10 Family Traditions you can Start this Christmas

Christmas is all about tradition. We celebrate Jesus’ birthday and the acts of kindness performed by a fourth century Greek saint (who has since been transformed into a crimson-clad, magical sleigh-riding Coke ad), Santa Claus. It is fitting that your family also come up with its own traditions to follow this Christmas and for future Christmases to follow. Here are ten suggestions to make your Christmas more memorable and meaningful this year.

1. Plant a tree.
Bringing life into a place where little exists is a fitting task for Christmas. For some of us, it’s as easy as literally going back to our roots, such as our provincial homes. For others, it might be better to hook up with a local reforestation non-profit organization like Haribon or TREES Philippines so you and the family can plant something where it does the most good. It’s also so you can learn how to do it properly, as tree planting isn’t all that simple and you should know how it’s correctly done to ensure the sapling’s health. Then next year, you can come visit and find out how it’s doing and plant something else nearby.

2. Visit an orphanage.
Christmas is all about family and there’s nothing like being able to share that to those who don’t have any. I have a neighbor who does this every Christmas – without fail, she, her husband and her two boys are off on Christmas Day giving gifts to a private orphanage that her relatives run.

You don’t need to run an orphanage yourself – you can make arrangements with advocacies like Precious Heritage Children’s Home or Haven of Hope to visit with your family. Planning this beforehand is important - sure, dropping by unannounced may sound like a grand gesture, but can actually be impractical and possibly disappointing if they happen to be preoccupied with another activity on that day.

3. Exchange gifts made with your own hands.
Little kids can always make crayon-scrawled cartolina greeting cards for their parents, but why not go the next level? There is something to be said about being able to give a gift you can proudly say you made yourself. If you wish, all of you can come up with a little gift to be given that was made with your own hands, especially if dad has carpentry skills or mom can stitch and sew. Of course, don’t forgo little Julie’s request for a Dora backpack or Arvin’s wish for a Ninjago kit – the do-it-yourself presents are to be Christmas add-ons. Consult with the family carefully for this one – not everyone has the skills or time to do this.

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4. Entertain the elderly.
The young aren’t the only ones who deserve to enjoy Christmas. Even people who have seen many Christmases themselves should have a happy one this year, especially if they don’t have anyone to be with. There are retirement homes you can contact such as Indang Village or Mountain Crest to find out if you can do something for their communities. Sometimes, something as simple as a home-cooked meal or a warm conversation with these poor souls is enough to cheer them up.

5. Cheer up the sick.
My mother used to read stories to the children at the cancer ward of the Philippine General Hospital. You and your kids can pursue similar activities this Christmas but take note that this is a task for the stout of heart. Even visiting those who aren’t bedridden is not something to be taken lightly, as many of our charity wards leave a lot to be desired. Talk about this at length with yourselves and consult with the hospital as well before you do this. However, if you do manage to pull this off, you will really be in for an unforgettable time and none of you will ever take your blessings for granted again.

6. Make your own Christmas ornaments each Christmas.
My wife used to make origami eggs as Christmas ornaments. She’d pop two holes onto a fresh egg to drain the yolk inside, cover the eggshell in glue and carefully wrap it in Japanese washi paper before varnishing the whole thing. You can also something similar, depending on your free time and desire to make such. Alternatively, you can find a Christmas ornament from faraway places you go to. When my wife and I returned from a trip to Sydney, we brought home tiny wood-carved Christmas ornaments in the shape of snowmen and candy canes as souvenirs from a farmers' market we visited. Now we’ll always have a happy reminder of that place every Christmas when we put up our tree.

7. Give to those who serve on Christmas.
A friend of mind lives in a gated community subdivision and every year, he buys donuts and sandwiches for the guards posted on Christmas Day. He makes sure to get for the day and night shifts so no one gets left out. There will always be people on duty on Christmas Day (because the world doesn’t stop even on Jesus’ birthday), but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t appreciate a kind gesture, even a simple one like a snack while on the job. Think of the people that have to be at their posts – policemen, soldiers, nurses, firemen, etc. – and think of a way to make their Christmas more cheerful. After all, these people are trying to make the world a better place so you can enjoy your Christmas.

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8. Invite someone new this Christmas.
There is always someone, a friend or family member (an aunt or cousin twice removed) who for some reason doesn’t have anywhere to be for Christmas day. Keep your eye out for someone like that in the weeks prior to Christmas. Alternatively, you can invite or join relatives who you normally don’t see on Christmas to share that day with you and your family. It’s an opportunity to get to know people better. We did this with an uncle who was considered a black sheep in the family way back in 1991 – now, he, his wife and son are welcome members at our table, and vice-versa.

9. Perform a random act of kindness in secret.
The purest act of generosity is the one that does not expect acknowledgement. Each member of your family can choose someone they know (or even someone they only see around, like a janitor or the guy who sells ice cream to the kids in school) and give them an unsigned gift this Christmas. It doesn’t have to be expensive. You just have to make sure their name is on it so they know the gift is theirs to do with as they wish. After that, turn your back and don’t make it known that you did something nice for them.

Such a movement actually exists in the U.S. called the Secret Santas. They would surreptitiously slip envelopes of money to various people when the opportunity presented itself, and the amounts hit hundreds of thousands of dollars.

10. Make a gratitude list for the year.
This one is the simplest of all. Each of you must write down a list of the good things you have, whether you’ve received them this year or it’s something that you’ve had for some time and are happy about (good health, the presence of loved ones, etc.). On Christmas Day, read them out loud to each other. Keep the lists you’ve written someplace safe like an album or diary to remind you of last year’s blessings and add to them with every Christmas. Sometimes, it is important to remind ourselves of the good things God has given us and appreciating them is the best way to attract even more blessings in the coming new year.

 

Image from visualphotos.com