Celebrating Christmas

Celebrating Christmas isn't, or shouldn't be, all about presents. When I look back at my childhood, I can remember only a very few of the gifts I was given. What I remember are the traditions, the rituals and the experiences. I've had a number of conversations with friends about this over the last few days, and from them I've compiled a few suggestions for ways to celebrate Christmas which don't involve huge costs.

A Christmas camp out!
No, even I wouldn't suggest getting the tent out in December (although I know some adventurous types who do, as well as a family taking their caravan away between Christmas and New Year), but how about an indoor camp out?
You could make up beds in front of the Christmas tree, using cushions, quilts, blankets and sleeping bags, and snuggle down to watch a Christmas movie, read a Christmas story, or just drink hot chocolate and enjoy the lights on your Christmas tree. I would imagine that this would seem like a great adventure to small children, in fact I quite like the idea myself!

A Christmas Elf.
One of my colleagues, who is mum to two small boys, has an elf toy that comes out every Christmas. He is one of Santa's helpers, and keeps an eye on the boys to make sure they earn their place on the 'nice list'. Each night, he mysteriously moves. He might go to bed in the living room, but come morning he will be found precariously balanced on the edge of the biscuit tin. Perhaps he got puckish during the night? Elf accompanies the boys wherever they go over the Christmas period,and this year he even as his own Facebook page, where photos of his exploits are posted.
My colleague admits to having found this idea on the Internet, and if you google Christmas elf you will find all kinds of suggestions, including printable messages from the Elf, and from Santa.

Use the library.
You can pick up a stack of Christmas themed books from the library, for all ages. Reading one book per night, or a chapter per night, can be a nice activity in the run up to Christmas, and of course borrowing them from the library means it won't cost a penny. My daughter is too old for the crafting sessions my library runs now, but in years gone by these free activities were something we enjoyed and looked forward to.

Christmas costumes.
A friend of mine has a box of 'fancy dress' supplies that she brings out each Christmas to entertain her grandchildren when they visit. Some of the items are actual fancy dress costumes that he was picked up over the years, but the majority are not. A couple of old red table cloths, lots of tinsel, some old net curtains etc. My friend says that her grandchildren love creating their own costumes, and really look forward to it each year.