The family barely finishes celebrating Thanksgiving before someone whips out the egg nog and mistletoe. The long-awaited turkey dinner is the beginning of the true festivities. As soon as Thanksgiving is over the members of your family gather around the table and begin making Christmas plans. Excitement and anxiety immediately overtake all other emotions as everything needed for your Christmas celebration is hurriedly transcribed to a piece of scrap paper. Soon the house will be lit with Christmas lights and pine-scented candles. A Christmas movie plays in the background as more and more boxes of decorations are emptied and scattered throughout the living room. The mess is stressful, but Oh! What an overwhelming sense of joy and happiness the beautifuly arranged tinsel and bows bring!
Christmas can easily be the most joyous time of year or the most stressful. In an instant the excitement of decorating and baking can turn into anxiety and worry. The holidays are the times we spend the most money and eat the most food. We become broke and fat in just a matter of weeks! It is so important to remember the true meaning of Christmas-we celebrate the birth of a Savior. Although not everyone celebrates Christmas, and not everyone who does celebrate believes in Jesus, Christmas can still be a time of love, family, and togetherness. This can still be the most joyous time of year. Christmas is what we make it to be.
Rather than getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of gift buying and stressing over how much to buy (or not to buy), take a few moments to sit in front of the fireplace and drink a cup of hot chocolate. Sit on the sofa or in your favorite chair and simply stare at the lights on the tree. Just breathe. Plan ahead. If you already know in September who you need to buy for, make a list that includes the names of the people you are buying for and how much you can spend on each one. Then aim to spend a tad less on each. Set aside an extra thirty or forty dollars a couple of months before Christmas to use for any unforeseen expenses. Christmas should be enjoyed. It only happens once a year and the season only lasts a few weeks. Take time out for Christmas movies and a glass of eggnog. You don't need to buy a gift for everyone, and you don't need to spend twenty dollars on each person on your list, prioritize.
Christmas traditions should have less to do with spending money and more to do with spending time. Christmas is the perfect opportunity to have a friend over and watch Rudolph (when else do you have an excuse to grab a blankie and watch cartoons?). Make it a tradition to relax; make it tradition to enjoy Christmas.
 | Christmas is a special time for children, and every parent wants to make it something memorable, something magical. That may seem like a tall order considering the seasonal hoopla and commercial excess that now associates itself with this celebration, but the magic can be kept if a little forethought goes into holiday preparations. |
 | While many stories are related to the history of Christmas traditions, a family's culture and heritage have a big impact on the types of activities, food and customs associated with the celebration of the birth of Christ. |
 | It doesn't take a bowl full of jelly or magical reindeer to create a homemade Santa costume. It only takes some material, time, love and lots of stuffing. It you already own large quantities of red fabric, making your own Santa costume can also be easy on your budget. |
Italian Christmas traditions are a festive blend of Christian influences and pagan celebrations. Whether your family is Italian or you just want to explore global holiday traditions, you can incorporate some old-world charm into your holiday. |
Although they are not well-known worldwide, Polish Christmas traditions are full of important symbolism. If you are of Polish ancestry, perhaps incorporating a few Polish Christmas traditions will help you feel more connected to your family's heritage. |
