Growing up in a military family, I always found that maintaining family traditions was one of the best ways to stay grounded and feel at home no matter where we happened to be physically located. My own family is still relatively young and we have yet to start any new traditions, but one Christmas activity from my childhood has always stayed with me. It is centered around decorating the Christmas tree and I hope that my children’s memories of it will be as fond as mine are.
Every year, when we bring the tree home, regardless of whether it is live or artificial, we gather as a family to adorn it with all of it’s trimmings. With Christmas tunes playing in the background, we begin by preparing refreshments. To drink, we make our version of warm apple cider: pour regular apple juice into a mug, add a cinnamon stick, microwave until warm, use cinnamon stick as a straw to slurp up every last drop of the cider. It’s warmth and subtle flavor make it the ideal holiday drink for children. It’s also fun to have special mugs that you use for this every year. I remember using those yellow smiley face mugs for the longest time, I’m guessing until they all broke. My mom would also have made some cookies for us to enjoy as we strung lights and popcorn around the tree. We can spend several hours at our task as we reminisce about the significance of particular ornaments and take care to spare no inch of the tree from some adornment. I’m not big on tinsel (although it was a staple when I was a kid!), but candy canes are a must!
This particular time of family sharing and enjoyment is the main kick-off of the Christmas season for us. The music, the sweet aroma of cider and cookies lingering in the air, and the warmth of family are prefect for getting into the Christmas spirit. It is one of my favorite parts of the season, and it is a holiday tradition that I hope will continue for generations to come!
I recently shared this tradition with my swap partner (Debbie) in Sew Liberated’s Holiday Traditions Swap and made a few things to go along with it.
In the hopes that Debbie and her family will try the Apple Cider, I sent her some cinnamon sticks wrapped in monogrammed cozies. They’re all bundled up for the cold weather and are just waiting to be dunked in some warm apple juice!
I also made her a star ornament, using this star pattern, to include on her family’s Christmas tree. 
As for our own tree, we got our first real Christmas tree in years and decorated it simply with colorful lights and cinnamon ornaments that the girls made.
Even in its simplicity, it was one of the most beautiful trees I’ve ever seen.
Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!
I’ll be posting again soon to show you all of my loot from the Traditions Swap.
What a beautiful tradition. I love the cinnamon ornaments. I still have ones from when my oldest was in preschool and they still smell. Thanks for sharing all your great crafts and ideas. Happy New Year!
What a lovely post. I was totally transported to your home. I love it when that happens.
Hi,
I just loved receiving my swap package from you. I’m so glad you’ve posted about it here.. I haven’t been able to update my blog for about a week or so but hope to soon and add the pictures there too. My girls, who are not so young anymore just loved them. I can’t wait to put them out next year and remember receiving them all over again. Have a happy new year!!!
My, where did all that blonde hair come from? You are creating some truly wonderful memories and artifacts for your girls. I love seeing all that you post! You really have a great eye for this!
I love these!!!!!!! I can’t swap anything but inspirational speech and teaching ideas, but I’d sure love some of your crafting/sewing goodness… (hint, hint
What an adorable picture of the girls. I can’t believe how much they have grown this past year. They are awesome; as are you, baby girl. I’m so glad you remember the large yellow smilie face mugs and apple cider tradition. We did that for so many years. I wonder where those mugs ever disappeared to? I think I still have one. I could almost smell the fresh Christmas trees in Germany. I know we had trees every year but the best ones were in Germany. The absolute worse were the little pines I got for you and Alex to decorate. The nicest tree was the one we gave away before we left Germany to the German Family that didn’t have one. I thank you for bringing back wonderful family memories and traditions we shared for 20 years. I hope you and Cory will be reading about your family traditions from the girls. (much later, of course) I know your Christmas was great; I pray 2009 will be your best year ever. I’m so proud of the wonderful mom, wife and daughter you are; that’s my girl!!!!!!
mom