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Christmas. Does the mention make you shiver with thoughts of wrapping yet another bottle of aftershave for Uncle what's-his-name? Does your throat tighten at the mental image of credit card debt you'll work the entire next year to pay off? Sadly, that's the case for far too many people. But Christmas can be the holiday you look forward to, once you take control of the situation.
Christmas is the perfect opportunity to spend time with your family, and to make that really special effort for a family member or friend. Truly meaningful gifts should not be measured in their costs, but in the thought and care that went into them. Here are a few ways to create a special gift while sharing a magic moment with your kids:
Put your family's history into the gift. For example, in many rural areas of Ireland still today the custom of whitewashing the outhouses and stores is practiced. If you have an elderly family member, what a wonderful Christmas gift it would be to wash their windows, in honor of family tradition! In Poland, the Christmas star is the most important Christmas decoration. Use star-shaped cookie cutters or make your own star pattern to create stuffed Christmas star ornaments for the tree. While you're at it, use those cookie cutters for a batch of delicious star-shaped cookies!
Look for traditional Christmas recipes, such as delicious Hungarian Poppy Seed Moon Cakes. Cooking traditional foods is an excellent way to involve youngsters in the gift-giving, and to give them a little history on their heritage. If you have a handed down family recipe, all the better. But if not, recipes from all over the world can be found on the Internet and beautiful tins are readily available at thrift stores, flea markets and garage sales. If you don't have any tins, use some holiday fabric, a little lace, and a glue gun to fashion a beautiful cookie tin from old coffee cans.
Some other easy, fun, and inexpensive gift ideas include:
1. Collect and make recipe books. Kids love to assemble things, and any cook is sure to love another collection of recipes. Find recipes in magazines or on the Internet. Copy them on the computer and print out on Christmas stationary. Make a nice cover for your recipe book. A stationary or office supply store can bind them for you on a binding machine at a very minimal cost, usually well under $5.
2. Create Old World Santas for the mantle with old paper towel cardboard. Use cotton for his beard, felt or scrap plaid materials for his hat, pink felt for his nose, and black construction paper for his belt. Nestled among foliage and candles, these are really cute Christmas decorations that kids will love designing.
3. Have your kids help you decide on a favorite charity. Give memorials to the charity in the names of family members. Next, make certificates showing which charity and how much was donated to present to the family members as gifts. This is a wonderful lesson is truly sharing the spirit of the Christmas season.
4. Turn old socks with worn elastic tops into old fashioned Christmas stockings! A few well-placed buttons, lace and yarn stitches, and these old throw-aways become part of an old fashioned Christmas you and your family can really enjoy. Fraying and thinning of the material only enhances the feel of old time Christmas decorations. Use Magic Sizing® to stiffen the finished stockings for hanging.
Put your mind as well as your heart in the true spirit of the season, and soon you'll be humming Christmas tunes and relaxing in the magic you thought was only for children. Christmas doesn't have to mean a yearly burden that is paid off in monthly installments. It is the season to create treasured memories and gifts that last a lifetime.
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