Ours is a spin on a more traditional Christmas activity.
Every year after our Christmas Eve dinner we gather in our family room to share the Christmas Story of our Savior. In our family, it's always Ted who shares the story. How he shares the story varies each year. It may be straight from the scriptures or it may be in his own words, retelling, or maybe from a children's story book or sometimes we take advantage of the beautiful portrayal produced by the church.
What is different and what has made this special for our family,
is that it's always done by candle-light.
We turn off all the light and light three or four candles (along with a warm fire burning)
For some reason this has always invited a more reverent and sweet spirit to the experience.
It's something the younger kids and grandkids think of as pretty neat---and something we all look forward to.
❤ Carrie B.
On Thanksgiving we start dinner with just 3 kernels of corn on our plate and tell the story that goes with it of the first thanksgiving and the pilgrims.
We also have a table runner on the table that we write what we are thankful for on with permanent marker. It is fun to read back over the years and how we change what we are thankful for as we get older. The kids are especially fun to read from when they were little.
For Christmas we try to read a different Christmas story every night in December.
We keep the books in a big basket by the fireplace. Some are about Christ and some are about Santa etc. Some are funny, some are spiritual, and some are just feel good Christmas stories. On Christmas Eve we end with the scripture account of Christ's birth.
On valentines day we usually get heart shaped pizzas from papa Murphy's for dinner.
Kellie T.
Valentine's Day: Every year for Valentine's Day, my Mom brought us a yummy breakfast in bed (usually included cinnamon rolls :)). It was something I always looked forward to!
We've kept that tradition alive in our family!
Lori B.
My mother had a tradition every Thanksgiving to help remind us to be grateful.
Of course we weren't allowed to eat anything after or bowl of cereal on Thanksgiving morning and waiting until 2:00 to eat, while smelling the wonderful turkey baking was excruciating. When it finally came time to eat, we would all find our seat and every year there would be five kernels of popcorn sitting on our plate, with a little note saying "Remember!" This was to remind us of a story about the Pilgrims when at one point they were down to 5 kernels a day of corn.
Right before the Thanksgiving prayer someone would read a short rendition of this story, which was always humbling, so I guess my mothers plan worked!
I have carried on this tradition the few times I have hosted Thanksgiving.
Here is the link with the story, 5 kernels of corn - A Thanksgiving Story
Venna R.
One tradition we have done with extended family is drawing names and then finding the perfect ornament for that person. We exchange them after thanksgiving dinner. Some get really creative and design their own or write poems etc...It's been a good thing to keep us altogether.
It's getting a little big now though!
Angie S.
Pioneer Day - If you haven't ever been to the big Pioneer Day Parade in Salt Lake City, you should check it out at least once. That is a fun family tradition we enjoy every year!
Halloween - I LOVE the old Disney movie "Ichabod Crane". One family night in October, we make our grandma's traditional sugar cookies or put together spider cookies made of oreos with licorice legs and red hots for eyes and watch that fun old movie. It still scares me!
Christmas - One of my favorite aunts died of cancer several years ago. She was famous for her good Italian cooking. Each December, in her honor, I try to make two or three lasagnas and give them away to families I know who might need a lift or a quick meal on a cold December night.
Sandy B. invites her children and grandchildren to a Halloween part at her home the Saturday before Halloween. Everyone comes in costumes. Each year there is a costume theme such as Super heroes, Disney, Scary ...
She fixes dinner. They play "Minute to Win It" or another fun game.
Marilyn W.
For grandchildren who live far away, David's mother made each child a Halloween card. She attached on the back a package of M&M's or made Rice Krispie Treats. Stickers is another choice of something to send.
And from others in our area:
Vickie R. loves Halloween! Her oldest son's family from Las Vegas comes every year to set up their front yard's elaborate decorations. She has sewn many wonderful costumes. She makes chicken pot pie, root beer with dry ice and a Halloween dessert on Halloween night.
Nancy B. has young grandchildren ages 1-8. She hosts an indoor Halloween party the Saturday before. She chooses a theme: pumpkins, cats, ghosts.
This year the theme was witches.
The children come in costume. She fixes dinner.
This year their choices were:
Witch's fingers- bread-sticks
Witch's broom - fork
Witch's slime - noodles
Witch's brew - apple juice
Witch's stew - spaghetti sauce
Games:
1. Two at a time, move a pumpkin to the line with a broom.
2. Put on witch gloves and open the packaging from a candy bar.
3. Candy corn toss into a small cauldron
4. The children trick or treat from room to room.
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