Help! How do I do Christmas?

[SantasNewLittleHelper]

So I was brought up in a faith that does not do Christmas which I got out out of as soon as I was able… and I have celebrated Christmas with friends and other family that have since. I’ve always felt like a bit of an imposter as I don’t really have any traditions from my younger years however I’ve been building on these year on year but those were mainly for an adult me.

This Christmas my little girl will be 1 and a little bit more aware of what’s going on, therefore I’ve booked her a visit to Father Christmas at a lovely NT near us to start.

However another thread got me thinking, how do I do Christmas with her, I’ve never had it as a child so what else should I be thinking of?
Tell me about how you make your Christmas’s magical for your children, with any traditions to make it special? How do tell them about Father Christmas etc I feel like I a Christmas fake and would like your help! Thanks in advance

Once your dd is older, following Father Christmas’s progress around the world online via the US site (NORAD?) is great.

A carrot or two for the reindeer are a must, and FC does like a tot of something warming and a mince pie or two. Milk and cookies are OK if you’re American, but in the U.K. he really doesn’t want cold milk on a midwinter night!

Surely your partner can help you out with all this?

I know people 'poo poo' them but we do a Christmas Eve box for our DD, which wasn't a thing when I was a child. One of us sneaks out and then puts it on the door step and knocks so she goes out to find it delivered from the 'elves'.

I don't go mad, usually its xmas pyjamas, socks, a hot chocolate bomb, Xmas book, and a craft activity. Maybe a small Christmas themed teddy if I can find one. I try and do it fairly cheaply and always look out for things at the local charity shops when they start putting out their Christmas stock

My daughter is autistic and struggles with the build up to Christmas.

We have accidentally developed a tradition of doing complicated baking on Christmas eve.

We get a kit from Not on the High Street.

So far we've done the rainbow bagels, the sweet and salty pretzels and the raspberry and white chocolate macaroons. Gets every pan in the house dirty and passes the time!

Basically I think Christmas is divided into different groups as part of the celebration.
Food
Decorations
Gifts
The Religious Part
Events (ie going to a Christmas Market).
If you are starting from scratch I would focus on just a couple of those that you really enjoy in life.
For example if you are a foodie then that could be your focus. That would include the traditional Christmas dinner plus extras like a gingerbread house.
With your husband being Catholic then going to (not necessarily at a Catholic church) a Nativity play or Carol Singing is nice as they are family friendly and relaxed.
Start small and let Christmas evolve.

We always put up the tree on the first weekend in Dec and it always marks the start of the festivities for us. Christmas music playing whilst decorating the tree, mince pies and hot chocolate. Always finished off with a Christmas film, usually Home Alone!

We normally do-

• Advent calendars
• Pick a new bauble each for the tree
• New PJs on Christmas eve
• Visit local garden centres
• Decorate a ginger bread house
• Watch lots of Christmas films
• Stockings
• Walk around our village looking at Christmas lights
• visit local farm to see the reindeer
• listen to the local brass band play/ carols
• plate for santa on Xmas eve with milk, cookies and carrot for ruldoph
• Christmas books

Ex-JW? Well done on getting out. My best friend is in the early stages of a relationship with a leaver who has only been out for about a year. He's meeting up with other ex-JWs and they are doing a group Christmas- it will be his first ever. Maybe you could see if there is a community like that in your area?

There's lots of traditions that different families do for Christmas and you don't have to do them all, it's up to you to determine what feels right for your family.

I presume you put the plate of cookies and milk out for father Christmas on Christmas eve? And write him a letter?

At age 1 I wouldn't really get the baby presents.

I spend about 300 on my daughter at xmas so a year off won't be a bad thing.

For baby get some lovely photos, find light shows, breakfasts with santa, things like that.

On the day make a nice dinner. Put her to bed xmas eve and say santa is coming and his slay will go past very soon so listen out for it. go outside and ring some bells so she hears his slay go past.

Her presents should be under the tree in the morning and a sack from santa's workshop.

The night before you put carrots, cake, and brandy out for santa. You nibble at and sip these so it looks like they've been eaten by morning. You can also put out reindeer food in the front to feed them when they are waiting outside.

Decorate a lovely tree. Buy a topper that you can pass down within the family.