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A Good Old-Fashioned Christmas In 3 Simple Steps
In today’s high-tech, always-on-the-go world, we look to the holidays as a time to slow down and enjoy our many blessings.
With all the commercialism and hubbub that threaten to make the holidays hectic, here are three simple ways to enjoy a traditional, old-fashioned Christmas.
The Flavors Of The Holidays
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. ~Melody Beattie
For me, baking Christmas cookies and enjoying the sumptuous feasts of the season are the heart of the season. The wafting aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves brings back treasured childhood memories.
The splendid hues of colored sugar sprinkled over cut-out cookies, the brightly colored icing on the tantalizing little Petits Fours and the earthy tones of a scrumptious Plum Pudding drizzled with pearlescent Hard Sauce are as much a treat for the eyes as they are for the taste buds.
I know the holidays are truly ramping up when the eggnog, mulled cider and spiced coffee are close to hand. Everywhere we turn, this festival for the senses greets us with a warmth that is unique to this special time of year.
The sweets are just the tip of the iceberg. Holiday cooking abounds with rich flavors that we wait all year to enjoy. Thanksgiving turkeys, Christmas hams, roasts of beef and pork all await the holiday dinner table. These savory marvels won’t stand by themselves. Green bean casserole, roasted potatoes and onions, vegetables of every color and flavor profile will adorn our plates and thrill our senses.
For every extravagant holiday meal, there is an equally bountiful portion of leftovers to be enjoyed. That turkey that fed the family on Thanksgiving Day will keep providing sandwich slices for days to come. The remnants of roasts can be diced up and used to make hearty stews and casseroles.
The Magic Of Seasonal Decorating
Let’s Create AN Old Fashioned Christmas Using Frugal Natural Resources
For many people, it’s the decorations that make Christmastime special. The bright decorations set the mood for a traditional Christmas. The entire family can get involved in decorating as the Christmas spirit moves them.
Start with an old-fashioned Christmas tree. Before the days of department stores and overnight delivery of anything from anywhere, decorations were all handmade. Take time throughout December to create old-fashioned, handmade decorations such as stringed popcorn and colorful paper chains. Play Christmas music, serve eggnog and gingerbread men to get everyone into the spirit.
We may have items that were given to us by our parents or grandparents that have become very dear to our hearts. They’re treasures we take care of and every time we see the item, it brings to mind the memories of special days from our childhoods. Some families have heirloom Christmas decorations that have been passed down since Victorian and Edwardian times.
Even if you don’t have such a legacy, it’s not too late to start a tradition that will have special meaning for your loved ones. Whether you purchase finely crafted items or create your own keepsake ornaments by learning crafts such as decoupage, papier mâché, stained glass, sculpting clay or making permanent cookies with ornamental dough. Handcrafted works of personal devotion will be every bit as priceless to your descendents as any Inge-Glas figurine or Moravian Star.
Stepping beyond the Christmas tree, fresh greenery can be gathered or purchased at local tree farms to create wreaths, swags and garlands. Using natural materials not only brings a fresh pop of color into the house during the bleak winter months but it exudes a charming pine scent that pairs wonderfully with the sweet and savory aromas of your holiday feasts.
The Joy Of Christmas Day
One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don’t clean it up too quickly. ~Andy Rooney
Christmas Day traditions can help create old-fashioned fun. Find someone to play Santa Claus and deliver the presents for everyone in the family or even hire a professional Santa to sit a while and tell charming stories.
Remember to make your gift exchange time special. Rather than a wild free-for-all, give everyone a chance to open gifts one at a time. This gives everyone a better chance to closely examine their gifts and show gratitude for the thought that was put into the gifts.
Whether you’re in a place where sledding and snowball fights are an option or just playing games indoors or out, don’t forget to take some time to enjoy each other’s company. Sitting down and watching your favorite Christmas movies is a great way to spend the day together. Top it off by serving hot cider or hot chocolate with cookies, candy or nuts.
If we can take the time to make the holidays special for our kids and grandkids, we can pass these family traditions on with each successive generation adding their own innovations. Christmas can be the most wonderful time of the year if we take the time to slow down and genuinely enjoy the blessings of the family and friends in our lives.
Focusing on these three simple facets of a joyous holiday season will help to make your Christmas merry and bright.