Traditions of Christmas

Pixie Land--a tradition that dates back to when we children were little.

        Everyone should have some Christmas traditions; things that you do that are are special and unique to Christmas time.  Anyone can have traditions whether you have a family of your own or are single.  If your family dynamics have changed, create new traditions to fit that change.  "Empty nesters" will only find themselves frustrated and disappointed when there children are no longer home if they don't create new traditions, just for the two of them.  And how would I have any clue about that?  Well, suffice it to say that we have had to create new traditions since my Mom passed away. However, the photo above shows one of her traditions that we have held onto.  Mom created Pixie Land for us children when we were small and as we got older she tried to phase it out because we really were past that stage; but we wouldn't allow her to stop it completely. 
   In our family, one of the traditions is that everyone meets at the "home place" for Christmas breakfast which is always a special recipe for a nut filled yeast roll and is served with sausage.

Christmas Roll--another long time tradition

  

The "Retro" Tree

    One of the things that we have started doing was making a "Retro" tree.  It is a tree with multicolored lights, on which we put many of the old ornaments that were on the tree when we were growing up.  There are some newer pieces on the tree just to help fill it out, but those pieces are ones that fit the rest of the style.
    Traditions can be simple or elaborate; but they lend a sense of fun and security to the Christmas season and can also eliminate the need for frantic planning.  What shall we do for . . . ?  Simple. What has been the tradition?  For example, the Christmas breakfast does not even need a second thought at our house because we all just know what the plan is.
    Here are just a few ideas for Christmas traditions; but be creative.  Let your imagination work.
          * Have a standard program for opening gifts; even if it is the program of sheer chaos.
          * Go out on Christmas Eve day, get coffee, and do some "just for fun" shopping.
          * Have a special movie that you watch as a family to "kick off" the Christmas season.
          * Have a special Christmas movie that you watch as a family a few days before Christmas.    
             Add a special meal and make it an evening.

          *  Share stockings sometime in the evening of Christmas Day.  This helps with Christmas
              evening anti-climax.  Fill the stockings with lots inexpensive items like candy, chocolate,
              snacks, gum, body washes, body sprays, lotions, pretty nail files, bath puffs, note papers,

              cool or really nice pens, chap sticks, gloves or mittens, neck scarves, any kind of small 

              gifts or practical things. Wrap each one separately so that everyone has the fun of 

             unwrapping them. Also, fun to do, is to fill out name tags for each gift from a famous 

             person. Or fill out the name tags with fictional characters, for example: To Janet, from Tiny 

             Tim.Make them all different.

          *  Read a special Christmas book or story together.
          *  Go out some evening to look at Christmas lights.
But above all create wonderful memories and fun times.

"It Just Stinks with Atmosphere"

