This month we would like to give one of you a great gift, a $25 Gift Card! To win
our “$25 Gift Card Giveaway” simply leave a comment on this post between now and Tuesday, December 20 sharing with us your favorite Christmas tradition or a new tradition you would like to start. We will announce a winner on Wednesday, December 21. Only one comment per person please and remember to leave your comment on this post to register for the giveaway. Thanks!
Like this:
One blogger likes this post.
Merry Christmas!!! This year we are starting new traditions along with some of the same from the past. This year God has answered my prayer for my son sending him a wonderful sweet young lady. We have started new traditions with her with our family. God has been so good to us all year. He has blessed us in so many ways. We give all the honor and glory to Him !!!
Giving to others has been our “Theme” this year !!! It is such a blessing in giving to others in need.
By: Connie Helms on December 12, 2011
at 12:17 pm
My favorite traditions are the simple ones. Things that don’t cost much money, liking baking for my friends, watching old Christmas movies, driving around looking at the Christmas lights and reading the Christmas story and keeping CHRIST in
Christmas. Happy Birthday JESUS!!!!!
By: Jackie Roberts on December 13, 2011
at 4:29 pm
My favorite tradition is when we all go to my grandmother’s house on Christmas day for lunch and celebrating with my extended family. I love it! We have done it all my life and I hope it continues until Jesus comes
By: Charity on December 12, 2011
at 1:29 pm
My favorite tradition is doing Advent with our kids! It is such a sweet family time and it helps to keep the focus of Christmas on Christ.
By: Karen on December 12, 2011
at 2:00 pm
One of my most favorite traditions is going to my mom and dads house like the saturday before, making up lots of treats and taking the treats to neighbors/and friends who may not have a lot of family, etc.
By: annnette Brewer on December 12, 2011
at 2:02 pm
My families Christmas Tradition is that we do not go anywhere and take time to enjoy the day watching each other opening gifts and such, eat a big breakfast, clean up some and just enjoy each other and this is on Christmas day. It has been great watching the children over the years.
By: Barry Houck on December 12, 2011
at 2:02 pm
My family tradition is on Christmas morning when we all get up, before we even attempt to open one present we all say Happy Birthday Jesus. As this is the reason that we celebrate this day.
By: ANGELA ADAMS on December 12, 2011
at 2:06 pm
I got married 2 years ago and started a new tradition with my husband. For each member of the family (including the dog) we prepare a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child. We hope to continue this tradition as our family grows. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
By: Deidre on December 12, 2011
at 2:07 pm
One of our favorite traditions is to read the Christmas story before we have our family meal together. We then each share special things that the Lord has blessed us with during the past year. We then share our special meal together and then open our presents together. Just being together with family and friends to celebrate our Savior’s birth makes memories that will be cherished forever.
By: Beth McLamb on December 12, 2011
at 2:08 pm
My favorite tradition is opening gifts with my family. We take turns and open one at a time so that everyone can enjoy. I’d like to continue this tradition with my kids.
By: Jessica on December 12, 2011
at 2:11 pm
My favorite tradition at as a child on during Christmas was going to Grandma’s house on Christmas Eve. All of the cousins were there and we really had a great time enjoying lots of cookies and hot chocolate and presents. We had a large crowd with extended family members there also. I loved it so much! Afterward we would ride through the J Iverson Center and look at all of the Christmas lights they displayed.
Now that Grandma has been gone for quite a few years my family hasn’t started any new traditions as of yet, but I still take my children to see the lights. They enjoy them as well.
By: Tonys on December 12, 2011
at 2:12 pm
Over the past few years, our family has been through quite a lot. The loss of my father, my sister lost her house, my brother-in-law has been very ill and my husband and I were voted out of our church (but NOT for immoral reasons) It was easy for Christmas last year to dwindle down to nothing. This year I want to bring Joy back into our family’s Christmas. Though my husband and I now live in Virginia, I hope for us to visit the others and if so, I want to bring some simple pleasures back into our family time together, like baking together and making some gifts to share. I am looking for ideas, but that is my wish for Christmas this year.
