I’m a huge fan of Christmas Traditions.

When I was very young, every Christmas Eve, my sisters and I would huddle around our parents in the living room, and listen to my dad read the story of Jesus’ birth from the Bible.  We’d all be in our jammies, scrubbed and ready for bed. The cookies and milk were set out on the fireplace, underneath our stockings dangling from the mantle, all waiting for Santa’s arrival.  It was such a loving and calm way to end the night.

Christmas morning, we would come out of our rooms, and our stockings would be stuffed full, sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace, with one “big” toy each next to each of our stockings.  It was always SUCH a thrill to know that Santa had come!

I’m so excited to be able to finally start our own family traditions.  Chris and I have always done stockings, (we even have one for Abbey (and Maggie before her) and of course Harlow got one last year as well) but now we are adding new traditions little by little, and year by year.

 Current Traditions:

Stockings

I’m so itching to get new, personalized stockings! They are just so pricey!!!

Photo with Santa

This photo is from Harlow’s first time meeting Santa.  Hopefully she does this well again this year!

Christmas Jammies & Book Tradition

Starting this year, on Christmas Eve, Harlow will open one gift before bedtime.  A new (washed & ready to be worn) pair of Christmas jammies and a Christmas book to read at bedtime.

Here’s what she’s getting:

I can’t find the jammies anywhere online, but I got them at Target, and they are Just One You by Carters.  I really wanted these, but I can NOT find Harlow’s size… online or in any stores!  I’m really excited to do this every year, maybe changing to a Christmas movie as she gets older.

Other traditions I hope to incorporate in the upcoming years…

Reading The Birth of Jesus Christ from the Bible

I would love to bring back this tradition when Harlow is old enough to sit through that much of a story.

Christmas Pizza!

On Christmas Eve, it would be so fun to make Christmas Mini Pizzas.

Letter to Santa

I’d love if Harlow wrote a letter to Santa, and even better, a thank you note after Christmas!  You know… grease the wheels for next year.

An Activity Advent Calendar

I really want to do an advent calendar with simple activities instead of traditional candy.  Make sugar cookies, sing Christmas carols, watch a Christmas movie, drink hot chocolate, drive/walk around to see the lights, etc…

Have Harlow pick out and donate a toy for Toys for Tots

I really want to instill in her how fortunate she is to have all we have, and to cultivate a charitable spirit in her.

Leaving cookies & milk for Santa, and some carrots for the reindeer

I always LOVED doing this when I was little, so I’m excited to start this tradition.

I heart Google Image

What are some of your favorite family traditions?