10 Ways to Make Christmas More Meaningful This Year
Christmas is, indeed, the most wonderful time of year. The lights are bright, the mood is merry, and there are plenty of traditions to celebrate with family and friends. However, like many holidays nowadays, Christmas is also heavily commercialized. This makes it easy for the true meaning of the holiday to be lost. If you’re looking for ways to make it more meaningful, we’ve got you covered. Read on to discover twelve ways to spread true cheer this year.
Start a New Tradition
One of the main themes of Christmas is togetherness. A great way to bond as a family is to start a new tradition. This can be anything from hanging Christmas decorations together to playing a game of themed charades. You could even pick a classic Christmas movie to watch. Decide on what it will be together and be sure to include it in future celebrations.
Organize a Drive
Get into the giving spirit by organizing a drive for a local shelter, hospital, nursing home, or charity. Select an organization and contact them to find out what they need and accept. It may be toys, books, food, toiletries, or winter coats. Then, designate a drop-off spot and rally friends and family to donate or buy the items for the drive.
Go Green
In today’s world, another great way to make Christmas more meaningful is to keep it eco-friendly. There are plenty of fun, creative ways to do this. Instead of a real or plastic tree, for example, go for a wooden tree. You can decorate it the same way and reuse it next year. Another idea is to wrap your gifts with recycled paper or fabric instead of regular wrapping paper. It’s also possible to send Christmas cards that are compostable or plantable to reduce paper waste.
Feed the Hungry
Christmas falls in winter, which is the harshest season of the year. A hot meal can go a long way in lifting someone’s spirits when it’s cold and dark outside. Start at home by sending food gifts to needy families in your community. You can also donate your time by volunteering at a local soup kitchen or delivering meals through a meal service organization.
Visit an Animal Shelter
Humans aren’t the only ones in need during the holiday season. Visiting your local animal shelter is a great way to make the holiday more meaningful for our furry friends. You can volunteer to play with the dogs and cats, take them for walks, or feed and bathe them. You can also support the shelter by collecting and donating pet supplies.
Knit Winter Accessories
Spread the Christmas cheer through crafting by making your own cold-weather accessories. Unisex winter hats, blankets, scarves, and gloves are easy to make by knitting or crocheting. The materials are fairly inexpensive, too. You can gift the finished products to family and friends, or donate them to an organization in need. Think shelters, hospitals, churches, and outreach programs.
Bake Fresh Treats
Another way to get into the spirit of Christmas is to bake and share fresh treats. You can make your own cookies, for example. All you need is a base recipe, a few baking ingredients, and some fun decorating supplies. Then have fun experimenting with different flavors and designs. Make different batches to keep and give away. You can even have your own bake sale and donate the proceeds to a local charity or community organization.
Sing Carols
For those who can hold a tune, singing carols is a great way to make Christmas more meaningful. Choose a couple of classics, gather a group to practice with, and then share the carols with others. You can sing to family in your living room, go caroling around the neighborhood, or put on a show at your local nursing home. Depending on where you live, you may also be able to take it to the streets or on public transportation.
Send Letters and Cards
Christmas letters and cards are a great way to share meaningful messages with loved ones during the holiday season. They’re also one of the best ways to make lonely people feel more loved. Spread the seasonal cheer by volunteering to write Christmas letters or cards to those in need. There’s a variety of programs to support vulnerable and forgotten members of society. This includes the military, orphaned, terminally ill, and incarcerated.
Host an Elves’ Workshop
Bring meaning to your Christmas celebration by hosting your own Elves’ Workshop. Invite guests to bring along items that need repairing, like a pair of holey women’s socks, or a shirt missing a button. Set up a workstation with tools and materials that can be used for fixing, like needles, thread, and a sewing machine. Then enjoy repairing your things together over drinks and snacks.
From starting new family traditions to hosting your own repair workshop, there are plenty of ways to have a more meaningful Christmas. Try out one of the suggestions on our list this year; they can be enjoyed alone, in couples, or as a group. The act of giving will leave you feeling more Christmas spirit this year!