Christmas Traditions

Josh and I both grew up with many Christmas traditions, many of which we have adapted to our little family along the years. Many of our traditions happen during extended family gatherings and are bitter sweet memories now that we are so far away.  This year we went a little overboard maybe but it make the season meaningful.  We had seven countdown calendars (a candle, Hershey Kiss tree, felt board manger, Lego activity calendar, daily Christmas joke flap calendar, ornament tree, felt ornament tree) starting on December 1st.

Hershey kiss count down.  The kids take the chocolate out each day and leave the foil on the tree for the ornaments

Grandma Beverly Turner's felt tree made for us by Stacy Turner

 We like to do Light the World https://www.mormon.org/christmas/light-the-world put out by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  We watched a weekly video and did weekly activities to 1),Light the World,  2)Light our Community, 3) Light our Family, and 4) Light our Faith.  This really keeps service and the spirit of Christ present during the season.

Daily we read a different Christmas book at breakfast time.  We enjoy doing the 12 Days of Christmas to a neighbor each year.  It is always fun to think about those who might need a little extra love and thoughtfulness.  I have collected all the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square Christmas concert DVD's.  We watched them all December long.  We learned about the members of the nativity and how they contributed to the night of Christ's birth with the Christ Centered Christmas.

Each piece of hay represents a secret act of service given to a family member or friend

We searched for ways that we might stay connected to our family members since we live so far away and cannot attend family parties.  Among the Turner's, we made a list of everyone's favorite things about Christmas, like lights, baking cookies, giving gifts, gingerbread houses, etc.  Then we all tried to do each of the things in our own homes to feel a connection to our loved ones.  We shared the experience through pictures with each other.  Here are a few of ours:

I have been very interested in family history this year as Bear has started joining us at the temple so I decided to research a few traditions from our heritage.

United Kingdom: Jones and Turner
1. Watch The Snowman on the last day of school, for us December 14th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE9KpobX9J8

2. Burn your letter to Santa so that the ashes may waft to him in the North Pole

3. Nativity plays on Christmas Eve

Costumes courtesy of friends the Justiniano's

4. Presents in stockings left by Santa

Germany- Kartchner
1. Advent calendars- we had that one covered!
2. Singing Christmas carols around the tree

3. Glass ornament given as a Christmas Eve gift

Schnauzer for Josh, Guitar for Bub, Yoga mat for me, Unicorn for Pants, and toe shoes for Bear

The Netherland's- Harenberg
Put shoes out on December 5th for Santa Claus to fill.  This year we were lucky to host Sister Missionaries from the Sendai mission for the night so that they could attend a mission conference in Misawa.  They got to participate in our new tradition!

Seven pairs of shoes are filled and ready to be discovered

It was fun to share the tradition with Sister Burrows and Sister Cordoso

It is also traditional to fill the shoes with a biscuit made in the shape of the first letter of the receiver's name.  I think this tradition will not be a passing thing.  Everyone had fun with it.

We are so grateful for our parents who filled our childhood with fond memories that we can pass on to our children.  We are grateful for the technology we have to allow us to stay connected to our family from across the sea.  We are grateful for the emphasis placed on service and giving and the spirit of Christ that has filled our home all month.