As my first semester of college comes to a close, I've really been starting to reminisce about the holidays. With finals, the gloomy weather, and all of the students anxious to hit the road, it has left me feeling pretty home sick. Some of my best childhood memories were made during the holidays and those memories are the ones I hold closest to my heart. Whether old or young, these holiday traditions have been shared through my family and I hope they give you the motivation to push through this last week of finals.
1. Christmas Tree Shopping
My family used to be pretty reserved when it came to our Christmas trees but we built a new house and have a huge living area, so now we can go all out. This year we went to a little Christmas tree farm and it was such a homey, festive experience. No matter whether your family goes all out with a real Douglas Fir or you put up your plastic symbol of the holidays, it is a wonderful time to get the family together and partake in one of Christmas' oldest traditions.
2. Watching Christmas Movies
With movies like "Christmas Vacation," "Elf." and "The Grinch," how could you not just love curling up under a blanket with a cup of hot coco and relaxing for a little while?
3. Looking at Christmas Lights
When I was little my parents would load my sister and me into our minivan and we would drive around our little town ooh-ing and ahh-ing at all the beautiful decorations. Some people put a lot of work into their outdoor decorations and it's so fun to get into the spirit a little with synchronized lighting to the tune of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
4. Singing Christmas Carols
Directly starting the day after Thanksgiving, there will be Christmas music playing in my car, through my headphones, and pretty much everywhere else I go. Decking the halls has never been more fun than when I am belting out my favorite holiday tunes at the top of my lungs.
5. Christmas Eve Traditions
I've heard of a variety of traditions families share during Christmas Eve. Each member of my family gets a new pair of pajamas to wear to sleep and then Christmas day we stay in them for the duration of our festivities. It's such a sweet way to get together and be cozy while sharing that time with the ones we love most.
6. Family Get-Togethers
OK, so even though everyone complains about having their family asking about their lives and invading their personal space and all, that comes with family. Deep down, everyone loves their family, and someday things may not be how they are. So take the time this holiday season to fully appreciate even the kookiest of family members.
With less than two weeks left until Christmas, I urge you to take in the traditions your family shares and love every second. Christmas only comes once per year and it truly is the most special time of the year.
