Christmas is a time of giving, and holiday celebrations during Christmas usually reflect that notion. In many cultures around the world, gifts are exchanged. However, there are a variety of traditions that you can incorporate into your own Christmas celebration to make your family’s celebration both unique and memorable. In this part, you’ll learn about Western celebrations and traditions.

■Christmas Trees

The Christmas tree has long been a dominant symbol of the Christmas season. In New York City at Rockefeller Center, a large Christmas tree is magnificently decorated. In other areas of the world, Christmas trees are also decorated. Concerning Christmas trees, there are two basic options:

Artificial Christmas Trees: Many people who own pets, particularly cats, have allergies, or young children, choose to have an artificial Christmas tree because it is cleaner and environmentally friendly. In today’s eco-friendly world, fake Christmas trees can be used every year, and do not diminish a natural entity. These trees usually are in local stores, and can be easily placed together by following a set of given instructions. Additionally, many artificial Christmas trees now come fully decorated with lights, relieving many from untangling a string of holiday lights each season.

Real Christmas Trees: Many others prefer to buy a real Christmas tree. Often, local towns, cities, and communities have Christmas tree lots that begin sales immediately following Thanksgiving. However, real Christmas trees require a bit more work. They must be watered, and their leaves shed. If cleaning up pine needles and watering a plant are something you and your family do not have the time for, or will not do, a real Christmas tree is probably not for you. However, real Christmas trees add a sense of authenticity to holiday decorations.

■Decorating the Tree

Decorating the Christmas tree is often a family tradition. Many families decorate the tree in the weeks before Christmas, while others do it on Christmas Eve. Christmas tree decorations often include a set of lights, tinsel, garland, ornaments, and/or a popcorn string. Christmas ornaments can be found at local retailers, can be homemade, or can be passed down from generation to generation. Many families receive a new Christmas ornament every year, adding to their collection as the years continue.

■Religious Observations

Depending on your religious beliefs, Christmas can also be a religious-oriented holiday. Many families go to mass during the Advent season, which is the forty days leading up to Christmas. During this time, the Christian church explains the stories leading up to the Birth of Jesus. Additionally, Advent Calendars usually count down the days until Christmas, bearing a tiny piece of chocolate and/or candy for each day.

Midnight mass is another tradition for many families. Often, local churches will hold midnight ceremonies, celebrating the birth of Jesus. In some churches, the mass is said in its original Latin form, while, in others, the music is the highlight. Often, professional string quartets and/or band ensembles are hired to perform. Choruses and musicians also sing and/or play a variety of Christmas songs, such as The First Noel, Silent Night, and O Come All Ye Faithful.

■Gifts

Although Christmas is not entirely about gifts, it is the time of year when gifts are both given and received. When shopping for gifts, there are many things to keep in mind, especially if you’re buying for someone who has eclectic tastes. Gifts do not have to be expensive. Often, the best gifts are homemade because they have sentimental value attached to them. If you’re struggling for gift ideas this holiday season, or if you’re wondering how you can create some gift-giving traditions in your family, the following section is for you.

◆ Letters to Santa

If you have children who still believe in Santa Claus, making a list to mail to Santa is a great bonding activity. Encourage them to be creative and color and/or decorate their list in anyway that they want. For a more personalized list, have your children write down one or two reasons why they deserve a gift this year. Another great activity to traditionalize is taking your children to go see Santa, whether he be in a mall, shopping center, etc. Usually, children can sit on Santa’s lap, tell him what they want for Christmas, and get their pictures taken. Many parents make duplicates and use these pictures for the cover of their Christmas cards.

◆ Christmas Cards

Christmas cards are another great way to send Holiday cheer to friends and family that cannot meet for the holidays. Cards can be bought, signed, decorated, homemade, etc. Many families incorporate a family newsletter in which they explain how their year went for each family member. Others, take a family picture and sign their names at the bottom. Many make a family project out of homemade cards. However, some families more have traditions that are more secretive in nature.

◆ Secret Santas

A Secret Santa can be a great idea for larger families. In a Secret Santa, everyone picks another person’s name out of a hat, with whoever they receive remaining a secret. The individual then buys or makes a gift for the person they chose. When Christmas comes, the person and the gift is revealed. This can be a fun game with older children, but younger ones may have issues with keeping a secret.

