A few years ago, I realized that I didn't feel the same joy about Christmas as my 3rd great grandmother did. After reading her journal, I knew I needed to make some changes.
To read her journal entry about Christmas, click here.
#1- I don’t decorate my home in Christmas colors. I just don’t like red and green, and especially when combined. I gave away most of my Christmas decorations and now I put up a tree in October that I take down in February. I call it my “Winter tree” and it is in my favorite colors of chocolate brown and Tiffany blue. It is covered with snow-themed ornaments and woodland creatures. I absolutely love it.
#2- I don’t do Christmas cards anymore. Instead, I strive to write a handwritten note
to each family that sends me a Christmas card.
This takes me months to get done, and I don’t always get to all of
them. I thank them for their card and
comment on how much their family has grown (if applicable) and let them know
that they are in my thoughts and how much I love them. I know how much I love to receive handwritten
notes from people, so this is a gift I want to give them.
#3- I don’t do stockings anymore. Stockings were always a huge source of stress for me. My mom had a tradition of putting the same things in our stockings every year, and I tried to follow suit. I found this activity to be distracting and stressful. Buying all the little candies and items for people was expensive and frankly it was kind of sad to see everyone’s stocking bursting to the brim, and my own flat with maybe a bottle of nail polish in it. Once I realized the recipients didn't really want the stuff that was in the stockings, I stopped doing it.
#4- I have cut way back on gift giving. I have a short list of people I give gifts
to. I try to give gifts that I know they will like or to let them know I’m
thinking of them. I like to buy gifts
throughout the year and wrap as I go. I
HATE wrapping gifts, and if I have a whole bunch to do at once, I hire a young
neighbor girl to do it for me. She’s grateful
for the added spending money and I’m grateful I don’t have to do it.
#5- I have cut way back on neighbor gifts. I have a short list of people I give neighbor
gifts too. After Christmas I will buy
bowls or baskets on clearance. I then
buy a box of oranges. I wrap them in in tissue like they do at Harry &
David and one orange is wrapped in gold foil.
I put them in the bowl with shredded paper and give them to my
neighbors. It’s really fun to do and I
love the short visits I have when I give them some oranges.
#6- I rarely go to Christmas events or concerts. I discovered that I just don’t like to get
dressed up and attend events in the winter.
Okay, let’s be honest, I don’t like doing it any time of year. It’s not that I won’t do it, but I’m happier
when I’m selective about which ones I attend.
#7- We don’t do much on Christmas Eve. When my kids were little, Christmas Eve was a
huge event. It probably took us two
hours to sing all the songs, play the games, read scriptures and talk about
Christ. Now we just have dinner and
maybe decorate a gingerbread house using a kit from Trader Joe’s if anyone
comes over. The past few years it has
been my son and any friends who can’t be with family on Christmas Eve. One commented on how nice it was to be in our
home because she wasn’t feeling any pressure or guilt.
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