Evetta McGriff
Christmas is a favorite holiday for many people. Gifts are not what make the holiday special; it is the time that we spend with family and friends and the things that we do that makes it special.
Throughout the year, people may have shown kindness to you. Christmas time is a great way to show your appreciation by sending an email or note thanking them. Find ways to be helpful to others. Volunteer your time at a food bank, pass out toiletry items to the homeless, or serve food to those less fortunate at a shelter or kitchen. Start a drive at your school to send cards and care packages to members of the military.
Create memories with your family and friends by making movies and taking photos. Listen to stories by older relatives about their favorite Christmas memories. Focus on family and less on social media. Spend quality time with family and friends by playing games, decorating the Christmas tree, baking cookies, making candy, and gingerbread houses. Baking can turn into a friendly competition. You can watch your favorite holiday movie. Take a drive around the city and view Christmas lights. Some cities have holiday fairs that you can visit. No matter how old you get, everyone should go visit Santa Claus and take a picture with him. If your family likes to sing, try Christmas caroling, going to a Christmas concert or religious service. You can even put on your own talent show.
If your family doesn’t have any special traditions, help create some that are both fun and memorable. Gifts are usually given during this time, even though that’s not the main purpose. Help plan an Ugly Sweater Party, and incorporate a White Elephant gift exchange with fun gifts or gag gifts, or a cookie exchange. If your family is in to sports, have a football game outside before or after dinner. This puts the focus on spending time with those most important to you and not just on giving and receiving gifts. Donating is a great tradition to start. For example, adopting a family for Christmas to purchase gifts, toys, and food is a great way to participate in giving to others. If your family puts up a Christmas tree, have each person pick out a new ornament each year, or have an ornament exchange in place of gifts. If you live somewhere cold and you love the outdoors, build a campfire, roast marshmallows and make S’mores.
If you are giving gifts, focus on the person you are giving the gift to, and not just buying a gift because of how much (or how little) it costs. Don’t give gifts because you have to; give them from the heart and because they have meaning to you and to the person who is receiving them. Putting thought into the gifts you buy takes more effort than just buying a big, expensive, or flashy gift.
Dinner time is the other part of the holiday that everyone enjoys. Have a fun meal by having everyone choose their favorite food to bring for dinner. To encourage giving, have each person bring a toy to donate to a local hospital. Christmas is a special time that is about creating memories, and putting smiles on the faces of others. Take some time this holiday to be a bright spot for someone else.
