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Some Favorite Christmas Traditions

Harry Baldwin - 01/25/2012

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We all have our favorite traditions, some old and some newer. Especially around the holidays these traditions seem very important and they are. Christmas traditions are among my favorites as this holiday involves such good company, good cheer, and good presents among other things. For many Christmas is a religious holiday but many secular folks celebrate it as well. Although traditions evolve, here are some of my favorite Christmas traditions, starting from when I was a kid and continuing on to the present where I have little kids of my own who love Christmas with a passion!

First and foremost my favorite thing about Christmas is getting together with loved ones, whether they are relatives or simply great friends. Although office parties can be lots of fun, I do not consider them as part of this. However I do have two very significant get togethers before Christmas! One is with relatives from my extended family since there are too many of us to get together in one place for Christmas. The other is with my wife's extended family. Add to that parties of good friends we don't see often enough and there is plenty of good cheer to go around!

Secondly I'll add presents for the children. Christmas has become way too commercialized in general for my taste, but presents for children is a very important part! We both give to children we know and donate to those in need we do not know. For example this year we must have donated at least 100 stuffed animals, most essentially brand new, to children in need of a present. We have more than we need or even can use! Adults can buy their own stuff, and speaking for myself I need to presents other than perhaps some consumables like pies and bottles of wine!

Now my third might seem a bit odd, but it the time off from school. Although it's a but taxing as I'm usually still working, I feel 2 or 3 or even more weeks off for children around the holidays is an excellent idea as well a s good for mental well being! I do take extra time off myself and we often go off to do something fun. This year we'll be spending a few nights at a ski resort for example.

Christmas parades also make the list! Whether it's the local parade we love, even when the weather doesn't cooperate perfectly, or some of the major parades on TV, they are a lot of fun and very festive. One year we got to see the massive London Christmas parade!

Santa is high on the list, because although mythical, he adds a lot to the Children. There is no need to go into much detail here! My children have been seeing the same Santa since they were babies and we have the pictures to prove it!

Last on my list are Christmas trees. It's not just the tree, but the whole tradition starting with going to get one, picking one out, bringing it home and decorating it and so forth.