Cookies, presents, gingerbread houses, decorations, more cookies, cards, candles, traditional food, more cookies . . . and the list goes on. Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa—or a combination of these—there will be lots and lots of traditional things that you can or might do over the next month. Most of us look forward to the traditions of the holidays. They create a sense of community, familiarity, and the warm feeling of home that we can re-visit each year.

But sometimes, too much of a good thing is, well . . . too much. As December rolls along, it often begins to seem like time is running out, we get stressed, and those wonderful traditions start to feel like they are turning into a part-time job. And then there is the pressure to be like the other families you know, the ones who seem to be able to do it all and do it with a smile. I find myself saying, “You made cookies, again?”; or “Wow, you make your gingerbread house from scratch—and it’s two stories high?”; or “Your children make special cards for each grandparent, aunt, uncle and cousin?”

Needless to say, it can be hard to do it all and enjoy every moment of it too. That’s why, this year, we suggest something different. Instead of trying to do every tradition you can think of, pick one or two that you can do year after year. Find a tradition that isn’t too time-consuming, expensive or difficult to pull off but that is meaningful—one that your kids will remember and love as much as you do.

For example, our family tradition each year is to go over to the rural property we own in a neighboring state to get our Christmas tree. We take the whole day to do this, together as a family. We eat lunch on the road, cut down the tree and then stop for hot chocolate on the way home. We now look forward to this trip all year, and it has become as meaningful for the kids as it is for my husband and me.

We encourage you to find a tradition that your family enjoys, and make the most of it. Once you have accomplished your personal traditional event, everything you do can feel like icing on the cake (or cookie). To get help with ideas for creating a new tradition with your family, here are some links:

See http://www.msichicago.org/scrapbook/scrapbook_exhibits/catw2004/traditions/index.html for examples of holiday traditions from around the world. The site is organized by country.

Check out www.inlu.com for an alternative to traditional gift-giving. Your children or family can sign up for a specific gift, send a notice to friends and family who can contribute toward the gift, and any extra money received goes to the charity of your choice. Inlu takes care of everything, from the notification to the distribution of money AND the thank-you notes! It’s a great idea worth checking out.

To discover ways that children around the world celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, check out http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/holidays/