Far be it from me to make you feel you need to do more this Christmas. But if you're seeking more than a one day splurge to celebrate Christ's birth and all that it means, spreading out the celebration can be useful. I've already blogged about St. Nicholas' Day, which is the traditional kick-off of the Christmas season. Here are a few more days of note to consider adding to your family traditions...with ideas on making them meaningful without a ton of work.
December 26, Boxing Day: In the 18th and 19th century, this was the day alms were gathered for and delivered to the poor. It was also the day servants were given boxed presents by their employers. Today, this is a good time to remember those who've served you throughout the year: Your pastor, your child's teacher, your postman, your garbage man. A small gift in a simple box - perhaps some baked treat - is a good way to give Boxing Day a nod.It's also a great time to have your child get out his piggy bank and set aside some of what he's saved for the poor. Hop online and help your child find a charity to donate the funds to, then show him how to write a check and drop it in the mail. December 28, Feast of the Holy Innocents: Since the 400s AD, Christians have set aside this day to remember the children slaughtered when King Herod heard about Jesus' birth and wanted to kill the "competing" king. (Matthew 2:1-18) Imagine the horror of the people when every boy child two years old and under were ripped from their mother's arms and murdered. If you do nothing else on this day, try reading this passage with your family, followed by a prayer of thanks. The Victorians called this holiday "Little Christmas" and often held childrens' parties. It might be a good time to gather your childrens' friends together for an exchange of toys they no longer want. Or, better yet, host a simple party (no need to make it fancy; call it a playdate if you want to) where each child brings a new or like-new toy to donate to needy children. January 5th (or 6th), Twefth Night: This is the traditional time to celebrate the wise men's visit to Jesus. Some families, in setting up their nativity scene for Christmas, like to place the wise men in some distant location from baby Jesus. Then, as they count down the days until Christmas, they allow the children to slowly move the wise men a bit closer to the nativity scene. Finally, on January 6th, the wise men "arrive." Going back at least to the 18th century, many people liked to bake a Twefth Night cake and hide a coin inside it; whichever person was served the coin inside his or her cake became king or queen of the night, complete with a paper crown. For safety's sake, the coin should be plastic and large enough it's not a choking hazard. Cut a slit in a homemade cake before frosting it and slip the coin inside. Or, if you use a store-bought cake, make a slit with a knife, slip the coin in, and recover with frosting. To make Twelfth Night more about the biblical story of Jesus, some families choose to give each other small gifts. You may either give each person a three gifts representing gold, frankincense, and myrrh, or offer each person in the family one gift representing one of those three famous presents. They should be more symbolic than expensive. For example, for a gold present, offer a treasure - like a small photo album of family pictures. For a gift representing franincense (an incense), try a spritiual gift, like a new Bible or a devotional CD. For myrrh (which was used both to annoint wounds and embalm the dead), try a gift like lotion or a soothingly scented candle.
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