what are your Christmas traditions?

The holidays always seem to be a time ripe with traditions. The things you've done year after year just take on more meaning the more you do them. I remember being a new mom and thinking we had to have all of our traditions decided - as if having a child necessitated that we have it all together, ha! Well, I've since learned that traditions can't be forced, or you'll resent them and the joy won't be there. Traditions are best when they're gradually gained over the years, through trial and error, and simply living life. They really start when you do something once, love it, and think, "That. That needs to happen again. Maybe every year" or if we're honest, they start out of habits that we like enough to keep, and gradually become that thing we always do. So what are yours?

Here are a few of ours that we've done, in some cases since we were children, in others, only in recent years.

1. Advent. You can read all about what we're doing this year here and see a recap of last year's here. It really has made Christmas so meaningful to us, whereas in the past it would seem like Christmas snuck up on us.

2. Clementines in the stockings. My mom and dad always did it, and I've continued the tradition! We all need something healthy on Christmas morning before we dive into cinnamon buns and cake. Cake?

3. Birthday cake for Jesus. This is kind of a cute thing we started two years ago that our kids seem to love, and hey, any excuse for cake, right?

4. Champagne on Christmas Eve. This is obviously just for the parents, but Brad and I have enjoyed a glass of bubbly as we're putting the kid's presents under the tree the night before Christmas. Whatever's left pairs nicely with orange juice the next morning :)

5. Board game family gift. Growing up, Brad and his brothers were always given a group gift of a board game to share and play together over the holidays. Board games are an investment, so the holidays seems the perfect time, plus your kids are about to have two weeks off school, so it's like giving yourself a gift, too! This year we chose Les Aventuriers du Rail (the French version of Ticket to Ride) for our kids, when Asmodee Canada reached out to us. It's perfect for our family, as it accommodates up to five players. Our kids love travel, so it seemed especially fun!

6. Nativity Play Set. We have a porcelain (read: breakable) Nativity set that sits on a higher shelf, but I also picked up a plastic set from the thrift store with the purpose of the kids playing with it whenever they like. It's a favourite toy! They even take the pieces in the bath sometimes, haha! Their friends from school love playing with our Nativity so much, their parents have told me their kids are asking for one at their house, too. I think that's kind of cool! Anything that can connect the true meaning of Christmas to little hands and hearts seems worth while.

7. Christmas books. We have a growing library of Christmas books that we reserve only for December each year. Our favouites are How The Grinch Stole Christmas, The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, and L'étoile de Bethléem (a translated book, originally in English by Alan and Linda Perry) which has pockets with puzzles and activities inside. 

8. Christmas Day Bagels. Living in the Mile-End which is populated by a lot of Jewish families means everything is open on Christmas Day for us! We love to go on a family walk for hot bagels once we're ready to get out of our pajamas. The streets are full of neighbours all wishing one another glad tidings - it's times like this that I love city living the most, I think!

This post was in collaboration with Asmodee Canada,

all opinions are 100% my own.

To book a collaboration, contact me!