It’s the most wonderful time of the year! December is full of festive fun for the whole family. From decorating the tree, caroling door-to-door, shopping at all the holiday markets, and sitting in Santa’s lap with a list a mile long, there are so many magical moments to pack into this holiday season. East Alabama is bursting with Christmas trees all aglow, parades down College Street, and old holiday charm in a Railroad Town. With so much wonder and joy to experience this year, it is sure to be a Christmas to remember for everyone.
Do you have memories of Christmases past? Maybe what stands out for you is that year you stayed up all night in hopes of catching a glimpse of Santa and his sleigh or tearing into that giant wrapped gift under the tree, in hopes it was exactly the wish on the top of your list.
Or, is your fondest memory of that one Christmas Eve, with the whole family gathered by the fire with hot cocoa, cookies, and playing family games until bedtime? Or maybe it was when your family chose a child from the giving tree, then eagerly searched for and wrapped all the items on the “needs” list, and delivered it to a family that wouldn’t have had a merry Christmas without the generosity of your family? For me, the best Christmas memories are those where it was more about togetherness and less about the gifts.
In the feature article, More Meaning, Less Stress: 8 Memory-Making Christmas Traditions That Discourage Materialism, the author reminds us that it is not always about spending money and buying all the gifts, but more about making memories this holiday season. She suggests starting the season off together by spending time as a family decorating the house to feel festive and jolly, and finishing the weekend gathered around the tree watching a Christmas classic movie. Making Christmas memories, while decorating the tree and hanging stockings, will forever be a memory for your children. Maybe one day, these memories created this year will spark a tradition for their own family years from now.
Another idea is to stop putting it off and just take that trip this year! Yes, there may not be any gifts to open up, but think of all the memories that are really the actual gift. Where time spent together in a mountain cabin or riding Dumbo at Disney will mark a longer-lasting memory than any gaming console or dollhouse could ever create. After all, time together as a family is the goal and the gift of this season.
Grab the family and make some holiday memories this month. There will be snow falling in Opelika, skating in Auburn, reindeer trains to ride, and tree lightings to behold. Don’t miss Santa on the Corner, a Holiday Walk in the Woods, or The Nutcracker Ballet. Check out the 2025 Holiday Happenings Guide for all that this Christmas Season has to offer.
From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
