I didn’t really want to set up the Christmas village this year. Although it does not take too much time to set up, it is a messy procedure to take down post Christmas. I like a quick easy Christmas cleanup. I like simple and easy tasks right now. As a parent, it was just easier to leave those charming little houses and music stores and pretty vintage churches in their boxes packed in the basement.
But … there’s something so delightful about traditions that are remembered year after year … setting up the Christmas village is predictable for this family. It’s intentional … with hope that the children will remember the soft glow of the Christmas village that embraced the dining room … in years to come, perhaps it will be woven into their Christmas memories of how our family celebrated the holiday together. And sitting in the living room yesterday afternoon, I suddenly realized the Christmas village was a tradition … maybe a small one, but one that the children love.
Sometimes making a memory takes intention. And it can take energy to make traditions.
This morning, I found Leia, our {very} early riser, playing with the village people and animals, breaking a few pieces in the process, but thoroughly enjoying the enchantment of the Christmas Village.
It was worth it to see her little face filled up with joy as she moved each piece around the snowy scenery.
Traditions are wonderful, even if they require parental work. 🙂
Our favorites traditions include:
-making presents for the neighbours {we used to walk and deliver them in town,
but this year, unless we can get Walter the goat to take us on his goat cart, I think we might be using a motorized vehicle!}
– making gingerbread houses together
{see this link for a great variation to buying the store bought ktis! With six children making a house, it would be one huge mess – and expensive – to buy kits so this is what we do now}
– Christmas movies at night
-a basket set out full of Christmas books to read- making cinnamon ornaments
– a newer tradition is having the older girls go to my mom’s house overnight to bake Christmas goodies – sure wish I was invited! 😉
– putting up the lovely homemade felt Advent pieces up on the calendar each day
-sometimes we have an Advent wreath
{but I need to make one this year and am not sure I will have the time. I really enjoy the tradition of the Advent wreath though!}
– a Jesse tree
– of course, decorating the real Christmas tree, but that goes without saying!
– baking cinnamon buns {well, these can be done year round but they are rather Christmas-like, aren’t they?}
What are some of your Christmas traditions?
P.S. If you have never made cinnamon buns, you **must** try to do so this season. They are not hard at all. I remember trying to make them when we first moved into our home in Orangeville. I wanted to bake up a tray for everyone who helped us move. A friend came over and showed me how to make dough, and we attempted to make buns. Everything failed. The dough did not rise, nothing worked out. I’m not sure what went wrong but it made me fear the task of making cinnamon buns! Now, with a good dough recipe, you can easily master delicious homemade cinnamon buns! We don’t like them too sweet so sometimes I do not pour icing overtop. They are just as good with a slab of melted butter fresh out of the oven.
by Gigi
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