Christmas Holiday Ideas
Use our free Christmas planner to create and organize your Christmas holiday ideas. Now more than ever, people are looking for more meaningful, less expensive Christmas gifts. Make holiday projects a family affair by enlisting the help of your children. Even small hands can learn simple embroidery. Personalize an apron for Grandma, pillowcases for their cousin in college, or golf towels for Uncle Rob. Not only will the Christmas planner keep track of your budget, it will also help you organize and schedule projects, ensuring that you finish on time and remember everyone on your list.
Plan a hassle-free Christmas party. Christmas is the perfect time to connect with other families in your neighborhood, but planning a party that will entertain all age groups can be challenging. For adult refreshments, a simple selection of wine and cheese is an elegant, cost effective choice and a great conversation starter. Of course, children always love Christmas candy and cookies. Designate a table in the kitchen for the kids and supply them with all they need to decorate Christmas cookies or a gingerbread house. Use the Christmas planner to keep track of party favors, decorations, and food, as well as who to invite. Avoid all the hassles and headaches that go with Christmas party planning and keep everything organized this year.
For many families, Christmas is a time for giving back. Visit a homeless shelter and serve meals on Christmas day. Sing Christmas carols around the neighborhood with friends, or take a holiday gift basket to your local nursing home. Create your own Christmas traditions that you and your family can do year after year. You can keep track of what you've done with your Christmas planner, and then refer to the old ones years later to see when those traditions started and how you managed to fit everything in to your busy holiday schedule.
Creating Christmas Holiday Family Traditions
Written by Rondi Hillstrom DavisChristmas Holiday Ideas - Creating Family Traditions
Too often we forgo entertaining because of the mere thought of all of the preparation that is involved. And more is not better. Often we try to out do each other with lavish parties and expensive gifts. Stop and remember for a second what was important from your own childhood. Was it an outing? Baking cookies with your grandmother? Building a snowman with your dad? We need to connect. This doesn’t require more time, just shifting the focus of the time we already have. Here, a casual party and a very simple activity were the catalyst that brought everyone together.
To get the entire neighborhood into the Christmas holiday spirit we planned a caroling party. The day before our guests arrived, my kids and I spent an afternoon making decorative candleholders. We gave one to each caroler to light the way for our caroling expedition.
Dad, dressed as Santa, provided our very own photo opportunity. Little ones whispered their Christmas list in Santa’s ear. Grown ups, as well as kids, had their pictures taken in Santa’s lap.
Parents, kids, and even a few dogs then joined us on our merry way. Our numbers grew as we made our way caroling through the neighborhood. We chose 2-3 classic songs for our repertoire so that everyone we visited (and even the smallest child) could sing along. As the carolers returned, we welcomed them with Mexican hot chocolate and ginger spice cookies.
Each year we meet new neighbors. This is a great way to bring joy into our community and engage everyone in an activity that the whole family can enjoy. And for a few short hours we are able to turn our attention away from the commercial marketing of the Christmas holidays to something much more personal.
About the Author: Rondi Hillstrom Davis is the co-author of the award-winning book Together: Creating Family Traditions. To check out her website that's jam packed with family ideas, visit www.togetherparenting.com
Christmas Holiday Traditions: How to Spend More Time with Your Family This Holiday Season
Written by Holiday Talk AdminPlan a Caroling Party
To get the entire neighborhood into the Christmas holiday spirit, try planning a family caroling party. Not only is it fun, but you get two nights of activities out of it – one day to practice and prepare any props (candleholders, fun hats, etc.) and one night to actually go out and carol. Pick just two or three classic Christmas carols to sing and print off the words, so everyone can join in on the fun.If you’re headed out caroling, remember to stick to the sidewalks, wear bright clothing and stick to your immediate neighborhood.
Create your Own ‘Photo with Santa’ Moment
There’s no need to spend hours in line at the mall waiting to get a photo with Santa and inevitably being sucked into an unnecessary purchase. Instead, turn photos with Santa into a family tradition. Make or get Dad a Santa costume and you can use it year-after-year and at family get-togethers for those memorable wish list moments.For example, if you get food for your corporate holiday gift baskets, don’t get pork for a Jewish holiday, beef for a Hindu Holiday, or any kind of meat or animal products for vegetarians. Don’t get sports-themed corporate holiday gift baskets for people who don’t like sports, or other holiday corporate gifts like golf tools for non-golfers, tickets to events that the recipients aren’t interested in, or events that take place more than two hours away. Give holiday corporate gifts that are suitable, useful, and appropriate.
If you’re purchasing a corporate gift gift basket, make sure the theme and sentiment is appropriate for the occasion. Some holidays observed by other countries and religions may not be suitable for giving or receiving holiday corporate gifts. If you’re not sure, check online to see if gifts are acceptable, and if so, what kind.
When you get ready to give your gift, make sure the company doesn’t have a policy about accepting holiday corporate gifts. Some companies, government agencies, or nonprofit organizations don’t allow their employees to receive holiday corporate gifts, let alone general “swag” given throughout the rest of the year. If you’re not sure, call someone from the human resources or marketing department before you send your gifts.
A Personalized Gift for Christmas is the Best Gift
Written by Holiday Talk AdminJust keep all your ties, your CDs, and your fresh-scented soaps. Hang on to your wrankles, your fleebles, and flibberty-flopes. If you truly want to show love to someone you know, a personalized gift for Christmas is the only way to go. (With deepest apologies to Dr. Suess.)
A personalized Christmas gift can take many different forms. It can be an item of clothing that’s been monogrammed, like a person’s initials on a new sweater, a handkerchief, or even a golf shirt. With today’s computer technology, you can monogram a person’s initials or name, but you can even have a photo of your kids monogrammed to a canvas bag to give to the grandparents. Talk about personalization!
We even know someone who can monogram toilet paper, although it’s more suited as a display item, and not something you would actually, well, use. But still, nothing puts the “personal” in “personalized gift for Christmas” like monogrammed toilet paper.
Now don’t get us wrong. Buying a regular gift like a book doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t personalize it. In some cases, getting a personalized, autographed copy of a book is a great way to give a personalized Christmas gift. And if you buy the book at a book signing, you won’t pay any extra for the autograph.