One of the most exciting things about becoming a mom were all the Christmas traditions I started with my children. Some I started when they were much younger and others started up within the past few years but they’ve all been beyond magical. My absolute favorites are the ones I did when I was younger and just carried on over into doing with them.
Christmas Television Specials
Okay, there’s a holiday special for all the major holidays but Christmas ones just hit a little different. I still have memories of watching these when I was younger with Christmas cookies on the sofa … this is how I watch them with my children. A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Frosty the Snowman, How the Grinch Stole Christmas … you know, all the things that came out well before I was born.
Starbucks Holiday Hot Chocolate
This one is very cheesy basic, but I’m a sucker for all the holiday things, which includes the Starbucks holiday cups. Under normal circumstances, I don’t go to Starbucks because I can make several bomb mugs of hot chocolate at home for the price of one at Starbucks, so it’s just not in my regular budget, but I do fit it in during the holidays – when we get the Christmas tree, if we go out for a holiday event, and typically on really chilly days where we decide to crowd the sofa or bed and watch Christmas movies.
Chopping Down the Christmas Tree
I’m a sucker for a live Christmas tree. We didn’t get live trees growing up, we always had fake ones with or without the lights already attached. When my son was born, we purchased a white tree that I was IN LOVE with. I pulled it out of storage one year and it had yellowed. I was heartbroken and purchased my first live tree that year. For the past few years, we’ve actually stepped it up a notch and chop our tree down ourselves.
Decorating Gingerbread Men and/or Houses
We’re not in the kitchen whipping up gingerbread people and little villages for them, but we are purchasing kits from the store. There’s NEVER enough icing, the candy decorations aren’t the best, and those dang house pieces break when you’re trying to tear them apart. I still buy them every year.
The Nutcracker
Is there anyone who doesn’t have this on their Christmas traditions list? Whether watching it on tv (The Nutcracker Prince is my absolute favorite cartoon version) or going to the theater, The Nutcracker is probably my favorite Christmas tradition – other than getting the tree. I love getting all dolled up, grabbing dinner at an old favorite, and going to the theater to hear the symphony as the ballerinas glide across the stage. It’s perfectly splendid.
Jazzy Christmas
Okay, so this one I actually don’t do with my kids, but I’m adding it to the list because I’ve been doing it for quite some time and it’s definitely a Christmas tradition for me.
The 3rd weekend in December, I do dinner somewhere in uptown Charlotte followed by drinks and jazz at The Ritz Carlton. It started out with just a friend and me before exploding into being a mini gathering – mostly with people I didn’t know. With Covid, it won’t be happening this year, so it may give a chance to have a reset and bring it back to a more intimate gathering come next year.
Matching Jammies
This one is a definite new addition to the list. I was never into the matching jammies before and, funnily enough, my kids in their teen years have wanted to do the matching thing. It’s kind of fun to see everyone in their jammies as we deck the halls or drive around looking at neighborhood Christmas lights … which is also a big Christmas tradition, but I’ll just mesh that into this one.
What are some of your Christmas traditions? Please, let me know in the comments and, as always, thank you for reading!
