| How to Celebrate Christmas Dec 25th 2012, 08:00 Christmas has become a very commercialized holiday. In the rush to buy presents and outdo last year's gift giving, many people tend to sumberge the true meaning of Christmas beneath busyness and consumerism. Aside from big dinners and expensive gifts, there are other ways to celebrate this important event in the Christian calendar that reflect the true meaning of the holiday, and give the gifts to the One whose birthday it is! And even if you aren't a Christian, you can still celebrate the festive season in your own way, without the attendant commercialism. A Religious Celebration See also: How to Celebrate a Strictly Religious Christmas - Reflect on the reason for Christmas. If you're not sure about it or you're rusty on the background, do some research. In the Bible, you can find the Christmas story in the Gospel according to Luke, Chapters 1 and 2, as well as the Gospel according to Matthew Chapters 1 and 2. Consider reading these chapters aloud as part of your family's holiday. Ask members of the family for their own impressions of the stories given, to personalize their understanding.
- Talk to children regularly about the meaning of Christmas and tell them the stories about Christmas. Find beautiful illustrations to accompany the Bible stories, to capture their interest.
- Choose some activities that you and your friends or family will enjoy and which fit with the meaning of Christmas. Consider preparing some special foods for the poor and needy, visiting people who live alone or have no family close or dropping in to see the sick in hospital. You might even give handmade gifts to people who aren't likely to get much this season.
- Spend time with others to celebrate. Gather together at the homes of friends and family, and spend some time in fellowship with others who believe as you do during this special time.
- Wish others a Merry Christmas. You don't have to worry that you will offend them. If they want to wish you a Happy Chanukkah, in response, thank them and wish them the same. Wishing others a Merry Christmas helps spread the cheer.
- Give to others. Whether to your family and friends, or to others less fortunate, spend some time this Christmas in giving. We give in remembrance of the gifts of the Magi to the Savior, but at the very heart of it all, recall that we are to give because He first gave to us.
- Spend time quietly being thankful for the gift of Jesus to the world that we celebrate on Christmas. This is the day that Christians have set aside to celebrate the beginning of the greatest gift mankind has ever received. Coming into the Christmas season with a grateful heart is essential if you really want to make the extension from Jesus's giving of His amazing gift to your giving and receiving.
- Invite God to come and celebrate the day with you. Some people choose to do this by attending a Christmas Eve service. Some do it by sitting before the Christmas tree and silently inviting God to just be with them. However you decide to do it, for the Christian, making God a part of your day is vital.
Taking the Commercial out of Christmas - Choose ritual and tradition over gift giving. Establish family rituals and traditions that honor the spirit of Christmas and involve all family members. It might be attending church as a whole family, it might be giving a meal preparation task to each member of the family, however young or old, or it might be writing heartfelt letters to one another describing how their acts of kindness have helped you through the year. Whatever your ritual (or set of rituals), place more emphasis on caring and sharing than trying to outdo one another with gift giving.
- Avoid spending money you don't have. Don't go into debt for the sake of one holiday. You don't have to give expensive purchased gifts; instead, you can make a gift. Many people feel a homemade gift is better because it shows thought and consideration for the recipient. gifts. Give within your means, people will understand and you set an excellent example that liberates others from the consumer treadmill.
- Gift ideas include: bookmarks, framed family photos you have taken over the year, holiday cookies or breads, or "cookie kits" (the flour, sugar, baking powder, chocolate chips and other spices are layered in a plain Mason jar, and instructions attached to a piece of raffia or a ribbon letting them know what to add, whether it's water, oil, egg, or whatever). See How to make your own Christmas gifts for more ideas.
- Learn some of the non-commercialized Christmas songs. There are some beautiful carols that you can sing together––maybe someone in your family or circle of friends can play the piano or guitar; if so, encourage them to play, and have a sing-along. Consider carols like "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Joy to the World," and "The First Noel." You can find the lyrics online if you don't know them.
- Mute the ads! Seriously, stop the "buy this, buy that for Christmas" ads from invading your home life. The consumer economy has its place but it's not in your living room during a sacred season. Teach kids to mute the ads and do it yourself. Or, record your favorite shows and fast forward your way through them. Everyone will feel greatly more at peace for it and there is less incitement to go shop till you drop.
