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Share The Gift Of A Christmas Story
Each holiday season, one of the challenges every family faces is finding a way to manage Christmas spending. As extended families grow, the pressure to spend more and more grows with each December. But many families today have chosen creative ways to give to each other, without spending money, especially at large family gatherings.
Each holiday season, one of the challenges every family faces is finding a way to manage Christmas spending. As extended families grow, the pressure to spend more and more grows with each December. But many families today have chosen creative ways to give to each other, without spending money, especially at large family gatherings.
Such creativity hearkens back to a simpler time, when the spirit of giving had nothing to do with marketing, and everything to do with the thought and love behind each gift. If you’re looking for a simple way to liven up your family gatherings, and save money at the same time, consider the idea of family story-sharing.
Such an event is something in which everyone, even the youngest family members, can participate; everyone has a holiday story or tale or song that’s special to them. And such an event is not only exciting for everyone, it’s also easier to plan than any holiday dinner.
As you make your plans for extended family gatherings this holiday season, seek volunteers to share their special Christmas tales. Some draw names or hold a family lottery, to determine who will share stories in any given year.
Finding material is easy. Most Christmas stories, from various Santa Claus tales, to different versions of the Nativity, can be easily downloaded from online sources. The pieces then can be memorized by brave family members, or bound together neatly for reading, by the rest of us.
Family members who read or recite to the rest should practice a bit, beforehand, either alone or with other immediate family, who can offer constructive and helpful advice, so that the performance itself is entertaining and interesting.
The youngest family members may need a bit of help, both with finding a holiday tale, and with preparing it. Parents can be a practice audience for their kids, offering pointers on volume and pronunciations. Many children may even choose to make up their own stories. This can be a really entertaining addition to any family party.
The best time for such an event is probably at the end of the great meal at a holiday gathering. The family has congregated, renewed their ties over a delicious feast, and is ready to share something of themselves, something personal, with each other.
Pick a “moderator” to introduce each reading or song, and to keep things moving along. Limit the number of stories, each year, to a handful, alternating family members, from year to year. Keep each season’s session a moderate length, so that story-sharing is fun, rather than tedious.
Sharing favorite holiday stories and poems and songs with your loved ones can turn into a highlight of each Christmas family gathering.