By: Joy Frazer on December 12, 2011
at 2:17 pm
Last year my small family decided to stop shopping for gifts, and I enjoy just focusing on Jesus (I focus on the others when their birthdays come, but this is HIS birthday). We love our church’s Christmas Eve service, and afterwards my husband and I listen to Christmas music in the car and drive from one neighborhood to the other, looking at lights. Although I usually miss them due to Christmas program rehearsals, I love watching “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Those old TV specials are the best.
By: Sonja Beach on December 12, 2011
at 2:22 pm
My favorite Christmas tradition is one that began two years ago this month. That tradition is spending Christmas morning with my wife. There is something special about it and I can honestly say that it puts a smile on my face in the morning that lasts till that night.
By: Gary V. Nichols on December 12, 2011
at 2:29 pm
My husband and I are expecting our first child in April, so we plan on starting this new tradition next year and continuing it all the while we have children in our home
–baking a birthday cake for Jesus, but not just any birthday cake, one that is made especially for Him. With three colors on the inside, green, red, and black for sin, and then decorations on top including Angels. Our church happened to do this just yesterday, showcasing the cake and sharing its significance with the youth and rest of the congregation. I think it’s a wonderful way to remember and celebrate ‘the reason for the season!’
By: T. Fisk on December 12, 2011
at 2:31 pm
A tradition my kids and I have started is to write a letter/prayer each year and put it in with the box when we box up the Christmas ornaments. We talk about how the year has been and what we hope and pray for in the coming year. We then look at the letter when we get out the ornaments the next year and reflect on how much has changed and how many prayers were answered.
By: Melissa on December 12, 2011
at 2:43 pm
Merry Christmas! Each Christmas Eve we read the Christmas story, pray together and enjoy a wonderful meal together before we open up Christmas presents.
By: charles bouchard on December 12, 2011
at 2:47 pm
Every Christmas eve my mom’s extended family gets together at my cousin’s house. We eat a wonderful meal, and then we exchange presents. We have “gag” gifts that we trade. We joke around and laugh a lot! It is a great time with the family!
By: Jess Bankhead on December 12, 2011
at 3:10 pm
My family has been doing Advent for 3-4 years now and love the focus of Christmas to be on Jesus!
By: Cindy calloway on December 12, 2011
at 3:39 pm
¡Feliz Navidad!
My family found a sweet children’s book of the first Christmas and each year we get together on the 12th day of Christmas (January 6th) to celebrate THREE KINGS DAY (I LOVE those THREE KINGS on camels near the front of the store, by the way) and one member of the family reads the cute little book to the whole family.
It’s a traditon we will treasure always.
A new tradition I will begin next year will be to get my grandchildren’s handprints on my tree skirt . . . and add a handprint each year to see how their hands have grown . . . my first grandchild is coming in February.
Vicki
By: Vicki Krueger on December 12, 2011
at 3:44 pm
My family has a long standing Christmas Eve tradition. Each Christmas Eve before the service at church, or between church services, we eat Chinese for dinner. This started one year because the turkey my mother cooked was bad and the Chinese restaurant was the only thing open. Usually on Christmas Eve we are the only ones in the Chinese restaurant and end up eating with the family that runs the restaurant. It may be a bit odd when we think about it, but we would not have it any other way.
By: Brittany Smith on December 12, 2011
at 3:44 pm
We have many traditions in our family. One of the most meaningful to me is simply getting together just to be together. No gifts, no pressure, just family.
By: Kim Black on December 12, 2011
at 3:58 pm
When our granddaughter, Lauren, was born 17 years ago, we would always go to their home on Christmas morning to see what she got from Santa Claus. Then my husband, Buddy, would cook a large breakfast for the four of us.
Our daughter, Tammy, passed away in 2004, and we have continued with that tradition. Hopefully, this tradition will continue after Lauren is married and has children.
By: Betty Jo Carrier on December 12, 2011
at 4:02 pm
one of my favorite christmas traditions is my dad trying to make us wait as long as possible to open presents on christmas eve. also having finger foods on christmas eve.
