Christmas is one of those holidays that seems to be imbued with wonder and joy. Whether you celebrate it with a religious or materialistic spirit, your day will certainly be one of happiness, especially with the help of wikiHow. Here are some useful tips on how to celebrate a materialistic, child-friendly, religious or anti-consumeristic Christmas. Happy Holidays!
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Celebrate a Material Christmas
Step 1. Spread the cheer. When you hear the Christmas music, instead of putting your face (never heard of Ebenezer Scrooge?) Smile and whistle in time. Being cheerful during the holiday season will help you get in the mood and have more fun.
Wish the others a Merry Christmas if you know they are celebrating. If you are unsure, just say "Happy Birthday"! You're still spreading the joy of the party
Step 2. Enjoy the local traditions
Allow yourself to be a child again and enjoy the Christmas spirit. Leave the cookies for Santa Claus, see if you see Baba Noel passing through the window or arrange your clogs by the fireplace for Sinterklaas: in one way or another dwell on the tradition of the country where you live and let yourself be carried away by the magic.
Step 3. Decorate the house
The possibilities in this case are almost endless. Put the lights on. Hang mistletoe above the doors (especially if you know someone special is coming), hang a handmade wreath on the door or put Christmas figurines like Santa and Reindeer on the furniture.
Step 4. Buy and decorate the tree
Go with the family to a shop where they sell themselves or to a specialist nurseryman to find your tree. Choose the right tree for your home. Once you have it in place, drape the lights and hang the decorations. Don't forget to water it every now and then and keep animals away!
You can decorate your tree with festoons handed down from generation to generation or you can try something Star Trek themed or other superheroes, little trains, or Disney characters. It really depends on you and how creative or traditional you want to be
Step 5. Gather your family and friends
For many, Christmas means getting together with loved ones, enjoying company and celebrating. The holiday is national and most people don't work. Use this time to recover with friends and family. Create your own traditions or celebrate the ones handed down.
Step 6. Invite friends or family for Christmas dinner. If you want to cut back on expenses, organize a dinner where everyone who attends brings something. The important thing is to stay together and warm the cold of winter, sharing the love of the people you love. Consider making a full Christmas dinner or creating new traditions by spreading out and cooking whatever you want!
Step 7. Go sing the Christmas carols. You can do this at your home or door to door or at a home for the elderly. Learn some themed songs and go for it! It's fun and if your voice isn't the best you can always do it in company - in that case your most talented friends will direct you to some covers. If you can't go singing for some reason, play some Christmas music around the house while wrapping gifts or at the party.
Singing Ideas: "Rudolph with the Red Nose," "White Christmas," "Tu Scendi dalle Stelle," "Silver Bells," "Walking in a Winter Wonderland," "Jingle Bells," "It's Christmas," "Let it Snow, "Or" Silent Night."
Step 8. Watch Christmas-themed movies
Have a TV night inviting friends and family, serve some cider and popcorn or hot chocolate and cookies. Watch movies like “Mom I Missed the Plane,” “The Grinch,” “It's a Wonderful Life,” "A Christmas Story" or any other Christmas-related movie.
Step 9. Do something generous
It is the spirit of bringing joy, happiness, beauty and love to the holidays. Maybe you can volunteer at a homeless shelter, or help deliver meals and toys to those with less.
Step 10. Think about wrapping gifts with beautiful paper. There is no need to spend a lot though. Some families like to exchange gifts to show appreciation for one another. You can buy your own or make them yourself. Learn how to pack expertly here.
On Christmas morning, everyone gather under the tree and open the presents. Or sit by the fireplace with your sweetheart and enjoy the party together
Step 11. Do something fun with family members even outside the home
Go to the beach or to a park. In colder areas you can go tobogganing or make a snowman! If there is no snow, cover up and go for a walk. A breath of fresh air is always good.
If you live in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa or other countries in the southern hemisphere, yours will be a warm Christmas. This way you will have the opportunity to be outdoors and appreciate the beauty of nature as well as enjoy a day swimming, walking, languishing on the grass or playing. And don't forget sunscreen and a hat
Step 12. Deal with grumblers with affection
If someone is babbling about canceling Christmas or anything negative, they reply simply disarmingly: "I'm sorry you don't like this holiday. You are still welcome with us if you have nowhere else to go." What prevents the grouch from celebrating could also prevent him from accepting your invitation, or it could instead cause him to accept, even if it causes him to frequently make derogatory remarks. Leave him alone in the kindest way possible and continue the party, showing him compassion.
Part 2 of 4: Celebrate a Religious Christmas
See also: How to Celebrate a Strictly Religious Christmas
Step 1. Reflect on the essence of Christmas. If you're unsure or rusty on the subject, do some research. In the Bible, you can find the story of Christmas in the Gospel according to Luke, chapters 1 and 2 as well as in the one according to Matthew, chapters 1 and 2. Read them aloud during the holidays. Ask family members what they think to hear their interpretations.
Talk to the children regularly about the meaning of Christmas and tell them themed stories. Find beautiful illustrations to accompany the Bible stories to capture their interest
Step 2. Invite God to you to celebrate the day
Some people choose to do this by going to church on Christmas Eve. Some do this by sitting in front of the tree and silently praying for the Lord to join them. Whichever way you decide to do it, making God a part of your day is vital.
