the countdown begins

envelope cut outs

This time of the year is exciting, don’t you think? The snow begins to fall (for us, not yet) and the towns people start to put up and turn on their Christmas lights. Holiday music can be heard on the radio or when out shopping. The magic starts to come together to create a time of year where people go out of their way to do right by one another. Strangers say hello and hold the door for you, there are parties with family and friends, celebrating the spirit of the holidays. It all makes me kind of warm and fuzzy.

I have beautiful memories of Christmas as a child. Most years we went to my grandparents farm and there were always so many people crammed into their little farm-house. The wood stove was burning to keep us warm and their freshly cut tree (found in the woods, not a tree farm) was decked out with lights and antique ornaments. They were always my favourite Christmas’; spending time with family. There was always more than enough food to eat, and people to talk to and snow to throw about. Grand memories, these are.

I long for those days, if I’m honest. But they happened many moons ago and of course we can’t go back. And so I look to now; to create new traditions for my own family. Last year we started celebrating the 24 Days of Christmas. For me, it is all about creating as much magic around this holiday as I can. Children and magic go hand in hand and so I look to my little son for inspiration; what would he Love to do? I make a list, and check it twice, and try to fit as much as we can into the days between December 1 and Christmas Day.

waiting to be stuffed with ideas

Last year I made little envelopes to help us count down. Each envelope represents a day of the month and inside is a little slip of paper that indicates a fun activity for us to do that day. Last year we made cookies and snowflakes. We built a snowman and made edible treats for the birds (and squirrels. Can’t get away from them.) We purchased a present for some children in need. We donated all our outgrown winter stuff to a Coats for Kids program. We made and sent Christmas cards. The list goes on.

This year we will do many of the same things. Some new ones might make it in. (I have to finalize my list…) The best part of this celebration is that we rediscover the magic of Christmas all over again. Commercialism is stifling. It eats away at our souls…turns us in to people we don’t want to be (heavy thoughts…I know) but it has become the norm of Christmas. I find it so disgusting that people are willing to wait in line for hours at the mall for a “deal” (likely on something they don’t need) instead of spending that time trying to create tradition or spirit of magic. Is it just me? Couldn’t we all do with less stuff? And couldn’t we all do with more connection?

So our new-ish family tradition is celebrating the magic all month-long. Not just one day, which to be honest, leaves me completely exhausted, physically and emotionally. In celebrating the 24 Days of Christmas we will find ways to not only create magic for our holiday, but to connect to one another. Let’s embrace what this beautiful time of the year means to us.  In whatever way you believe or practice or participate, let’s think about connection this year.  What can we do as an individual, or as a family to connect more to those around us at this time of year?

holiday envelopes

If I could take Isaac up to the old farmhouse and show him the Christmas’ I use to celebrate I would do so in a heart beat. The connection I experienced as a child at Christmas time lives on my my heart and keeps me warm on the cold and dark winter days. However, I think our new traditions will create a magic that will hopefully linger in Isaac’s memories for years to come. Maybe someday, when he has children of his own, he will long to revisit his own childhood with them, so they can see what magic looked like at his Christmas’.

Happy Holidays,

Debbie

Oh…and don’t forget to visit Stephanie for her list of ways she keeps the magic alive for her kiddos. xo