◆ Yankee Swaps

Often, extended families will gather to and hold a Yankee Swap. Yankee Swaps are usually best conducted in large families. In a Yankee Swap, each family brings a gift. Sometimes, there are themed swamps. For example, a re-gift swap or a homemade gift swap. Once together, each person picks a number out of a hat. Once all the numbers are dolled out to each person who’s participating, number one goes first and chooses a gift. Once he/she is done, number two goes, and so on. However, if the individual does not like the gift he/she chose, he/she can then take someone else’s gift, leaving the person with theirs. The best numbers to receive are numbers one or the last number because these lucky individuals can choose from any gift that they want. While this game can be fun, young children may be upset if a gift is taken away from them in exchange for a less desirous gift, therefore, older children are better participants.

■Charity Events

One of the best gift-giving activities is to donate a gift to one of the many toy drives for those who are less fortunate. Every year, the Marine Corp holds their Toys for Tots program. In most cases, the toys can be donated at local malls, shopping centers, community centers, stores, etc. Also, the salvation army also asks for holiday donations in the form of spare change. Individuals usually stand outside of stores during the Christmas season. If you want to encourage your children to donate to charity, take them shopping and make it a family project to pick out a toy to donate. If your children are young, have them place the change in the Salvation Army bin so they can feel as though they’re participating too. Many communities also hold food drives. Make a day of collecting imperishable foods around your house and donating them. These types of drives are usually done through schools, community centers, grocery stores, and, in smaller communities, door-to-door collections. Giving to others is a great teaching tool for families, especially families with young children.

■Outdoor Activities

For families who live in cold climates, winter and Christmas also come with snow. Many families choose to go skiing, ice skating, snowboarding, etc. In today’s society, even playing in snow or making snowmen is a great way to burn off those holiday treats. Usually, local golf courses and parks make great sledding hills. Additionally, hot chocolate is a warm winter treat after you and your family have returned from your outdoor adventures.

If you don’t live in an area with snow, you can still partake in outdoor winter activities. One of the most popular is caroling. Families can join with neighbors, friends, and other family members to go door to door singing Christmas songs. Often, others enjoy the holiday cheer. When this is over, you can share a meal with everyone at a local restaurant and/or at someone’s home.

■Food

After you’ve worked up an appetite playing in the snow, giving/buying gifts, and caroling, what’s better than to sit down and enjoy a meal with your family? Many families eat the same meal every year on Christmas. In America, many families eat a ham dinner because turkey was eaten the month before. However, many others eat foods pertaining to their particular ethnic backgrounds. Often, the food preparation can be made into a family tradition as well.

Christmas cookies are one of the easiest traditions to begin. Because of the wide variety of brands, you and your family can make a various assortment of shapes, flavors, and cookie types. If you have young children, pre-made, packaged dough is the easiest, as it is efficient and less messy. If you want to teach your children more about cooking and measuring, cookies are fun to make from scratch. Recipes can be found through friends and family, cookbooks, the internet, etc.

Other families have large holiday parties. These parties usually occur in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Often, family and friends meet to eat, mingle, talk, and celebrate the holiday season. If you’ve decided to partake in a Secret Santa or Yankee Swap, these holiday parties are often the best places to conduct them in. Additionally, another tradition that can be fun, especially for small children, is a dance party, using a collection of Christmas music. Other families conclude the evening with reading “The Night before Christmas”. When enjoying the company of friends and family at a holiday party, is fun, remember to be careful. Because many drink alcoholic beverages, driving can be dangerous. Remember, drink responsibly, and if someone is too intoxicated to drive, let him/her stay the night.

Because almost every Occidental, and some Eastern, cultures have Christmas celebrations, Christmas can be a great time to incorporate cultural traditions into your family’s celebrations. Whether you and your family adapt any cultural traditions, or create one of your own, Christmas is a holiday that can be as rewarding as it is stressful. Remember that the holiday is centered on giving, especially to those who are less fortunate. There is no right or wrong way to celebrate. Most importantly, enjoy the company of loved ones this Christmas season.