Christmas carols are certainly an old Christmas tradition, and most people know the lyrics to at least a few of their favorites. Regardless of whether or not you actually go caroling, you probably sing these songs at some point during the holiday season, so you’d better know the words! The Christmas Music Blog has an entry devoted to recommending a few of the best Christmas carol lyrics sites.
Caroling is probably one of the oldest Christmas traditions, and also one of the most endangered. According to the Christmas Caroling Blog, Manila has banned caroling due to safety concerns when carolers walk across busy roads, while religious debate ensued in one New Jersey school after religious Christmas carols were removed from choral programs because some non-Christian students were uncomfortable singing the traditional songs.
What do you think about this timeless tradition coming under attack? When was the last time you went Christmas caroling? Will you go this year?
One of your family’s foremost Christmas traditions is likely the family Christmas tree. Whether you go to a tree lot to pick out the perfect tree on the day after Thanksgiving, or have a nice artificial tree that you drag down from the attic every year, the Christmas tree is always a centerpiece.
Department store Christmas trees are also a tradition, with their opulent (and often expensive) décor. You can decorate your tree with just as much glitter and color without spending all of that moolah, if you know what to do and when to shop. Jill over at the Christmas Tree Decorating blog has some creative decorating ideas that don’t require a lot of cash.
If you’re looking to start a new Christmas tradition this year, why not try hosting a cookie exchange party? There’s a detailed description on the Christmas Dinner Party blog, but here are the basics:
Invite as many friends to the party as dozens of cookies you’d like to have. (For example, if you want 6 dozen cookies, you’ll need to invite 6 friends.) Yourself and each invitee will bake 6 dozen of one kind of cookie to bring to the party. It’s easier to exchange if these are divided onto individual plates containing one dozen each. After the exchange, each person will leave with a dozen each of 6 different kinds of cookies. Pretty easy, huh?
Just don’t eat the cookies at the party–part of the purpose of the cookie exchange is to have a variety of baked goods for other gatherings later in the season. You can make some simple hors d’oeuvres to serve at the party, and plan some fun games to play, like a competition for the best (or worst) Christmas sweater. Most of all, have a good time chatting it up with good friends while you exchange recipes and help relieve some of each other’s holiday stress.