Christmas Traditions or Not?

 Christmas Traditions or Not?

Do you have any Christmas traditions? Maybe you have a tradition that has been passed on from generation to generation. Do you bake the same Christmas cookies every year or decorate the Christmas tree as a family. Maybe you have started your own tradition since you got married. Maybe you don't have any traditions at all.

It's not really a tradition because I go to church regularly, but on Christmas Eve my family goes to our church service. Our church always has a candlelight service and everyone gets a candle for themselves. The last song at the end of the service is Silent Night. They turn off all the lights and everyone gets their candles lit. It takes awhile before the whole church has their's lit. The ushers go to each pew with a candle and lights the person's candle at the end of the pew. Then that person lights the one beside him or her and so on until the whole church is filled with the glow of candlelight. It is really beautiful!

With the candles all lit the congregation sings Silent Night. The organist plays the first few notes then everyone sings a cappela. It is touching and really makes you think what Christmas is all about....the first Christmas when baby Jesus was born.

Christmas has really been made into a lot of nothing but commercializing and money! When did this all start? I don't really know the answer to that. Christmas is going to come no matter what... whether we have our decorations up or presents bought. I used to get stressed about Christmas to try to get everything ready but not anymore.

I guess I've come to a point in my life where I don't fret about such things. Decorations are nice to look at, especially when you have small children. Don't get me wrong, I love to look at the lights and decorations but that's not what it's all about. The reason we celebrate CHRISTmas is because of the holy child's birth! Think about it when you are getting ready for the big day.