It's Not Just One Day

This article is a valient cry for Christmas to be low-key affair in this time of recession. While these suggestions are all well in good let's also remember that the Christmas season is a season - not a day.

We celebrate Advent, Christmas Day, and the 12 days of Christmas in our household. It's actually fun and it teaches our children that Christmas is a time of year, not just one day about presents.

Advent wreaths are great. My kids love the ritual of lighting the candles before dinner. We celebrate St. Nicholas Day and the other saint's days during Advent not particularly religiously but in family fun ways that are special and create family traditions that last.

Christmas is, of course, Christmas but the 12 days between Christmas and Epiphany have special Saints days as well that are worth devoting activities to - even if it just moving the three wise men closer and closer to the baby Jesus in the creche.

Because I'm Catholic, we follow Catholic traditions but a simple google search with your particular christianity will certainly offer up some family-oriented activities that will keep the focus of the season where it belongs on the birthday of Christ and your family.