Tell Us Your Family Tradition
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Our family of 4 children has grown so much that gift buying is quite a task. So we decided the adults would pitch a little money in a fund to send to some missionary friends in Haiti who run an orphanage; then for our Christmas day celebration everyone would bring a $10 gift (guys bring gift for male and gals bring gift for female) and we play a game. Gals first of course....all the gals gifts go under the tree and all the ladies draw a number. When their number comes up they get to choose a gift. The next player can choose a gift or take a gift from previous player. It becomes a great gift swapping! Then the guys repeat the game with the male gifts. Since the 9 grands are not yet into not getting gifts on Christmas, they draw names. A gift for each child is hidden by one of the adults (all gifts in the same place) and the children are given directions for a treasure hunt to find the gifts (one at a time). The adults have as much fun as the children, watching! the treasure hunt. Of course no gifts can be hunted until after the Christmas meal....such anticipation for the kids!!!!
Raleigh, N.C.
My children are now in their thirties. When they were small we would have a Christmas Eve Buffet. I would put out all the goodies we had baked, sandwich fixens, and have the punch bowl full. It made for a festive evening, but freed my time for other activities. When the children got older and I did not need the extra free time I thought I would stop the buffet. Oh, no! They enjoyed that relaxed atmosphere, eating at will, and having friends drop in to join them. We still continue this tradition and now have our granddaughter joining us. Merry Christmas!
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I am stealing this idea from a neighbor. Last year my neighbor gave the neighbors a great gift. On November 28th we found a fresh wreath on our front porch with a Merry Christmas Tag signed by our neighbor. They got neighborhood gift giving out of the way early and we got a great wreath and had one less thing to buy! What a super idea!
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When I was growing up in southern NC my grandfather had a farm and a little country store. I was the youngest of about 20 cousins. My grandparents always wanted to us know how much they loved us but as you can imagine 20 grandchildren and 7 grown children with spouses that would make a huge Christmas shopping bill. My grandfather would bring home bags, fruit and candy peppermints from the store and my grand mother along with an aunt would stuff the bags for everyone in the family. Their children and their spouses and all of us grandchildren. We all knew that at their house on Christmas we would get a bag with an apple, an orange, "Old Fashion Chocolate drops" a large piece of soft peppermint and maybe a few nuts. Everyone's name was written on their bag and set under the tree for the taking at your arrival. Even though the fun toys of the '50's and 60's were exciting the simpleness of the "old fashion Christmas bag of fruit" was always treasured. A few years ago my sister and I repeated that tradition with our families and the memories were so nice. It was a great way to help us remember that Christmas is more than boxes and bows but about family,love, making memories and staying focused on the real reason for the season, Jesus Christ.
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About four years ago we started a tradition, meeting at a family members house, having hot chocolate, eggnog and a few appetizers, gathering around the tree, kitchen table or in a circle, giving thanks for what we at received during the year good and bad experiences, singing songs and remembering loved ones whom had pasted. We really enjoy this time with the family because you never know what may happen before Christmas. It is being followed by my children, sisters and brothers and I’m hoping my grandchildren will follow suit.
Our family tradition will continue this year by helping low income families in our community. Each year we "adopt" children through Johnathan's House Christian School and Johnathan's House Educational Center, a program that was started in North Carolina about 15 years ago. We collect toys, clothes and food and distribute the items based on needs in the Harnett and Wake area. This year we are sponsoring a "Christmas Open House" in the Kipling/Christian Light area just south of downtown Fuquay! Santa will arrive around 6 p.m., donations will be used to finish up Christmas shopping for families receiving assistance from us! This even is open to the public from 6-9 p.m.!
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