By: sandy rogers on December 12, 2011
at 4:03 pm
A new tradition that we are really enjoying is reading an advent story, Jotham’s Journey, A Storybook for Advent, with our oldest child each night at bedtime. Our younger two can’t wait to turn 10 so that they can join in this special time! (FYI-It has some intense parts that are too much for our younger ones.)
By: Traci Palmer on December 12, 2011
at 4:12 pm
My favorite Christmas tradition is waking the kids up at midnight on Christmas Eve and letting them open all their presents. I love watching them get so excited. They get to stay up as late as they can playing with their presents then we go to church Christmas morning and then go to my parents’ and my husband’s parents’ houses. My mom always makes a yule log cake on Christmas and I love that part of the tradition as well. Merry Christmas everyone!
By: Suzy Ward on December 12, 2011
at 4:18 pm
Since my boys have gotten older (one is married, one engaged) I have started a new tradition of having a family supper on Christmas Eve. I go all out with china and crystal. Multiple courses and a special dessert. We play Christmas music and eat by candlelight and sit afterwards and relax and talk. It is so nice to be relaxed and enjoy each other. On Christmas day we all go to my mother-in-laws and eat breakfast with them and my husbands siblings and their families and then go to my parents for lunch and on to other places for a visit. The last thing my husband and I do is go to the movies. It used to be I would feel let down and slightly depressed because my boys were grown and weren’t home with us at the end of the day. But now my husband and I go out and have time alone and watch a great movie…this year perhaps War Horse will be my choice.
By: Angie Prevette on December 12, 2011
at 4:28 pm
We love to watch as many Christmas movies as possible. The classics are the best. Also, we go out on Christmas Eve and look at all the lights. It’s fun to see how people have decorated their homes.
We also like to read the true Christmas story straight from the Bible. And, we reflect on what Christ did, through His birth and eventual death and resurrection, for each one of us.
By: Lesli Wheeler on December 12, 2011
at 5:05 pm
My favorite Christmas tradition and memory is our birthday party for Jesus. Every Christmas eve, the kids and I would make a birthday cake for Jesus – something like a coffee cake for breakfast. On Christmas morning, before any gifts were opened we lit the birthday candles and sang happy birthday to Jesus. I still smile when I think of those days.
By: Nan Jones on December 12, 2011
at 5:17 pm
Our tradition has always been to go to granny and paw-paws house on Christmas eve and eat and open presents and enjoy each other. My father passed away a few years ago and we have continued the tradition. I want to start a new tradition next year. I want each person to make a home-made ornament for the tree, tell everyone why you chose to make what you did and the meaning it has for you. One rule is the ornaments can only be something related to the true meaning of Christmas. We will only have lights on the tree, so each year the tree will be decorated more with everyones ornaments.Jesus is the reason for this season!
By: Teresa on December 12, 2011
at 6:38 pm
We really only have a tradition and that is opening gifts on Christmas Eve. We recognize it is Jesus’ birthday and sometimes one of us will bake a birthday cake. Since everyone has gotten married and moved away these wonderful memories have to sustain me. I miss terribly those who have moved into their heavenly home and the rest of us can’t wait to join them.
By: Betty Hamblen on December 12, 2011
at 6:56 pm
Every Christmas morning my family reads the story of Jesus’s birth from Luke. Before we all begin opening presents my family will read the Christmas story, and pray, thanking God for all his blessings through the year and the gifts He has blessed us with this this Christmas morning. My parents always made sure that no matter what we children remembered what Christmas was truly about; the wonderul gift of the Saviour!!
By: Heather on December 12, 2011
at 7:36 pm
When our kids were little we got them up on Christmas morning but our first thoughts weren’t about the presents under the tree. We had them get up, get dressed and eat breakfast as a family which is usually homemade cinnamon rolls which we don’t have any other time of the year. After breakfast we talk about the real meaning of Christmas and then we let them open their presents one at a time (taking turns). They have been known to stop and play with a gift for a while before we open the rest of the presents. We have felt this has taken the focus of the morning off of the gifts and puts more focus on the true gift and the giver of all good things. As teenagers they are excited about what everyone else is getting and have even been known to let one of us go first to open the first present.