Step 3. Choose some activities that you and your friends or family love to do that fit the meaning of Christmas
You can prepare special foods for the poor and needy, visit those who live alone or have no relatives nearby, or go to hospitals to comfort the sick. You could also make gifts for those who will not receive anything.
Step 4. Spend time with others to celebrate
Join a friend or family home and spend time with people who believe like you.
Step 5. Give to others
It doesn't matter if they're family, friends or not - spend a part of Christmas giving. We give in memory of the Magi and their gifts brought to Jesus, but never forget that we must give because He was the first to give to us.
Step 6. Spend time peacefully, giving thanks for Jesus' gift to the world that is celebrated on Christmas Day
Entering the Christmas season with a grateful heart is essential if you truly want to take the step from Jesus' gift to what you will give and receive.
Step 7. Create your nativity. A beautiful way to celebrate Christmas is by recreating a nativity scene at home or in the garden. If you have children, ask them to help you. They will have fun making little angels and other figures.
If you can't recreate the scene, you can attend the Christmas play at school or at the church
Part 3 of 4: Celebrate a Material Christmas with the Children
Step 1. Involve the children in family traditions
Wherever you live, teach your children about traditions from an early age. There is something about Christmas that is magical for children.
Step 2. Tell the little Christmas stories
You can read them before bed or watch Christmas movies that suit them. You could buy a book on Christmas traditions from all over the world. In this way they will also learn those of other cultures.
Step 3. Help them believe in Santa Claus. Explain who he is and how he will visit you. To help the children believe in Santa, have them leave cookies as gifts on Christmas Eve. When they fall asleep, eat the cookies and leave the crumbs as proof, drinking the milk (if you had any). If your children leave a note, create one in turn signed "From Santa Claus", by thanking or answering any questions. Make sure you write in a different handwriting than normal.
You can also leave out some carrots for the flying reindeer. Do this to the children and when they sleep, nibble on them leaving a few bites on the ground as proof
Step 4. Decorate the cookies. Grab some common cookies or gingerbread men and let the kids decorate them (what the heck: you can too!) They'll love turning the cookies into delicious and colorful creations.
Step 5. Get help decorate the tree
Once you've set it up and put the lights on, gather the family to decorate it. If the children are small, help them by picking them up. Give them special ornaments to put wherever they want.
Step 6. Show your children how to hang the socks
It's part of the tradition (in the US for example) and little ones will love the idea of attaching stockings to the chimney and waiting for Santa. A nice idea when the little ones are asleep is to stuff the socks, take them off the fireplace and put them at the foot of their bed. On Christmas morning tell them to take them to your room and open them all together on your bed.
Part 4 of 4: Eliminate the Commercial value from Christmas
Step 1. Choose rituals and traditions instead of 'giving'
Establish family rituals and traditions that respect the spirit of Christmas and involve all members. It could be going to mass together, preparing lunch by assigning each (young and old) a task, or writing letters to exchange describing how what has been done during the year has been helpful. Whatever you choose, emphasize 'feeling and sharing' rather than surpassing yourself with material gifts.
Step 2. Avoid spending money you don't have
Don't go into debt just for a vacation. You don't have to buy expensive gifts, make them yourself. Many people prefer a handmade gift because they feel it is made with the heart. If you give within your limits, people will understand and you will be an excellent example of those who shed the trappings of consumerism.
Some gift ideas: bookmarks, photo frames with family photos you took during the year, Christmas cookies or sweets or "cookie kits" (flour, sugar, baking soda, chocolate drops and spices all collected in a jar with instructions hung on a raffia cord or ribbon, specifying what to add - eggs, oil, water, etc.). See How to Make Your Own Christmas Gifts for more ideas
Step 3. Learn some non-commercial songs
There are some beautiful ones that you can sing together, maybe someone in the family or among friends can play the piano or the guitar; in that case, encourage him to play and have a choir. Consider songs like "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Joy to the World," and "The First Noel." You can find the lyrics online if you don't know them.
Step 4. Mute audio during commercials
Seriously: stop with those tedious "buy this, buy that for Christmas" in your home newspaper. Consumer economics matters but not in your living room during a holy party like this. Teach children to mute themselves. Or record what interests you so that you skip the advertisements altogether. Everyone will feel better and at peace with less spur to the mad rush to buy.
Avoid obeying supinely the shopkeepers who push to make Christmas a consumerist thing only, as it is far from true meaning, religious or not
Advice
- Remember that your Christmas may not have snow-capped peaks, mountains of presents and heavenly chants but it's still your party and that's all it takes is to give thanks. The rest is a bonus.
- Some families, especially the German ones, put a glass gherkin on the tree. The first one who finds it receives a special gift for being the quickest or can open the presents first. According to tradition, this decoration is put on last.
- If you meet people who claim that you cannot celebrate Christmas if you are not a Christian, avoid them or remind them that in their own home everyone is free to do what they want.
- Know that there are people who consider Christmas to be a difficult time, especially if they have a sick family member, family problems or have suffered the mourning of those they loved. Do your best to comfort them and remember them in your prayers.
- Always enjoy Christmas with friends by inviting them and having fun baking cookies and if you meet them using the internet, celebrate by sharing photos or making a group video call.
