Over a chocolate shake (hers) and an iced caramel coffee (mine), a wonderful friend and I shared a lovely conversation today in a quaint little bookstore cafe in our equally quaint bayside town.  Everytime I go downtown, I hear myself say aloud, "I love this town!" 

Well, anyway, that was not the topic of the day. Instead, we discussed St. Nicholas and Santa Claus and handmade gifts and books that inspire us and the Nutcracker ballet and knitting .... and how to make the Christmas season last.  With that last thought still in my mind, I went to my blog this evening and searched my archives for December 2005 where I found this post I thought I'd rerun for you:

”Can you not see it is clear folly to crowd Christmas into twelve very

 full hours of one day and expect everyone to enjoy themselves? 

Christmastide is, after all, not just a day but a season. 

Let us make the most of it. 

By spreading out the gifts, parties,

and special treats over an extended period, parents quiet down

the choruses of ‘I can’t wait,’

as our little ones discover that

they can indeed learn to wait –

as long as they don’t have to wait very long.” ~

from Mrs. Sharp's Traditions by Sarah Ban Breathnach

A few Christmases ago, I decided that Christmas was becoming more of a burden than a good time.  The day after Christmas, I was faced with a huge mess – wrapping paper scrunched up across the floor; a new toy already broken; greedy, grouchy and over-sugared children; leftovers to deal with; the tree’s needles scattered across the carpet; decorations to pack up; and a few store returns, the thought of which created a migraine.  Yes, Christmas had become a burden. 

Memory-making is terribly important to me. I determined to figure this holiday thing out before the kids had a childhood-full of grumpy Christmas memories. 

I absolutely believe in what Mrs. Sharp is saying in the above quote.  Can’t we see that it is crazy (she says folly) to celebrate all in one day?  What great expectations we are putting on one little day!  We think we are supposed to enjoy family, invite friends, sing carols, open perfectly chosen and perfectly wrapped gifts, enjoy a dinner as large as Thanksgiving, give at least a thought if not a basket of fruit to someone else, and have a tray of goodies to equal all the sweets eaten all year long, plus much more – all in one day. 

Are we absolutely crazy??

Well, I was. 

So with the reminder in my heart of the true meaning of Christmas, and with the help of Mrs. Sharp in the book above, I decided to change.

Over the holiday season, I will write you a series of articles about holiday traditions that we have observed in our home.   

I will share my ideas with you, but honestly, I’m as eager as you are for new ideas.  So please feel free to share your family’s traditions in the comments. 

by Lori Seaborg

Posted by ReneeM

oh how fun!! :)

I look forward to hearing all your ideas.

For the second time this year we are reading through "A Glorious Coming" by Ann Voskamp - Advent readings, and doing a Jesse Tree.



We are doing a version of Christmas around the world that I have made up using a bunch of resources... what a nice break from "regular" school...

ok - now I want to hear how you are spreading it all out... look forward to more ideas, if not for this year, then for next

http://alifeofbalance.wordpress.com/


Edited by ReneeM on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at 12:08 AM