Ah, I remember the Christmases when I was a kid. Some of you won't understand what these mean to me, but my family will smile when they're reminded. Springerle. The best knoepfle ever. Too much tinsel on Oma and Opa's tree. Santa Claus somehow mysteriously coming down our chimney which was no bigger than a 5" pipe. A tiny advent calendar with cardboard doors. Sister #4 crying because tinsel was stuck in her crack and it hurt. Mooty Man with big black boots, a black fur coat, and foil (can't forget that). Opening presents to the light of the tree. Silent Night in German. Wrapped chocolates in dishes planted all over Oma and Opa's house. Endless supply of chips. Endless supply of pop. Loud Schwabisch conversations...and then loud translations for us kids. Lebkuchen. Hazelnut cookies. Hard, gray, star-shaped cookies that were gross but always there. Buckeyes...and more buckeyes.
Now that the kids are old enough to understand what the true meaning of Christmas is, we have begun to establish our own Christmas traditions. It's been easiest doing this in the form of an advent calendar/box. Most of these ideas were stolen and adapted from Sister #1.
1— put up the Christmas tree and decorate
2— tell the Christmas story with nativity scene
3— color Christmas picture together
4— sing Christmas carols at the piano
5— bake and decorate gingerbread men
6— nativity scene sticker activity
7— decorate sugar cookies
8— make apple-cinnamon tree ornaments
9— color paper Christmas ornaments
10— string popcorn
11— go to the bank open house
12— make stamped nametags on cardstock for presents
13 — open a little pre-Christmas gift: A Baby Born in Bethlehem book
14 — make hot chocolate (fancy, with whipped cream and sprinkles)
15 — make Christmas cards for people
16 — watch a Christmas movie
17 — cut out paper snowflakes
18 — make and decorate brown gift bags (idea from Nancy)
19 — sing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
20 — open a little pre-Christmas gift
21 — make presents for cousins
22 — go on a Christmas treasure hunt
23 — eat a candlelit meal
24 — read the Christmas story out of the Bible, open one little gift
25 — open family’s gifts
22 — go on a Christmas treasure hunt
23 — eat a candlelit meal
24 — read the Christmas story out of the Bible, open one little gift
25 — open family’s gifts
I know there are so many other good ideas out there, and I'd love to hear them. Rachel, some day I'll get the guts to do gingerbread houses. Lisa, I wish I could think of some awesome ornament to give our kids each year; the pick-ups are so cute. Trains came to mind, but I think our kids have enough trains. Nancy, I heard about a cake that you make, but I can't remember the whole story.
The kids have enjoyed opening each door to see what daily verse and fun there might be. Each year will probably be a little bit different, but hopefully from now until they have a family of their own we can build lasting Christmas memories.
