Maria Schasteen asked:


Family Christmas Holiday Tradition gives us freedom and guidance in a time that is otherwise hectic and stressful, and often unorganized. Tradition gives us a blueprint of how our family anticipates and loves the holiday season, what they expect, how they love to celebrate.

Tradition gives us the opportunity to lay out our Christmas holiday activities well in advance. We can prepare a plan of action, and organize our holiday events using a true and proven site map. That takes off stress from last minute activities, e.g., the frantic search for needed holiday decor, or the headache of coming up with the right holiday menu.

But what shall we do, if our family does not have a Christmas holiday tradition yet? Simply, we create our own tradition. Let’s open the music box of our own childhood memories. What was it that made Christmas holidays so special? Was it the heavenly scent of cinnamon, orange and fir, all woven into the air in a potpourri of Christmas promise? Or do we remember mother’s Christmas story at candlelight? Was it the holiday music that touched our heart? With our own Christmas holiday memories at heart, let’s manifest our own family Christmas tradition! Here are twelve ways!

1. Build the excitement and joy up in your and your family’s heart. Start by decorating your home to invite Christmas promise into your family’s life. My mother used to decorate every picture in our home with a little fresh and wonderfully smelling fir twig. When we saw that mother was preparing for the holidays, excitement built up in our lives.

2. On December 1st, we brought in a fir wreath with four candles. Often three of those candles were purple, but one was pink. Living through the first two weeks, we children were eagerly looking forward to the third Sunday when the pink candle of Joy and anticipation was lit.

3. Of course, we had an Advent calendar and one of us was allowed to open a window each day. This meant that we children went to great length to ensure that we were good kids - cleaning up our rooms, removing the trash, washing the dishes, etc. - so every one of us got a turn to open a window.

4. It was custom that a Madonna statue was carried from house to house in memory of Maria’s search for a place to give birth to her child. So when it was our turn to open our family door and heart to Maria, our mother would bathe the room in warm, gentle candle light. We sang the old carols and prayed. It was an honor to accommodate the statue for one night, and every family tried to prepare a special welcome.

5. On the 4th of December, mom would bring in St. Barbara twigs from the garden. These cherry twigs, now brown and barren, will open their blossoms in the holy night. We watched the Barbara twigs carefully every day with excitement and wonder. Because out of these seemingly dead brown twigs, soon little green leaves would develop in the warm family room.

6. The 6th of December was St. Nicolas Day. That was a day of joy for children. In the window we would find a red crackling plastic sack with apples, mandarins, nuts and chocolate. But in our family it was also tradition that St. Nicolas would visit in person. I remember one special visit, when St. Nicolas admonished my little brother who was very bad to me at the time. The little guy did not know that anyone would know - especially not St. Nicolas, the old wise man with the sparkling eyes and the long white beard, who supposedly came directly from heaven into our home. From that day one, my little brother did not bother me ever again. I guess he learned his lesson.

This ends Part I of our Family Christmas Holiday Traditions. Be sure to read Part II also. We’ll discuss the traditional Christmas celebration, share a beautiful and moving Christmas story, and much more.

When Christmas holiday draws near, don’t let yourself be burdened by stressful last minute holiday preparations. Follow your time proven family holiday tradition - and if you don’t have a holiday tradition yet, manifest your own! Utilize some of the suggestions I shared with you from our own family Christmas holiday tradition.



Clestell

Anna Hart asked:


Holiday gift baskets are well established in connection to certain holidays. Christmas holiday gift baskets are widely advertised and given. In the United States, Easter and Thanksgiving holiday gift baskets are also popular.

Holiday gift baskets do not have to be reserved for Christmas, Easter, or Thanksgiving, however. These baskets are always appropriate and appreciated. Wine holiday gift baskets are often given as business gifts. Pet holiday gift baskets are pushed by pet stores in the U.S. Baby and corporate holiday gift baskets are also given in some countries.

Holiday gift baskets are cheap or expensive, unique or run-of-the-mill. You can usually find one suited to the specific holiday, but if not, you can custom-make holiday gift baskets.

Holiday Gift Basket Occasions

It would be impossible to list here every holiday of every nation. We will look at just a few that merit holiday gift baskets.

1. New Year’s Day: This holiday is celebrated universally. Holiday gift baskets should include items celebrating beginnings. Think of the word “new” when planning contents of a New Year’s Day holiday gift basket. You might also send a sport-oriented gift basket in the U.S., since many football teams play major games that day.

2. Children’s Day: Many nations celebrate a holiday for children. Baby holiday gift baskets or gift baskets for older children may be given. Include food treats appropriate to the age, plus a toy, book, or game. You can avoid sweets by making it a spa basket with “special” shampoos and lotions.

If the gifts are for youngsters who love horses, consider equestrian theme holiday gift baskets. Include carrots, apples, and sugar cubes to share with a favorite horse. Add a book about horses.

3. Mother’s Day/Father’s Day: These holidays are also common to many nations. Holiday gift basket ideas for these should honor the mother or father. This is a time for custom-made baskets, showing your thoughtfulness in selecting treats and gifts the recipient is known to like.

4. Grandparents’ Day: Grandma and Grandpa holiday gift baskets are appropriate for holidays such as the United States’ Grandparents’ Day. Give heart healthy holiday gift baskets. A healthy basket might include dried blueberries and bananas, smoked salmon, nut snacks, and Irish oatmeal. Add tickets to an event they would enjoy together, sporting or other.

5. Independence Day: Here is another holiday gift basket occasion. Most countries have a day on which they celebrate the nation’s beginnings. For example, “Canada Day” would be a great time for Canada holiday gift baskets. “The Fourth of July” is a good time for U.S. holiday gift baskets. In Japan, “Kenkoku Kinenbi” is a time for Japan holiday gift baskets. Be sure you include national flags in your holiday gift baskets. Something bubbly that can pop a cork would also be appropriate. If legal where you live, add a few small fireworks for celebration.

6. Memorial Day: Nations often set aside a day to commemorate those who died in their country’s service. Holiday gift baskets are a thoughtful way to thank those who lost loved ones in a war.

7. Labor Day: Here is another holiday that is celebrated around the world. With its roots in Australia, Labor Day can be a time for unexpected holiday gift baskets. Theme the contents to labor, perhaps “sturdy” foods and treats.

Helpful Tip

Remember to add cards to your holiday gift baskets – and choose durable baskets so they will remain as souvenirs long after their contents are gone.

By: Anna Hart



Dev