The Christmas season is here, and it’s a special time of year – time of year many look forward to!
It’s a time to gather with family and friends to celebrate the Christmas season while feasting on scrumptious foods, drinks and giving and receiving gifts!
While this can be a joyous occasion, this season can be especially hard on a lot of different people. Some people struggle if they have lost loved ones, are sick and can’t make the festivities, are going through relationship or marital difficulties or changes, don’t get along with their family, and many other reasons involving heartache. The heartache that is felt deeply around an otherwise joyous occasion as a reminder of what they had.
Whatever the reason, this happy occasion can cause some hearts to hurt more than they do regularly because the reminder of joy and gathering is very imminent during the Christmas season.
The Christmas season is a reason to spread joy and kindness to one another. Below are 5 essential traditions to add to your holiday season to help everyone feel the gift of kindness that surrounds us all this holiday season!
Give Back to Others with Kindness
The Christmas season is all about giving and sharing love, so it seems only fitting that giving and sharing love to others would be a paramount tradition to add to your holiday season!
Helping to spread the joy to others during the Christmas season doesn’t need to be elaborate, expensive, or complicated! Set up a Christmas advent calendar where you spend 31 days before Christmas by giving back to others with kindness! Some ideas can include:
Sponsoring a Family in Need
There are many less fortunate families out there who are not financially able to celebrate Christmas, let alone enjoy everyday life, and who face dangers of poverty and sickness.
Choosing to sponsor a family in need is an incredibly kind way of letting someone know that you are there for them and are committed to helping them! Imagine the change you can be in their lives by gifting them the opportunity to be helped and loved by a stranger!
Volunteering at a Soup Kitchen
Another way to give back in kindness to others during the Christmas season is to volunteer at a soup kitchen. This way, you’re able to help prep, cook and serve a healthy, hot cooked Christmas meal to those in need, and also be a friendly face to wish them a “Merry Christmas”!
Many suffering people in shelters don’t have the luxury of eating a home-cooked meal with their loved ones or even themselves, so this is where those of us who can give back, should!
When your children are old enough, suggest this idea to them as well, to help them learn more about those who need help and how to help!
Paying off Someone’s Layaway or Debt
Give the gift of giving by paying off someone’s layaway account they may have in a retail store, or another kind of debt that they may be in! This act can make someone incredibly happy and can help relieve a lot of stress for them! Do it for a loved one, or better yet – someone you don’t know!
If you have the financial opportunity to purchase a gift for a loved one or a stranger, consider this option as well, because sometimes, not needing to pay off debt is a more thoughtful gift than a physical present!
Gifting a Child or Senior from the Angel Tree
Another loving way to give back in kindness during the Christmas season is to participate in the Angel Tree for children or seniors.
This act of giving back is done by removing one or more Angel gift tags from a Christmas tree that provides the “Angel Tree” program and purchasing gifts for the selected child or senior that match their gender and need category written in the tag.
This act of kindness can really help the following:
- A child who is struggling without their parent (or parents) during this time of year
- An underprivileged child
- A child or family that is hurting or struggling
- Someone who is lonely and heartbroken
- Seniors
- and more!
There are innumerous and creative ways to give back to others with kindness this Christmas season, and you can find out and participate in many more with our Acts of Kindness Advent Calendar, just click on ‘Download’ to save the image AND join us on our Facebook Page to join in on the fun!
[embeddoc url=”https://maids.kjanstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ACTS-OF-KINDNESS-CALENDAR.pdf” download=”all”]Christmas Caroling
This tradition goes back many years and is still a favorite among many people! Caroling isn’t about giving monetary value or help to someone, but instead about spreading joy and the meaning of Christmas through beautiful, joyful song that becomes pleasantly contagious upon hearing it!
There’s something so magical about hearing people sing Christmas carols and feeling that true spirit of Christmas well up in our hearts in a shared celebration!
Gather some friends, family, church members, youth groups, and anyone else who wants to join and go out caroling some night in your city or at a local senior’s home, etc. Watch people’s faces light up as you joyously sing Christmas songs – who knows; they may even join you!
Participate in the Seven Fishes Feast
There’s another fascinating tradition you can add to your Christmas list to do, and that’s to participate in La Viglia dei Natale. Enjoy eating seven different kinds of fish dishes with your family, while commemorating the birth of Jesus – the meaning for Christmas.
What an incredible way to share the love with others in celebration of Christmas!
Set up a Cookie Exchange
Gathering with loved ones while eating delicious food is par for the course when it comes to celebrating Christmas, so why not consider adding a tradition of a cookie exchange? Tell a bunch of people that you’re hosting a cookie exchange in your home and tell them they need to bring a dozen cookies or baking of their choice (handmade is always best!), and everyone swaps their baking goodies with each other.
Exchanging cookies is a fun way to get new recipes, share your delectable recipes, socialize and share in the Christmas season!
Christmas Meals and Gift Giving with Family
Another tradition to add to your Christmas “To Do” list is to spend time with your children and family – intentionally.
Make an effort to bake Christmas cookies, put up the Christmas tree together without fussing and complaining, and to cook a Christmas Day breakfast, lunch, or supper (or all three!). Last but not least, enjoy the moment of giving gifts to your children or loved ones and watch as their faces light up with excitement and joy!
This tradition doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot on anyone, but rather, give them intentional gifts – gifts you know they will love – not what you want them to love! Tell your children the focus should be on the gathering and giving the most and less on the gift receiving. Teach your children through this friendly gathering the true meaning of Christmas. This tradition will help your children get into the true Christmas spirit!
Choose and Spread Joy with Kindness this Christmas
There are so many traditions around Christmas time, so it’s essential to choose the ones that will spread joy and the meaning of Christmas to other people!
While sharing and giving love at Christmas time is valuable and thoughtful in sharing the joy and the true spirit of Christmas, consider doing things that give back to others in kindness all year round as well!
The spirit of Christmas will linger in your heart, soul, and mind whenever you give back to others in kindness and with intention, so make sure to follow your Christmas tradition list and go out and have a safe, enjoyable and joyful Christmas season!
Share in the comments below: What is ONE tradition you can do this Christmas that will lend kindness to others?