A Simple and Delightful Christmas
With a world of possibilities and the internet always telling us to do more, I encourage you to seek a simple Christmas this year. Seek out the things that truly matter and choose intentionality this season. I am going to share some ways in which our family has a simple and delightful Christmas to hopefully inspire you and help you to realize you don’t have to do “all the things” to make this joyous season meaningful.
Advent: We began doing advent years ago when our children were younger and it has become one of our most treasured ways to celebrate the Christmas season. Sometimes the kids get candy and gum but other times we serve by giving money to Food for the Hungry or making Christmas cards for children in the hospital. This year for the first time, we are going Christmas caroling at a retirement home. Sometimes it’s that we drive around to see Christmas lights, other times it’s just watching a family movie and making hot cocoa. My husband and my Dad are taking them to Zoolights one of the days, and then another day we got them Chipotle gift cards. We write cheesy rhyming sayings for the days we don’t have anything physical to open. But, I feel like the kids get excited for each and every day of Advent and it helps us press pause and truly focus in on who this season is truly about: Jesus. We light a candle and read an advent devotional each day. It’s such a special and beautiful way to turn our hearts toward God and have something daily to look forward to while we count down the days until Christmas.
Natural Christmas Decor: We try to decorate very simply and use natural elements around the house like pine cones, sprigs of greenery from outside, dried oranges and homemade candles. I also love little Christmas houses and wood carved crosses, trees and stars. And as always, twinkly white lights go a long way in creating that cozy ambiance. We bought a fake tree this year for the first time ever from Ikea (Ikea’s fake trees do not off-gas) because have ya’ll seen the price of real Christmas trees?? But, we had the idea of putting our tree in a big wicker basket and using one of my beloved “granny doilies” as a tree skirt. It looks lovely!
Minimal Gifts: Although the kiddos get gifts from extended family, me and my husband have settled on three small gifts each, and then a few family gifts which are most always books or a gift card to go out to dinner as a family. We have had Christmases in the past that felt like “stuff” was the focus of the day and we looked around and it looked like our house had been taken over by gift wrap and plastic packages and toys. It’s not a good feeling. And, I think it takes away from why Christmas is magical on its own without all the materialism. This year, we learned how to do the Japanese “Furoshiki” gift wrapping technique which uses fabric instead of paper and it’s just adorable not to mention eco-friendly!
Shepherd’s Meal on Christmas Eve: There is already so… much… food… throughout the Christmas season and in my constant need to simplify everything, I decided that it would be our tradition to have a simple shepherds meal of beef stew and homemade bread every Christmas Eve. We all enjoy it and it actually just feels cozy and intimate and special in its own humble way. Skip the elaborate Christmas Eve dinner, and keep it simple.
Experiences Vs. Things: If you are getting the overarching theme that we value experiences over things, then you are right. Every year, we get just a little bit better about saying no to more material things in favor of spending time together and putting time and money toward creating memories rather than adding more clutter and chaos to our home.
Traditions: Upon looking back at my own childhood Christmases, it is the family traditions I remember most. These traditions help to make up ones “family culture” and in turn help shape the strength of relationships within a family. I remember my Dad always playing “The Carpenter’s Christmas” on the record player. My mom’s snowball cookies. Decorating the house together and our annual Christmas lights drive. Opening one gift at a time on Christmas morning so we could all see what eachother got and savor that long-awaited time. I still incorporate many of these into our own family along with the traditions I have mentioned. This year we are trying a new danish tradition: Risalamande Pudding. It is basically an almond rice pudding topped with cherry sauce but one of the puddings have a whole almond hidden in it, and whoever has the almond, wins a surprise gift!
Hygge: I don’t think Christmas is Christmas without cozy. Our family has Danish roots so I connect strongly with the concept of hygge. I am all about creating that hygge feeling all season long (or rather all year long) because cozy living is my way of life! Whether it is the way I decorate our home, in the food we eat, or the “hyggelig” experiences that feel bonding and joyful. So, break out those twinkly lights, light some candles, make some homemade hot cocoa and cinnamon rolls and get snuggly under some warm blankets on the couch and play all that Christmas music (“Irish Country Christmas” every day of December for me please!) and enjoy all those sweet and pleasant moments together.
Reflection: My last point is an important one. Christmas is a time to reflect on Christ and the light that He is in this dark world. It is a time to be grateful and openly name all that we have been given. If you do all my above points and fail to reflect on the deep and meaningful reason that Christmas exists, then you have missed it. Reflect on who Jesus is and why He came. Read through the Christmas story in the Bible, sing or listen to Christmas carols, do Advent, pray and give thanks and reflect on your life and areas of darkness within your heart that you can allow Jesus to shine His light into.
"Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life." -Corrie Ten Boom
Our Advent calendar from a year past.
