Every family has yuletide Christmas traditions they look forward to bringing back each year. In my house, that means playing board games on Christmas Eve and watching our favorite classic holiday film, A Christmas Story.
That said, there are some universal customs that we all look forward to as we count down to December 25. Whether it's hitting the mall to visit Saint Nick himself or just enjoying the decor surrounding you on the streets, the world just feels a little cheerier around this time of year.
Unfortunately, some of the most beloved past times have become… well, things of the past as modern practices take their place. It's a shame, considering most of these forgotten traditions revolve around spending more quality time with your family.
Take a look to see what you and your loved ones can do this year to embrace the charm from holidays of the past.
Did we miss your favorite tradition? Let us know in the comments and be sure to SHARE with your friends!
Thumbnail Source: Wikimedia Commons
1. Chopping Down A Tree From Your Yard
Before neighborhoods became more clustered and crowded, folks could just hop in their backyard to find the perfect tree. There was something so industrious about bringing Christmas to the home in this rustic way.
2. Sending A Family Newsletter
While some families still participate in sending out a lengthy family newsletter each year, we now mostly rely on our Facebook feeds to keep everyone updated year-round. This is either good news or bad news depending on whether you prefer handwritten notes or not.
3. Singing Carols To Neighbors
You might see chorus groups going around now and then, but what's stopping us from gathering to spread the cheer ourselves? It's rare to hear a knock on your door in this day and age, only to be greeted with a rousing rendition of 'Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer'.
4. Using Actual Stockings
Kids today obviously love giant stockings stuffed with extra presents hung carefully above the mantle, but using the real deal might help them be a bit less greedy. Consider using a normal sock next Christmas!
5. Filling Them With Fruit And Chocolate Coins
Again, keeping it simple like folks from the old days can help youngsters really focus on the more important aspects of the holiday. Filling your stockings with fruit, chocolate and gold coins is a fun, age-old tradition.
6. Putting On A Christmas Eve Pageant
Some churches still perform the annual show, but this used to be a tradition for families in their own living rooms. Why not consider reinstating this fun holiday tradition with your family. Trust us, the kids will love it!
7. Dad Dressing Up As Santa
It used to be much more commonplace for dads to have a Santa suit somewhere up in the attic for spreading holiday cheer. After all, you can't "see mommy kissing Santa Claus" without suiting up!
8. Running A Toy Train Around The Tree
For some reason, this is always something we'd see in movies about Christmas but never actually in real life. Why not try it for a delightful dash of holiday spirit to add to any home tree!
9. Stringing Popcorn And Cranberry Garlands
The process may be tedious, but it's also one of the best opportunities to get cozy with your family and tackle the project together. Pop on a Netflix movie and start stringing away. You'll have garlands galore in no time!
10. Making Homemade Gifts
There's no denying we're a more technologically obsessed culture these days, but that shouldn't stop us from using our own two hands to create something extra special for our loved ones.
11. Getting Gussied Up
Even if it's just throwing on your "good" pair of pajamas, dressing for the occasion always helped get everyone in a more festive mood.
Did we miss your favorite old-school tradition? Let us know below and be sure to SHARE with your friends!
