FOR too many of us, Christmas has lost its magic. How do we restore the true spirit of Christmas?
The saying that it is better to give than to receive should be taken to heart, so shift some of the focus away from the gifts everybody wants, and think of creative ways to make the whole family excited about Christmas again.
Revive those old traditions
• Try to replicate what you see in the movies: the putting up of Christmas decorations is a big occasion. The whole family takes part, singing carols, and even dressing up.
• Lighting plays a crucial role in setting the right atmosphere. Make an effort to decorate the inside, as well as outside of your house with beautiful lighting. On the nights leading up to Christmas, drive around the neighbourhood and look for other houses that have been beautifully lit up.
• Make your own decorations for the Christmas tree. They have so much more meaning than store-bought ornaments.
• Bake a batch of Christmas cookies and let the littles ones help decorate them.
• On Christmas Eve, it’s tradition to leave out a plate of cookies and milk for Father Christmas, and a carrot for his reindeer. The most fun part is seeing the evidence of Santa’s visit the following morning (think: nothing but crumbs and a glass that’s knocked over).
• On Christmas morning, read the Christmas story out loud.
Random acts of kindness
Find out for yourself how much better it feels to give than to receive. Here are a few ideas to spread some Christmas cheer:
• Leave coins inside a vending or parking machine.
• Stun the waiter, pump attendant, or car guard with a generous tip – enough to buy their child at home a proper Christmas present.
• When dining out, pick up someone else’s tab and pay when no-one is watching.
• Pay for someone’s groceries behind you in the queue, or pay for the guy behind you at the toll gate.
• Take cupcakes for the nurses at your local hospital, or anyone else serving the community on Christmas: paramedics, firefighters, policemen, lifesavers or security guards.
• If you own a business, write off a struggling customer’s debt.
• If you accidentally receive someone else’s bill in the mail, pay it instead of merely sending it back to the sender.
• Leave a gift card or shopping voucher on the windshield of a stranger’s car.
• Let someone go ahead of you in the checkout line.
• Pay a needy child’s school fees or buy a school bag filled with all his/her stationery requirements for the New Year.
• Wrap a gift and leave it on a park bench.
• Dish up an extra plate during Christmas lunch and give it to someone who might be hungry.
DIY gifts
Homemade gifts mean so much more than something bought in a store – and they don’t have to be that expensive. In fact, you could whip them up in less than an hour.
• Wrap a plain notebook in pretty paper or fabric. Personalise it by adding the recipient’s name on the cover. Add a matching pen, or pencil and eraser and you’re ‘A for away’!
• Gift in a jar. Fill an empty glass jar with homemade cookies or sweets. Spray paint the lid and decorate with ribbon or twine. Add a carefully worded label for that personal touch.
• Buy a bulk container of bubble bath and a couple of pretty glass bottles. Divide the bubble bath between the bottles and dress them up with ribbon, twine and a personalised label.
• For ice cream lovers, fill up box with various cones, nuts and sprinkles, and a small bottle of chocolate sauce. For movie lovers, fill an empty box with a packet of microwave popcorn, the person’s favourite snacks, and a Netflix voucher.
• Using a laundry pen, let the kids draw pictures on plain white tea towels – the perfect gift for Grandma.
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