Christmas Eve at our home did not disappoint. It was full of all the sights, sounds, and smells that accompany this joyful, yet busy time. Everything is finally wrapped (or should be) and tucked under the tree. Christmas music plays in the background as one by one; items are prepared for the Christmas Eve meal. Inevitably, there are last minute things that pop up like an unexpected run to the grocery store for an ingredient. Or maybe you just misjudged how much tape you had and the ratio of presents yet to be wrapped to tape on hand is grossly disproportional. Hey, it happens, or so I’ve heard. You could also be calling an audible because the package you were tracking that said it would arrive by Christmas is still stuck in transit. Even without all that, it is usually a packed day and depending on the age of your kids and the items on their list, it may be a late night as well. “Assembly required,” are two words that haunt parents heading into Christmas Eve. My little one asked Santa for a kitchen playset. We got a great one for his age and he loves it, but it took 4 hours to put together. Do not get me wrong, it was totally worth it, but wow. I have also learned some lessons this Christmas that I think will force me to make a new rule for myself: When it is purchased or arrives, it gets wrapped same day. I love to wrap but I also procrastinate. That means when all the places I shop offer to gift wrap, I turn it down because I enjoy wrapping and want to do it myself. The only problem is, I don’t and all of a sudden, I look up and it’s Christmas Eve and I don’t have one thing wrapped. Wrapping packages and then making bows takes time. Those are hours that could have been dedicated to something else. I could have tried something new like roasting chestnuts or had time for another Christmas movie (or two). Then, there is always sleep.
Moving on to Christmas Eve traditions, here are some things we were up to this year.
Feed the Reindeer
Graham’s class made reindeer food and sent it home with him so he could put it out on Christmas Eve. We got our coats on and went out to sprinkle the food for Rudolph and the gang of eight around mid-afternoon. If your little one does not make this at school or is doing virtual learning, you can make your own. Grab a small Ziplock bag and add ½ cup of oats and 2 tablespoons of sprinkles. Then, get out there and spread the food in the yard. As you make the food together, explain that this food will help guide the reindeer to your home.
O Holy Night
One of our Christmas Eve traditions usually involves attending a brief church service. We did not have an in-person service, so we decided to do our own. Each person read some verses and we sang corresponding Christmas carols. As I mentioned in an earlier post, an advent guide is a great resource to use. I like to use the guide located here: The Village Church Advent Guide. One of my favorite songs is “O Holy Night.” When I attend a Christmas Eve service I always hope it is on the program. To me, the lyrics and melody beautifully frame the context of the long-awaited Savior coupled with the call to worship as the world realizes this night’s events have indeed brought about the fulfillment of prophecy.
“A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees; O hear the Angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night, O Holy night, O night divine!”
Christmas PJs
We ran across an idea online for something fun to add into the mix on Christmas Eve and decided to try it this year. The kids open a box that has new Christmas pajamas, a movie and some popcorn. Admittedly, the only part we got to was giving them new pajamas because some of our other Christmas Eve activities ran long and then I needed them to go to bed so I could start the all-night wrap party. Also, given that we have Apple TV, we could just select a movie for rent or purchase rather than buying a DVD. I really like the concept though and want to try to do better next year in executing the full plan. First, it will motivate me to get everything done in plenty of time, so I will not need to have an all-night wrap party. Hopefully, I will stick to my new rule and this will not be an issue. Second, I like the fact that it forces you to slow down, sit and just have some quality time watching a beloved Christmas movie. We might end up picking one that becomes a Christmas Eve must watch or we might watch something new every year. Either way, it guarantees me some good snuggle time with my boys which is a win. The movie I love to watch every year even if it’s by myself is White Christmas. It is one of my all-time favorites. I can sing along and envy their dance skills for two hours. Being in Vermont in a snow-covered Inn with Bing Crosby singing to you? Yes, please. When they bring all the soldiers back on Christmas Eve as a tribute to the general at the end, it always makes me a little misty.
Cookies for Santa
Much like feeding the reindeer, this is just an easy way to add a little more magic to Christmas Eve. I can’t say I have been super faithful at doing this, but I want to do better. It requires no effort since we’ve all got Christmas cookies laying around anyway that we’ve been baking all week. I’m already going to be up late getting things ready for Christmas morning so taking a bite or two out of a cookie just keeps me going.
I have this ribbon that I purchased that had some sparkle and I didn’t realize until I started making bows with it that glitter was getting everywhere. By the time I was done, the whole area next to the tree and fireplace looked like I had just sprinkled everything with glitter. At 330 in the morning, I just said to myself, ‘I’ll clean it tomorrow and just blame it on Santa.’
We had a wonderful day full of baking, fellowship and worship that ran late into the evening as we got some special gifts ready for our little ones.
You know those movies that have alternate endings? The part where it says, ‘but here’s how things could have gone.” Here is the reality of our ‘night before Christmas’
‘Twas the night before Christmas, but there was definitely stirring.
Up late with tools and pieces; we were so tired
Because the requested item on Santa’s list
came with instructions that said, ‘Assembly required’
It would all be worth it tomorrow
To see sweet faces of delight
So we pressed on til the task was completed
And eventually got to call it a night.’
Merry Christmas from our family to yours!
Stay tuned for more of the 12 Days of Christmas!
