I know I always seem to talk a lot about the importance of traditions and spending time with your children and creating meaning in your family, but, well, it matters a lot!  If you’d like to start a little conversation, I thought I’d share some of the family traditions we have in my family, and please feel free to add your own…

We have a lot of family to see over a few days, so we have started to make a point of not doing anything with anyone outside our immediate family until at least noon on Christmas morning.  It was getting to be a little out of hand seeing one family in the morning and another in the afternoon, so now we’re in a “just us” routine that makes the whole day a lot more relaxed. 

My husband and I like to watch White Christmas every Christmas Eve.  I will admit that we sometimes fall asleep near the end — we always have family over for dinner that night, and by the time we say good-bye to them, get ourselves organized for the next day, and sit down with a glass of wine, it can be pretty late.  But we’re both looking forward to the years when our kids are old enough to stay up with us and watch it, too.

We take turns opening gifts.  I know the free-for-all approach works for some families, but we like being able to see everyone open each of their gifts and turn our attention to both giving and receiving. 

What special traditions do you have in your family?  How do you give this season of overindulgence and materialism, meaning for your family?