Holiday Traditions from Our Saint Andrew's Families

Traditions and celebrations help us maintain a sense of unity with family and friends, and during times of stress, it's important to celebrate holidays and maintain our traditions. Our celebrations may be a bit smaller and look a little different this year, but they are no less meaningful. 

Thank you to everyone who shared some of the traditions that make the holidays warm and festive for their families. Here are some of the favorite Christmas activities that were shared:

“We decorate the house with lights and ornaments” 
“We wear matching Christmas PJs while decorating the Christmas tree.”
“We Christmas carol with friends.”

“(Our family) enjoys playing charades.”

“We light our advent wreath symbolizing hope, love, joy, and peace each Sunday the four weeks leading up to Christmas.”

“We have a big meal together.”

“We have Christmas countdown activities.”

“Attending a Christmas Eve Service as a family. (virtually this year)”
“We have an Advent Calendar of Christmas books we read each year. We have 24 Christmas picture books we've collected, and each year we line them up on the mantel and pick one to read each night as a family as we countdown to Christmas. We save the best for last, with The Night Before Christmas for....the night before Christmas, December 24th.”

”Santa leaves us early Christmas presents under the tree between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but only if the gnomes and elves report to Santa that we have been nice and not naughty.”

The Feezor Family shared that they enjoy wassail each Christmas and provided the recipe if you’d like to try it, too:
2 Quarts of Apple Juice, unfiltered
1 cup of orange juice
1 cup of lemonade
2 cinnamon sticks
8 whole cloves
Bring to a boil and then simmer for at least 1 hour. Serve warm.

Adults can add a little brandy if desired.

Families shared about opening advent calendars, baking special cakes, cookies, and sticky buns, decorating gingerbread houses, cutting down the tree together, decorating the tree together, the annual holiday photo, driving around looking at Christmas light displays, buying and wrapping gifts, playing board games, and listening to holiday music. 

And if you need some inspiration, we’ve created some Pinterest boards full of the cookie and candy recipes that were shared and one of holiday movies to help you fill your days. The editors at Red Tricycle have also assembled a list of 21 Holiday Theater & Musical Performances You Can Enjoy on Your Couch (NOTE: a couple of them have already occurred.)

Whatever your family chooses to do to celebrate the fall and winter holidays, all of us at Saint Andrew’s wish you comfort, rest, and joy for the coming break. You might consider, as one family shared, taking a hike in one of our amazing local parks or nature areas on New Year’s Day!