Naomi Howard
There’s nothing like spending time with family around the fire as the snow falls outside or driving around town looking at the twinkling lights. Even as an adult, there’s something special about the holidays and we all want to create memories that our family will cherish for years to come. Bring the whole family together to go through the ornaments, hang up the stockings, decorate the house, bake cookies, drive around and look at Christmas lights, and then top it all off with a Christmas movie (we recommend The Polar Express) and a mug of hot chocolate!
If you don’t feel creative enough to come up with a story of your own, pick up a copy of The Magic Christmas Ornament to read to your children. “Almost every night we’d sit under the tree and play Christmas music and look at the lights and then once in a while I’d tell a story,” James said. Now, you can find cardboard versions with everything from small toys to chocolates to even beauty products.
The Santa Claus House in the North Pole, Alaska, has been around since 1952 and is home to unique ornaments, gifts, and real reindeer. If Christmas is your absolute favorite time of year, add Santa Claus Village in the Finnish Lapland to your wish list. Located in the Arctic Circle, kids can meet Santa, his elves, and his reindeer! The complete directions can be found on the USPS website, but the gist of it is that your child writes their letter to Santa and before mailing, you add another letter “From Santa,” and the post office will postmark it from the North Pole in Anchorage, Alaska, and mail it back! Another wonderful option is to donate canned goods or volunteer your time at a food bank. Called Jolabokaflod, or “Yule book flood,” this Icelandic tradition started during World War II.
