by Phil Sikes
There are many Christmas traditions that are gradually being
lost in today's high-tech, always-on-the-go world. But Christmas is the perfect
time to slow things down and get back to basics to really enjoy the season. The
following are three ways to have a traditional, old-fashioned Christmas.
1. Decorations
For many people, decorations are what make Christmas time
special. The right decorations can set the mood for a traditional Christmas and
let the whole family get involved in creating the Christmas spirit.
Start with an old-fashioned Christmas tree. Traditional
decorations were all hand-made. Take a day early in December to get the whole
family together to create the decorations such as stringed popcorn and chains
made from colorful paper. Play Christmas music, serve eggnog and get everyone
into the spirit.
Check your local thrift or antique shop for some old-fashioned
decorations. Wax or blown-glass ornaments were commonplace in years past, and
there are often some great examples to be found in thrift stores for next to
nothing.
You can also look for antique tins with Christmas themes. These
make great candy or fruit dishes.
2. Baking and Cooking
Baking and cooking come a close second to the Christmas tree for
setting the mood for Christmas. Cookies, pies, and hot cider are all staples of
an old-fashioned Christmas celebration.
The entire family can take part - even the non-bakers. They can
help to decorate the sugar cookies or gingerbread men. Kids can help cut the
cookie shapes before they're baked.
3. Christmas Day
There are plenty of Christmas day traditions that can help create
old-fashioned fun. Find someone to play Santa Claus and deliver the presents for
everyone in the family.
Make the gift exchange time special. Don't just tear into them en
mass, give everyone a chance to open them separately. This gives everyone a
better chance to show their appreciation, and people get to watch their
reactions.
If you're lucky enough to have a white Christmas, take some time
out of the day to go sledding or have a snowball fight. Top it off by serving
hot cider or hot chocolate.
These family traditions can be passed on from generation to
generation, with each one adding their own extras.
About The Author: Get more creative ideas for your Christmas
celebrations, including fun costumes for Christmas on the Get In Costume
website. Visit
http://www.getincostume.com for lots more tips and ideas.
