Enjoy A Cozy Night Of Christ-
mas Movies & Books: A fun way to
More Meaning,
Less Stress:
8 Memory
Making Christmas
Traditions
That Discourage
Materialism
encourage both the activities and the
togetherness that researchers found
important is to host a Christmas movie
and book night. Invite extended family.
Make popcorn, s’mores, and hot choc-
olate. Snuggle up in cozy blankets or
matching pajamas. (Don’t forget to take
photos for next year’s holiday mantle.)
Take In Sensory Sights And
Sounds: Sensory details help cement
fond memories. Pile into the car, crank
up the Christmas music, and take in the
sights and sounds of the holiday. Some
families visit the same destinations every
year, while others like to explore new
locations. Many communities, schools,
and organizations host holiday-themed
plays, events, or shows, which are either
free or inexpensive. Some families at-
tend annual religious services.
Enjoy A Stress-Free Meal To-
gether: Many families work hard to pre-
I
— by Shannon Dean
f Christmas is the backdrop for
some of your fondest childhood
memories, you are not alone.
Many people cherry-pick their very best
holiday recollections and carry them
into adulthood. A recent poll found that
Christmas is overwhelmingly the most
popular and widely practiced of all holi-
days. Regardless of religious affiliation,
9 out of 10 people celebrate some form
of Christmas. But, parents who want to
recreate a nostalgic Christmas in modern
times face challenges.
More Money, Less Joy: Since
most people cite simply spending time
with loved ones as their favorite holiday
activity, it’s surprising that we’re in-
creasingly allocating precious resources
on activities that we don’t actually en-
joy. Statistics show that, year over year,
we’re actually spending more money
and time on stressful obligations that
don’t contribute to our holiday bliss.
Ironically, experts tell us that keep-
ing Christmas simple makes it more
magical. Our pleasant childhood memo-
ries come not from gifts, but from warm
feelings or pleasant experiences. A reas-
suring study out of Knox College con-
firms that most people feel the greatest
6 WNY Family December 2018
holiday joy participating in soothing
activities with loved ones. Conversely,
when the focus is about gift giving, joy
plummets and stress increases. The re-
searchers concluded: “Simply said, a fo-
cus on materialism, while perhaps ben-
eficial for the economy, distracts people
from the true meaning of the season.”
Parents who want to tame modern
holiday consumerism face the not-so-
subtle message that only substantial
amounts of money and effort bring sub-
stantial holiday satisfaction. To counter
these assumptions, here are 8 inexpen-
sive suggestions for creating a meaning-
ful holiday that your kids will hopefully
pass on to their own children.
Exchange Stocking Letters Of
Appreciation: To place the focus on
connections rather than on gifts, add
letters of appreciation to stockings. The
letters might outline what makes each
family member special. You might also
mention any enjoyable memories from
the previous year or what made you
proud of the recipient. Even small chil-
dren can draw a picture that expresses
their appreciation. Many people keep
these letters forever.
pare a feast on Christmas day, so it’s fun
to enjoy a labor-free meal before the
big day. Visit your family’s favorite res-
taurant, order in, or share a simple din-
ner. (This tradition is also beneficial for
blended families who may have multiple
homes to visit.) With your family at the
table, use this opportunity to tell your
kids about your own holiday memories
and to talk about what Christmas truly
means to each member of your family.
The conversation may surprise, touch,
and reassure you.
Give To Others: Whether it’s choos-
ing an angel from an angel tree, making
a meal for others, or visiting someone
who could use a lift, allow your kids
to feel the spirit of giving. The winter
holidays are the perfect time to remind
children that it can be more meaningful
and lasting to give than to receive. Even
better, giving feels good and will install
lasting values and memories that can
broaden your family’s definition of the
true meaning of Christmas.
Create A Sense Of Wonder: Bar-
bara Kilikevich, author of A Mindful
Christmas: How to Create a Meaning-
ful, Peaceful Holiday, assures families
that Santa can be an important part of
Christmas, since he “represents wonder,
imagination, and maybe most important-