Christmas Traditions

Before marriage, there was one night set aside where all us kids helped mom and dad decorate the Christmas tree. I always enjoyed going through the ornaments and decorations that we hadn't seen for a whole year. Us girls would usually help mom make gingerbread cookies. Christmas music would fill the house. We would always watch the movie "A Christmas Story". Christmas Eve we gathered around the Christmas tree and we each opened up one gift. Then we went to bed, anticipating what was wrapped up under the tree. Brittany & I would usually wake up between 4am and 5am, and go through our stockings; mom and dad always made sure to put some "good chocolate candy" in there and a small gift of some sort. Then we would go back to sleep. I think Joey did the same thing. Matthew on the other hand loved his sleep. :) Christmas morning, we were all pretty eager to open our gifts before mom and dad could even get the coffee brewing. Mom encouraged us to eat breakfast before. When it came time to open the gifts, we would sit around the living room - leaving room in between us to gather our opened presents. Someone was designated to be "santa" - meaning that they would sort through the gifts under the tree and pass them out to the appropriate family member. This usually involved wearing a santa hat. With Christmas music playing in the background, and the video camera rolling, we would watch each other open gifts and would show excitement for what they recieved. Then we would clean up all the torn wrapping paper and save the bows. Then started the long wait for dinner. :) It was always worth it though!! We would usually end the night by playing a boardgame of some sort.

When Tony & I were dating, my family traditions remained the same for the most part. Tony was introduced to our Christmas Eve tradition of opening one gift. Brittany and I still woke up extra early to go through our stockings; and our gifts were opened one at a time as we all sat in the living room. Things that changed: On Christmas Day, after everyone was done opening gifts, I would get ready to go join Tony's family (usually around noon). There, everyone gathered in the living room and someone started distributing the gifts. Everyone was opening up their gifts all at the same time, so you couldn't really see what everyone else recieved, which was definately new to me. It was always fun; and I always recieved very nice, unexpected gifts from my future in-laws. Then we ate all the good food that Mrs. Donna had been laboring over for the past couple weeks. Because his family is much larger than ours, we can't all fit around the table, so everyone is spread out throughout the house. We also use paperplates and plastic cups that are easily tossed in the trash can when everyone is done. After we ate and fellowshipped with Tony's family, we would go back to my parents house. If it wasn't already done, I'd help set the table (with the finest dishes) and help mom finish up dinner. We would all sit at the table and enjoy the meal before us. Then we would usually go for a walk around town. After that, we would load the dishwasher and wash the remaining dishes that didn't fit (as well as complain to mom about not using paperplates. Haha). We usually end the night by playing a board game of some sort.

Since Tony & I have been married, the traditions have somewhat changed. We had the joy of decorating our own home for Christmas. For the past couple years, we've had my family over our house on Christmas Eve to continue the tradition of opening one gift. After they leave, Tony & I have been opening all the gifts from each other on Christmas Eve. We've always had a lot of fun! Christmas Day we go to my parents house first thing in the morning to open gifts, then to his parents house for the afternoon, and back to my parents house in the evening.

This year has been really different. It is now the 19th day of December - which means that Christmas is only six days away. We do not have our tree up; the house hasn't been decorated at all; Tony & I haven't bought gifts for each other; Christmas music has been played very minimally. Why? Within the past few months we have learned of all the pagan roots that surround this holiday called CHRISTmas. And right now I think we are going through the learning process of how to keep Christ as our focus this holiday season. God created everything for our enjoyment. Sinful man has used these things (among others) to worship their gods: decorated evergreen trees, wreaths, mistletoe, stockings, etc. Now does this mean that Christians are now forbidden to hang greenery in their home. I think not. Sinful man has also used food of all types to worship their gods. Does this mean that a Christian can no longer enjoy the food that God created? I think not. The beautiful rainbow that God gave to us as a reminder of judgment and His promise to never flood the earth again, has been used for quite some time to represent the homosexual lifestyle. Does this mean that a Christian can no longer enjoy the rainbow in the sky? I think not! I believe a Christian can enjoy all created things and give glory and honor to the true God. We can eat, decorate our homes, play games, buy and recieve gifts, all to the glory of God!

Tomorrow I will hopefully be able to finish purchasing Christmas gifts for our families. And who knows, depending on the time, I may even put up a few decorations in our home... maybe even some lights. Oh yes, and have Christmas hymns playing in the background. I feel that a form of Hannukah should be celebrated by Christians. We should reflect on what God has done in the past to bring us to where we are today and to look forward to eternity. We should reflect on the fulfilled prophecies and all the promises that God has given to His people over the years. We should rejoice that God humbled himself and became a little baby - so that He could one day suffer God's wrath on the cross; so that He could be risen from the dead three days later; so that He can sit at the right hand of God Almighty, awaiting the day to call all His people home.

For a very good reason, Tony & I decided to exchange our gifts sometime in January. The reason: well after December 25th, most everything is marked down 50% and more! We are to be good stewards of our money. :) We haven't picked out an exact date yet ... but we're making some new traditions, and revising others. Christmas Eve, I believe my family will be joining us at church for a candlelight service. This will be something new to all of us and I know that it will be a delightful time of singing praises to our King.