Recommended for you

My Favorite Christmas Traditions

Christmas is only 43 days away. It's never too early.

Nov 19, 2018

In my family, there are a lot of traditions that we have done around Christmas time since I was little. These are my favorites.

The Holiday Festival of Lights

Each year in James Island, South Carolina, the county park hosts the Holiday Festival of Lights. It's timeless fun for all ages. There are sections of light shows that you can drive through, sections you can walk through, and sections that you can take the train through (and buy glasses that change the colors and shapes of the lights. Yes, I am a child still. I love these). You can take pictures with Santa, purchase custom Christmas ornaments, visit the sand sculpture competition, watch the dancing trees, take on the climbing wall, see the giant greeting cards, roast marshmallows, watch different local groups perform, and interact with lights displays - the fun options are endless.

Making Reindeer Food

Growing up, my sister and I would make food for Santa's reindeer and sprinkle it in the front yard. It literally just consisted of dry oatmeal and glitter (so Santa would see our house from his sleigh, duh).

The big Christmas lights reveal

Each year, my dad spends countless hours decorating our house with lights and wreaths and other decorations. Once he is done decorating, my mom, sister, and I stand across the street while my dad plugs in the lights for the first time and gives us a big, bright reveal. He's a very good decorator, too. Thanks, Dad.

Christmas Eve dinner

Growing up, my grandparents always wanted us to go out to dinner as a family before Christmas Eve church service. Naturally, the only place open was a Chinese restaurant...so it became our regular spot for Christmas Eve dinner.

Midnight Christmas Eve service

Every year on Christmas Eve, my family attends our church's midnight service. As the service comes to a close, right at 12, they dim the lights and we all light candles and sing Joy to the World in the dark sanctuary. It's a very beautiful and festive sight.

Reading 'Twas The Night Before Christmas

Every Christmas Eve, after the midnight service, my dad sits us all in front of the Christmas tree and reads us 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. This is hands down my favorite family tradition.

Decorating the baby tree

In our house, my mom has one big fancy tree that she gets to decorate with the pretty, presentable ornaments and decorations from the store. Then, on the other side of the house, my little sister and I get to decorate a tiny tree with all of the crazy, handmade ornaments that we have collected over the years. We've practically completely weighed the tree down by now.

Christmas morning

Every night before Christmas, my parents barricade the end of the hallway leading to the living room with all of the chairs from our dining room. My sister and I STILL aren't allowed to go out in the living room without my parents first. We love to go in their bedroom and wake them up early like we're still 4 and 8 (I'm sure they appreciate that very much). Then, they go out into the living room and get their video cameras ready and let my sister and I come out for a big Christmas morning reveal. The presents never disappoint, either.

PAJAMAS!!

My other very favorite Christmas tradition...in our family, no one is allowed to leave the house or wear anything but pajamas. If you're spending the holiday with us, you better show up in your PJs (not kidding, my aunt spent Christmas with us a few years ago and my mom told her she wouldn't be able to come in if she wasn't in her pajamas). It's the laziest (and best) Merrithew holiday ever.

Christmas is the best holiday season of the whole year...you can't change my mind. I'm counting down the days!

Report this Content

This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Student Life

The 5 Phases Of Finals

May the odds be ever in your favor.

Essex County, NJ

1558

Gurl.com

It’s here; that time of year when college students turn into preschoolers again. We cry for our mothers, eat everything in sight, and whine when we don’t get our way. It’s finals, the dreaded time of the semester when we all realize we should have been paying attention in class instead of literally doing anything else but that. Everyone has to take them, and yes, unfortunately, they are inevitable. But just because they are here and inevitable does not mean they’re peaches and cream and full of rainbows. Surviving them is a must, and the following five phases are a reality for all majors from business to art, nursing to history.

Keep Reading...Show less

finals

Student Life

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

University of Dayton

2921

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again when college students live at the library all week, cramming for tests that they should have started studying for last month. Preparing to spend all day at the library takes much consideration and planning. Use these tips to help get you through the week while spending an excessive amount of time in a building that no one wants to be in.

Keep Reading...Show less

library

Student Life

26 Things to Thank Our Roommates For

Who knows where we would be without them.

Michigan State University

2016

StableDiffusion

Where do we begin when we start talking about our roommates? You practically spend every moment with them, they become your second family and they deal with you at your best and at your absolute worst. They are there to make you laugh just a little harder, cry a little less and make each day a little better. We often forget to thank them for the little things that they do to make college even a tiny bit easier and more fun. This list of 26 things are what you should thank your roommates for right this minute and every day that you live with them.