behind and forget about the last-minute hectic scramble of travel and shopping, and focus on the incipient joy.
Instead of buying gifts for your extended family, consider giving gifts to a charity in their names. I love it when people do that for me, because, honestly, I have enough stuff. I don’t need any more scented candles or ear rings or closet organizers or what have you.
I like the idea of reading aloud a story on Christmas Day when the family’s all assembled. It could be the Christmas story from the Bible, A Christmas Carol, even How the Grinch Stole Christmas. There’s something about reading aloud that’s so cozy and comforting.
Every year, my aunt has a game party at Christmas. It’s a potluck, and everyone is invited to bring their favorite board or card game to play. Another friend always has a music jam at his house on December 23. People bring fiddles, guitars, banjos, etc. and play music all night long. Even if you’re not a musician, you can sing along and have a blast. Both of those parties are always really fun, and the emphasis is decidedly not on gifts.
Wow, great ideas, everyone. I knew there must be ways of having a good Christmas season without being driven over the edge by Christmas carols in crowded malls full of buy-me junk.