By: Marci on December 12, 2011
at 8:26 pm
A tradition my husband and I started years ago when our daughter was young was going to candlelight service on Christmas eve. (We did not have one at our present church when we moved here, so we shared with our pastor the great memories. I am happy to say we are starting our third Christmas eve. service this year.) Either before or after the service,we have lots of hors d’oeuvres. When I was a child, Santa came to our house and gave out gifts, so we have continue to exchange gifts that evening. A new tradition my daughter and I started after my husband passed away three and a half years ago is that we do a pre-Christmas mother/ daughter 3-4 day trip. The first year she took me to the Biltmore and we always have our picture taken together and buy an ornament as a keepsake.
By: Connie Watson on December 12, 2011
at 8:35 pm
I love being with all my family at Christmas. Christmas morning w/my son and husband, Christmas day w/my mom and sisters and their families. Really special to me though is Christmas Eve at my Grandma and Grandads house, b/c it is something we have been doing since I was a small child and I am so fortunate my son gets to share this tradition with his great grandparents.
By: Janna on December 12, 2011
at 8:50 pm
I would very much like to begin the tradition of reading the Christmas story on Christmas Eve with my family. No, it’s not a creative idea, just one we’ve never done before.
By: Melinda R. on December 12, 2011
at 9:38 pm
We like getting together and having Christmas breakfast.
By: Janet on December 12, 2011
at 9:43 pm
My favorite tradition is doing our Advent log each night leading up to Christmas. It is a great way to come together as a family each night and remember that Christ is the reason for the season. It seems to keep our focus right each year.
By: Cheryl on December 13, 2011
at 7:59 am
Each year at my parents’ house my dad would prepare communion. He would set the juice and bread in the middle of the room and we would each take a turn serving one of the other members of our family saying, “This is Jesus’ body broken for you,” and “This is Jesus’ blood shed for you.” It’s humbling and encouraging to see your children and other family members serving one another. My parents have gone on to be with the Lord, but my sisters and I continue the tradition with our family that my dad started years ago.
By: Kristy on December 13, 2011
at 8:12 am
My favorite Christmas tradition is hosting a Christmas Eve dinner and service at my house for my family. We have a traditional dinner followed with a time of worship and finished with opening presents! This year, I am making a birthday cake for Jesus for my nieces and nephews to enjoy!
By: mollyepetrey on December 13, 2011
at 10:19 am
My husband and I have been married for only a few years and we do not have any children. We have really enjoyed spending Christmas morning together, just the two of us. We start the morning off with Cinnamon Rolls and our favorite coffee. We try to open our gifts as slowly as possible because after that its go, go, go all day long. I am so thankful and look forward to our Christmas mornings.
By: April on December 13, 2011
at 10:44 am
Merry Christmas
Every year on Christmas Eve we get to open one present and it is new PJs. We are always wanting to open just one present before Christmas and this gives us a chance to do that. I love it and the kids love it too. We know it is PJ’s but we never know what kind. This is a tradition I started many years ago when my children were small. We have fun with it maybe other can too.
By: Lorry Earp on December 13, 2011
at 1:14 pm
Our family enjoys celebrating Advent with a fun felt kid’s calendar that has a different Nativity character in each of 25 pockets to attach to the backdrop each day. Our 5 kids have come up with creative ways to make it a surprise who will get to place Baby Jesus in the manger Christmas day. We also light our Advent candles during supper and read some Christmas stories after supper each evening to keep us focused on the real reason for Christmas. This year we have added scoring each short story afterward which results in more attentive listening, fun discussions, and some laughs.
By: Teshia Dillard on December 13, 2011
at 3:40 pm
My favorite Christmas tradition has been one I’ve known and enjoyed my entire life since childhood. Our family would have Christmas Eve dinner together with all my aunts, uncles, and cousins at my grandparents’ home. After dinner, the oldest grandchild would read the Christmas story from Luke in the Bible. Afterwards, we’d all open presents. Today the oldest grandchild is 57 and this tradition still continues. I am so thankful for a Christian family and these priceless memories.