    For a Party, Christmas morning, or anytime that you want to create a special cozy feeling, consider the atmosphere that you want to create.  Nothing speaks of home, coziness, and peace like music and candlelight, and of course Christmas lights.
    Orchestral or instrumental music playing the traditional Christmas pieces are some really good options for a soothing atmosphere.  The goal is to find something that soothes and uplifts but is not intrusive; something soft that does not make conversation difficult.  Good music can also be a conversation piece.
     Candles by the score.  Use loads of them.  Just be sure to use them so that wax and flame will not cause damage.  Pillar candles are beautiful but sometimes difficult to burn because they don't burn correctly and may start to leak, causing a waxy mess.  A good way to avoid this and still use them for a cozy affect is to burn them down just enough so that a tea light can be set into the hollow. This allows you to still have the real candle look and yet helps protect you from leaking candles.  I do not recommend flame-less candles--they look cheap and are disappointing because they don't make as bright a light and are not cozy like the real thing. 
    Along with the candle light used for just plain coziness, and to  help create a lovely Christmas atmosphere, always burn good quality scented candles or scented oils.  My favorites are Yankee Candles.  These candles truly give off amazing scents and are worth the extra money they cost.  Cheap, scented candles just smell cheap and are not strong enough to make a whole room smell good, let alone a whole house.  Here is a tip for those like me, who take one look at the price of Yankee Candles and walk out of the store.  Sign up for their coupons; they often have good deals like, "Save $10 off $25."  Also be sure to catch the Semi-Annual clearance sales (Last of December and into January and also in June/July).  If you live close to one of their stores, go often to these sales, as prices and products change every few days.  I have stocked up with great deals at these sales.  If the candles are stored in a cool, dark place they will keep well for months if not longer.  Another economical trick is to buy their votive candles but cut them in half and burn them just like you would the wax tarts.  This way, there is twice as much burn time for the same price.  The wicks on the votive candles are are easy to remove. just use a table knife to pry the metal disk out of the bottom of the candle and the wick will pull out with it.
      I especially like using the wax tarts and the oils.  The oils are great for a quick, room filling scent but they may not give off scent for as long as the wax tarts.  I like the wax tarts because I feel like they give off a stronger scent than just burning one of Yankee's normal jar candles and when I want to fill a whole house with a scent; it is more economical to burn a few wax tarts then to burn enough jar candles to create the same effect.  The scent from these wax tarts will linger in the house for hours.  It is not necessary to use Yankee Tart Burners or their tea lights.  Their burners are nice and easy to work with, but not essential.  However, watch for them on clearance--it is possible to get awesome deals on them then.  Also, the cheap tea lights that are found at a craft or dollar store are just fine for burning oils and tarts--just be sure to watch them so that they remain safe.
    I find that if I am planning a get-to-gather, that it is nice to start burning the scents about an hour ahead of time so that when the guests arrive the house already is well scented.   I burn oils to get a quick start to the smells and then light tarts to continue the scent for the duration of the party.
    Pick a scent which is unique to Christmas and only burn it at Christmas time.  In this way you will always connect that scent to Christmas and it will be more special, evoking warm memories.  My personal favorites are the pine or bayberry scents (Yankee Candle Company, of course). However, there are also special Christmas scents that are spicy or like fresh baked cookies.  Since it can be pricy and overpowering to burn loads of scented candles, burn just enough of them to make your home smell "Christmas-y" and then invest in a large number of cheap craft store tea lights.  These can be found almost anywhere.  Watch for sales or coupons for craft stores or where bridal supplies can be bought and where they can be purchased in large quantities of 100.  Keep on the look out for these sales all year long.  Tea lights are always handy to have but especially, at Christmas, it is nice to have plenty.  Use them anywhere that you would normally burn a votive candle.  This way, you will save your self a whole lot of effort and mess.  Just pop the tea light into the candle holder and when it is completely burned up throw out the metal holder--no messy wax to dig out or a stubborn candle to re-light.  Hint:  Yankee Candle Company has scented tea lights that burn quite a bit longer than regular tea lights.  I use them for special occasions. You can also make tea lights into floating candles by purchasing some of Yankee Candles' clear glass floaters.

This is a pedestal glass vase or flower bowl with a glass floater in it so that I can burn tea lights as floating candles.

 Tea lights can be used in large stemmed candle holders.  For a special effect fill the bottom of the large stem ware with marbles (even add water for extra interest) and set a small, clear glass votive candle holder, found at a craft store, down into the marbles. Then place the tea light into it; this gives a dimensional, layered look as well. 

Center piece with large stemmed candle holder and votive candle holders with tea lights.  I also used acrylic "ice" in the bottom of the stemware and added a few snowflake table tossers (snowflake confetti would also work).

Other ways of getting candle light into a room is to be on the look out for any cute or unique candle holders, and use as many as possible in your decorating.

Adorable mice and old fashioned typewriter candle holder.

    If at all possible, maintain the atmosphere by using the Christmas lights and candle light only. If more light is essential, try to keep it low or use small lamps.  Add the soft, gentle music and you have a warm, inviting, peaceful setting for your guests, or just relaxing with the family.
 
 

Quality Christmas Music, Movies, and Books

Crystal trees with berry and holly pick.

Christmas Music:

Phil Coulter

Kenny G

Anthony Burger

Living Strings

Mantovani and His Orchestra

Percy Faith and His Orchestra

Mannheim Steamroller

DeVol and the Rainbow Strings

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Dino Kartsonakis




Christmas Books:

The Other Wise Man

A Bird's Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol (Dickens)

Christmas Jars (Jason F. Wright)

The Indescribable Gift (Richard Exley)



Movies:

It's a Wonderful Life starring James Stewart

A Christmas Carol staring George C. Scott (this one just reeks with old English atmosphere!)

A Christmas Card starring Alice Evans

The Bishops Wife starring Cary Grant