Sometimes we can’t always make the time to go all out for the holidays. Hygge (pronounced HOO-gah) is a more simpler way of doing things for this time of year. I found some simple ideas and ways to bring Christmas into the season without breaking the bank or stressing you out.
Christmas Tent Making
One of my favorite memories are making tents for our boys to play under. This is even fun for grandparents to do with their grandkids. Having the Christmas tree lit up makes tent making even more fun. Turn out all the lights except the tree. Read books, have snacks, watch Christmas movies. Let the kids stay up late and sleep in the tent overnight. Make this a tradition and be sure to take photos each year for memories.
Snow Angels
Add a touch of fun to your yard, the park, or all over town with angel art. Make snow angels all over to decorate and spread some Christmas cheer.
Photo Tradition
Take photos of your family or pets in the same place, same position and same time every year. This is a great way to document kids growing up. You can try it with Santa, while building a snowman or in front of the Christmas tree.
Tree Festival
If your town has a Festival of Trees Event it would be a great opportunity to see your towns creative talent. It is also a great way to get ideas for your own home and tree.
Secret Santa or Angel
Put all your family member names in a bowl or a hat and have each person draw a name. Be sure they put their own name back in. Whichever name you choose you become a secret Santa or Angel. You could pick a time frame of how long to do this. The month of December, 10 days before Christmas, etc…and the Secret Santa does nice thing for the person whose name they chosen. You can do nice things for that person, grab them little gifts to surprise them with, and try not to get caught. Find a time to reveal each other’s Secret Santa/Angel on Christmas Day.
Christmas Movie Night
Have a Christmas movie night or, better yet, a Christmas movie binge watching day. Add drinks, and snacks or have pizza delivered.
Gathering
Besides Christmas Day or Eve family celebrations, have an evening of friends and family over for a gathering. Try wine tasting, cookie decorating or craft making. Do a pot luck and have everyone bring something to share. This could also be during the day on a weekend.
Gone, But Not Forgotten
Place photos of loved ones in small frames and place them on a mantel or hang them on the tree. Tell stories about your loved ones and share memories so future generations can let them memories live on.
Christmas Card Blessing
Save Christmas cards in a box and each night or once a week, take a card out of the pile and say a prayer for that person or family. You could also send a blessing gift. This could be money, a letter or note or a small gift to say thinking of you this season.
Christmas Pickle
The story behind the gherkin-themed game? For years, people believed that the Christmas pickle tradition was passed down through the generations from Old World Germany. Other people believe the pickle is in honor of an American Civil War soldier who was saved from starvation on Christmas Eve by eating a pickle. Still others believe that the tradition has something to do with St. Nicholas saving two boys who were trapped in a barrel of pickles.
Which of these explanations is correct? Apparently, none of them. Historical evidence supports the theory that the tradition was most likely fabricated by salesmen during the late 1800s to promote German glass ornaments in American stores.
On Christmas Eve, after the children have fallen asleep, parents sneak downstairs and hide the pickle in the boughs of the tree. Because of its green color, it blends into the evergreen and is hard to spot. The first child to find the ornament on Christmas morning is granted the privilege of unwrapping a special gift from under the tree.
Christmas Lights
A tradition we did with our boys was to have snacks and hot drinks and drive around in all the best neighborhoods to look at Christmas lights. Even as empty nesters we take an evening to drive around and look at all the displays of lights around town and in our current neighborhood. We grab a few snacks and some hot cocoa and enjoy ourselves.
Bring Nature Indoors
When winter is too cold to spend a lot optima outdoors, bring them in. Branches and garland from outside are also free. A little tip: Don’t stage them. Keep it all small and random and simple.
Whatever you do during the Christmas holiday season enjoy every moment you can. Relax with friends and family and create a cozy space and simple life. It will fill your heart with contentment.
Comment below and tell me what you do during this time of year to create a simple hygge lifestyle.
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