By: Patti on December 13, 2011
at 6:35 pm
We have several traditions in our family. My favorite Christmas tradition, however, is serving at the Operation Christmas Child Processing Center. It absolutely warms my heart seeing thousands and thousands of shoeboxes being readied for their to journey into the hands of a child across the world. It humbles me that such a small box of toys and toiletries is going to bring so much JOY (and with a message of JOY, HOPE, SALVATION…JESUS!!!) to a child. As a mother of two young boys, it encourages me to not get suctioned into the commercialism and “to do’s” of Christmas. I never want my children to grow up too soon, but I look forward to the day that we can serve alongside each other at OCC. Merry Christmas!!
By: Melissa Williamson on December 13, 2011
at 10:08 pm
We have several traditions in our family. My favorite Christmas tradition, however, is serving at the Operation Christmas Child Processing Center. It absolutely warms my heart seeing thousands and thousands of shoeboxes being readied for their journey into the hands of a child across the world. It humbles me that such a small box of toys and toiletries is going to bring so much JOY (and with a message of JOY, HOPE, SALVATION…JESUS!!!) to a child. As a mother of two young boys, it encourages me to not get suctioned into the commercialism and “to do’s” of Christmas. I never want my children to grow up too soon, but I look forward to the day that we can serve alongside each other at OCC. Merry Christmas!!
By: Melissa Williamson on December 13, 2011
at 10:09 pm
Our family Christmas tradition is our candle tradition. It is similar to the Advent candle but in this case we have use candles to represent Jesus, our family and friends. The one white candle represents Jesus and is in the center of the log. The 5 burgundy candles around Jesus’ candle represents each one in our family. The 6 green candles outside of ours represents friends. We each have a turn where our family affirms and prays for that person, plus we choose different friends and extended family members to pray for as well. It is a blessing to have your spouse and children affirm you and to pray for you for the coming year. We each feel very connected and loved, plus we feel very thankful for the family God has given us. Sometimes we invite a family over for dinner and then light a candle and affirm and pray for them afterwards. They usually feel very encouraged and affirmed and it unifies our family to theirs. God is good and awesome!
By: Donna LaPlante on December 14, 2011
at 7:32 am
tradition at our home at Christmas is for all of our family to get together spend time together visit other family members and have food, open gifts and just enjoy being together as a family but last year my husband and I decided on Christmas Day after our children and their families left Christmas morning to spend time with their families we wanted to do something for someone besides just our family so we volunteered to delivery meals to familes who where in need or just simply alone. What a true blessing this was and will continue to be for us. If you want to really find out what Christmas is or should be about try volunteering to help someone not as fortunate. God will truely Bless.
By: Jane on December 15, 2011
at 8:53 am
Last year I decided to start a tradition with my son, who at the time was 4 years old. I purchased a beautiful ornament and a book from Cornerstone…the ornament says Happy Birthday Jesus and the book is called Christmas time is here and tells of the birth of Jesus as taken from the KJV of the Bible. I wrapped these two gifts in gold paper and beautiful large red and gold ribbons and placed these under the tree. I told my son those gifts stood out and were special so we opened those first and read the Christmas story together with our family and then sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. I now have already purchased two ornaments for this year signifying the true meaning of Christmas and plan to read the Christmas story again before other presents are opened and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. It is so important that I instill in my son at this early age what the true meaning of Christmas is! Thanks to Cornerstone for having such wonderful items and in helping in starting my new family tradition!
By: Penny on December 15, 2011
at 8:28 pm
My favorite tradition is getting together with my husband’s family on Christmas eve for a “Worship Service” – it looks different every year as the great grandparents go on to heaven and little people are added…but each year it is suited to our family…and I look forward to it every year!
By: Daphne Petrey on December 16, 2011
at 1:02 pm
Hope I win
By: kelly on December 16, 2011
at 10:17 pm
It didn’t let me post the rest lol. When we were little my mom would always back a birthday cake for Jesus and we would always sing happy bday to Him. I am starting to do that with my lil guy this year so it will help instill that Jesus is the reason for the season.
By: kelly on December 16, 2011
at 10:20 pm