- Avoid blindly obeying the encouragement of retailers to make Christmas all about consumerism, as that is far from the true meaning, regardless of whether you're religious or not.
Secular Celebration Being a national holiday in many nations, Christmas tends to be celebrated even by those who do not follow Christianity, in the spirit of caring about others, coming together and spreading cheer. - Spread cheer. When you hear Christmas songs, instead of being grumpy and resenting all of the commercialism, smile and whistle along. Being cheerful during the Christmas season really will help in spreading Christmas spirit to those around you, plus it helps you enjoy it more in the bargain.
- Join up with friends and family. Many people celebrate the holiday without dwelling on religion. Much of the celebration is secular in nature. The day is a national holiday and most folks get a day off work. Take advantage of this time to reconnect with friends and family, and enjoy the fellowship.
- Create your own traditions or celebrate with the traditions that have been passed down in your family. Decorate with family heirloom ornaments or try something new by decorating a tree with Star Trek or superhero themed ornaments, or with little trains, or with Disney characters for example. Or have a movie night during which you invite friends over and serve hot apple cider and popcorn or cocoa and cookies. Show "A Christmas Story" or "The Family Stone," or any number of other seasonal movies.
- Have a sing-along. Either have it at your home, go door to door, or go to an old folks' home and do it. Learn some Christmas or seasonal songs, and sing! It's fun, and even if your voice isn't great, hopefully, you won't be singing alone––you'll get some cover from your more talented friends! Try songs like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty the Snowman," "Holly Jolly Christmas," or "Silver Bells."
- Do a generous act. This is in the spirit of spreading joy, kindness and beauty during the Christmas season. Maybe you can volunteer at a homeless shelter, or maybe you could help with a local toy drive or food drive for those who have less than you do.
- Invite your friends or family over for dinner. You don't have to spend big bucks on gifts––small tokens are fine. Or just have everyone over for a nice dinner. Make it a potluck if you want to keep expenses (and workload) manageable. The important thing is just to get together with people you love and make the winter a little warmer by sharing the warmth of caring with them.
- Head down to the beach or the local park. If you live in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa or other countries in the Southern Hemisphere, your Christmas is likely to be a warm one. This gives you the opportunity to get outdoors and appreciate the beauty of nature and enjoy some of your Christmas Day swimming, walking, resting on the grass or playing a game outside together. Be sure to wear sunscreen and a hat!
- If you ever encounter people who say you cannot celebrate the holiday if you are not Christian, avoid them or advise them that they are free to do what they want in the privacy of their own home. You can explain the secular nature of the holiday for millions. Mention that Christmas is a national holiday in most countries (including the United States) and that that implies that everyone can celebrate. Also talk about the cheer, camaraderie, and general goodwill that goes around during this season.
- Remember your Christmas may not have white snow-topped trees, or a huge pile of presents, or a wonderful choir singing Christmas carols, but your Christmas celebration and thankfulness is all that is required to properly celebrate. Anything more is a bonus.
- Some families, particularly those in Germany or with German heritage, like to put a glass pickle on the Christmas tree. The first one to find it either gets a special gift for being the most eager or gets to open presents first. Traditionally, this ornament goes on last.
Edit Warnings - On another hand, some people can be Scrooges when it comes to Christmas, for example, saying negative things like "Let's cancel Christmas". The best way to deal with 'Scroogey' comments like this is not to become angry or defensive; instead, simply say something disarming, like, "Sorry you don't enjoy this holiday. You're still welcome to come and join us for the day if you haven't got anyplace else to go." The Scrooge's issues that will prevent him or her from celebrating may keep him or her from accepting your invitation, or may cause him or her to accept, but make frequent disparaging remarks. You should not take on those issues and allow the negative attitude of one or two people to spoil your holiday cheer. Just blow them off as kindly as possible and continue your celebration, showing compassion to the poor Scrooge. It's just possible the Scrooge has had enough of the commercialism!
- Be aware that some people can find Christmas a hard time, especially if a loved one is ill, there are family problems, or a loved one has died. Do your best to comfort them and to include them in your good wishes.
- Avoid proselytism. Although your beliefs are respected, you should also appreciate the beliefs of others. In the spirit of spreading goodwill to all beings, look forward to the fundamentally jolly spirit of the day.
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