Fun Family Traditions for Christmas

(FeatureSource) - The meaning of Christmas is sometimes obscured by long lines at the mall, begging children, and the stress of rushing around town. This holiday season, put the focus back on family and tradition, with some helpful ideas from Cynthia MacGregor, author of "Fun Family Traditions" (Meadowbrook Press).

• Do you have a poet or composer in your family? Why not write your own Christmas carol this year? You can make changes to an existing song or write it from scratch. Music fills the holidays with memories and this Christmas will be extra special with your own family song.
   
• A homemade gift is the best kind for grandparents and close relatives. Devote an evening with your whole family, a few weeks before Christmas, for making gifts. Turn on the holiday music, make some hot chocolate, and have a great time.
   
• Every Christmas package needs to be decorated. Making your own gift wrap this season is a fun way to personalize your gifts. Use colorful markers to add holiday warmth to brown wrapping paper, or use aluminum foil and stick-on stars to show the bright spirit of the season. Last year's Christmas cards are filled with holiday images that can be cut out and pasted to make a festive package.
   
• New traditions are wonderful ways to bring your family together, but old traditions, like baking Christmas cookies, should not be forgotten. Baking delicious cookies fills your home with the holiday spirit as well as the smell of nutmeg, chocolate, and cinnamon. They also make wonderful gifts!