Christmas for me is family. The people and the memories. My traditions build upon themselves each year. From the way my mother and I enjoy Christmas morning to the preparations we go through weeks before.
My traditions are my way of ensuring that during the busyness of life, I make time for family. For happiness.
We as a nation have created this holiday season. Some of us celebrate Christmas, either religiously or festively. There are also some of us who celebrate Kwanzaa and other holidays. This is what we do as a nation.
As a family, as an individual what we celebrate, what we do, is unique. Just as we are. In crafting a unique set of traditions and celebrations we are crafting an environment that supports the entirety of who we are and allows us to unveil our personality in a safe space.
These last few days I’ve talked about the history of this holiday season. Before Christmas, and since. How we as a nation shaped a new holiday style, known today as a “traditional” Christmas, in order to support the country, we were growing into.
Well, just as this country was young when her people, us, shaped a holiday to our needs and desires, you are young upon this Path of Happiness, and it’s time to shape this holiday taking into account your needs and desires.
We did the hard part- we worked on de-cluttering last week. Then we brushed up on the history of the Christmas holiday, including Santa Claus. Now comes the next step. Crafting a holiday that works for you.
How to craft your personal Christmas holiday season?
Start small.
It can seem as if you are crafting an entirely new holiday. But just as you know more about who you are then you thought, you have more of a foundation during this holiday season then you may think. I bet there are customs and traditions that you have either done or witnessed that you enjoy. Keep those things.
The next step is to add some additional customs and traditions to round out your month. These can range from a night off, to a night out. Rather than planning your month and filling your schedule to the brim, start small. What, if anything, do you want to do today? Has there been any posters for fairs or shows that you want to attend? Are there things you already love doing coming up? Each day doesn’t need to be planned. Start small with things you enjoy, like, or that intrigue you. Work from there.
Research & Explore.
How can you introduce new customs and traditions if you don’t know they exist?
The only way to fix this conundrum is to research and explore. Just as I referenced the articles I used in researching the history of Christmas, you can too. Read articles, books, ask friends, and keep an eye out for those posters and signs advertising festive functions. Don’t feel obligated attending the ones that don’t interest you and try the ones that sound fun or cool. Explore. Approach this process like a child- as an adventure.
Only commit to this year.
You are not honor bound, nor obligated to keep any of the customs or traditions you try this year. Each year, each holiday season you have the choice in how you celebrate. In testing new customs and traditions, you might find ones that you love and do for years to come, or it might be that funny story you tell down the line, or it might even be that event that shall not be named. Commit only to trying things this year and leave your calendar open for next year.
Communication.
Many of the customs and traditions we originally had, involved others. When we make a change- we impact others. This is ok. However, communication helps and is important. As you craft your own personalized holiday season, communicate.
Communicate when you drop old traditions. Communicate when you pick up new ones and ask your friends and family to try these new adventures with you. Communicate- ask your friends and family if they have any new traditions they want to try. Communicate that these changes are for you, they don’t mean that your family isn’t important, these changes mean that you are demonstrating self-love.
Communication can be hard, and sometimes knowing how to say what you feel and mean, can not work out the way we hoped, but I can guarantee you that some communication is better than leaving the other person in the dark with no communication.
Smile or frown.
A simple and sure-fire way to know if a new custom or tradition is for you is Smile or Frown. When you find a new custom or tradition, take a look in the mirror- are you smiling or frowning? When you are trying that new custom, are your smiling? When thinking about the tradition you tried- are you smiling or frowning?
The purpose of the holiday season is to bring your joy. When we feel joy, we often smile. When we feel annoyance or boredom we often frown. So, as you craft your personal holiday season- are you smiling or frowning?
Final Thoughts:
My holiday season is filled with Christmas. From the songs, to the shows and craft fairs, my weekends and my days soak up the Christmas Spirit. This is my ideal holiday season. It does not have to be yours.
As you craft your ideal holiday- just like everything else I talk about, give yourself time. My blended concoction of holiday busyness and quite home time happened over years. From the Christmas shows I choose to see, to when I make my Christmas Cookie platters- it took years to find the right balance that works for me. And each year I tweak it depending on where I am in my life. For example, we are remodeling our kitchen this month- so we’ll see when I’ll be able to bake my cookies.
Your Daily Dose of Christmas:
Christmas Song: The Christmas Song by, Thomas Rhett
Christmas Movie: Die Hard
- Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaJuwKCmJbY
A few years ago a friend of the family called us on Christmas. He asked what we were doing, as we said, “watching Die Hard.” The significance of this, is that he was watching It’s a Wonderful Life. Because he thought he had to.
His daughter and boyfriend were visiting from out of state, and he wanted to give them the Christmas he thought he was supposed to. One with traditional Christmas movies and traditional customs. As a result, he was grumpy. He was watching a movie that wasn’t his style, all because he thought that, that was how you celebrated Christmas.
What our friend learned that Christmas, is that you choose how to celebrate. Whether you watch It’s a Wonderful Life, Die Hard, or both.
Daily Affirmation:
- “I am open to the adventures brought by holiday season.”