christmas traditions and ideas for age 11 and 15

PlymouthMaid

It does seem a bit strange to me that people would go along with the 'claptrap' as part of their Christmas ritual. As an atheist I would feel bad just trundling along once a year to partake in the goodies, kind of an 'only here for the beer' thing. Don't the regulars glare at you a bit and resent you getting a mince pie

Idiophreak

heartbreak_star wrote: »

You do seem to have a better church than we had though. The few times I remember going at Christmas were pretty dull and the vicar kept asking if I was being good and letting God into my heart...and kept asking...and kept asking...

Well, the vicar could ask me that...but she might not like the answer she gets....

PlymouthMaid wrote: »

It does seem a bit strange to me that people would go along with the 'claptrap' as part of their Christmas ritual. As an atheist I would feel bad just trundling along once a year to partake in the goodies, kind of an 'only here for the beer' thing. Don't the regulars glare at you a bit and resent you getting a mince pie

I don't see it that way at all, really. I view a lot of Christianity as being part of secular culture. I don't feel guilty having a nativity scene in my house and I didn't feel guilty getting married in a church, either (indeed, I found the one with the pointy-est steeple I could manage...the most "churchy" church I could find!). This is because I view it as "what British people do" as much as "what Christians do".

I don't view my attendance at Christmas as being disrespectful, really...although I understand why some people might think that....from my point of view, I get to listen to a Christmas story, which I like (whether I "believe" it or not is not really important). I sing heartily in the songs, which adds some "oomph" to the predominantly older voices....I'm *a nice person* and whether I believe in them or not, I live my life by Christian values, so it's not like I'm the devil in their midst....I have a mince pie, yes, which they're happy to share - but I chuck a tenner in the collection on the way out, so they get pretty good value out of me. It feels like a "give and take" relationship to me, not like I'm taking advantage.

I think some churches would stare at the imposters, but I sense where I go, they're quite happy to have different people in and around the church as much as anything else...if they ever wanted me to *do good* for them, I'd probably do it...because I'm a nice person, not because I feel a sense of duty to some God or other. Likewise it's someone different for "the usual set" to chatter to. I've been going for about 12 years now and haven't endured even a single conversion attempt. (although, it's fair to say, that may be because people assume I'm already converted...)

To be honest, I'm continually disappointed that I don't get to sing Jingle Bells or Rudolf The Red Nose Reindeer when I'm there, but aside from that it's a good night out.

karren

WOW!!!
thank you all, I was feeling so deflated when I posted, but I will be keeping most of the things we have done since they were tiny and just adapting I suppose, I just felt bit down as shes announced she knows the truth and I was worried magic would lose its fun element


I work in hospice so certainly being doing the christingle and the Christmas service and love the salvation army coming Christmas day if im working as its really really touches you as they are so passionate and it gives you a tingle down your spine


Ill put an afternoon aside to make the twinks hob nobs for the dowe eggbert jars ive nagged everyone for all year


Ill nag a few mates to come and do crafts for the brownie fete so that can be a nice Christmassy morning too


And one night ill get all the crafty bits ive hoarded and make crackers and Christmas cards


I also run a brownie group so shall be doing the local panto and the 11 year old is off to the "posh" panto in the grand theatre with guides


WE do a collection for the food bank so may pop there for bit in run up with stuff and nag a few friends to sort out some festive goodies along the way too


my Lads in explorers so is ice skating with them as frankly the thought of me on skates these days doesn't bear thinking of lol

Ive always read the night before Christmas so they can humour me and have it read to them still!!!
and they may not want the reindeer dust and other daft things I do but I can keep the magic alive for my brownies so all is not lost,
so shall make them in bulk for their Christmas fete in dec


Ive done the Christmas eve hamper the past few years with new pj's hot choc and reindeer dust so dare I continue, after your posts, hell yes lol


I do love carol services and read that a neighbour is going carol singing round the houses for charity so shall drag my 11 year old along with the promise of hot choc and mince pies with her mates after in ours


Im not the most conventional of church goers as not sure what I believe I suppose I believe in lots of things so multi denomination at times, but will take the brownies so Ill be busy in December just different kind of busy to previous years


So thank you all for posts I shall now continue with my potty traditions with spring in my step

bylromarha

Boxing Day walk and board games.
I was speaking to a fellow mum who enjoys making the Christmas pudding with her kids on the last day of the summer holidays. Absolutely love that idea.

gettingtheresometime

I might come across as a stick-in-the-mud but surely the point of a Christmas tradition is that its 'personal' to you and yours?

We've always gone to the cinema on Christmas Eve as one year,many moons ago, we went and it now seems that its something that we do every year. The year before last I swore that it was the last time I was going as I couldn't face another LOTR/Hobbit film but still went last year as 'it was tradition' and to do anything different would have been odd lol!

karren

I agree what's tradition to me may be madness to others

Idiophreak

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

I might come across as a stick-in-the-mud but surely the point of a Christmas tradition is that its 'personal' to you and yours?

....but traditions have to start somewhere. Finding out what traditions other people have is probably as good a way to start as any. Just because other people do something doesn't make it any less valuable.

jollymummy

This is a good thread. DS is 9 and I asked him if he wanted to visit Santa this year, or if he felt he was too old, then felt a bit bad cos he looked disappointed anyhoo he asked if we can see Nativity 3 at the cinema instead, fine by me.
He always takes part in our village Christingle which is Christmas for me, just gorgeous. Also Cubs Carol Concert. We'll be making our Chrimbo cakes during half term hols next week. We also always make small gifts for Grandparents, Aunties and Uncles.

ciderwithrosie_2

As a wife and mother of those that work in retail and the cinema, I find it really selfish of people to expect these places to be open until late on Christmas Eve and open again on Boxing Day as they are incapable of organising their shopping earlier or entertaining themselves. I'd quite like my family home with me, able to relax and enjoy the holiday too.

Georgiegirl256

ciderwithrosie wrote: »

As a wife and mother of those that work in retail and the cinema, I find it really selfish of people to expect these places to be open until late on Christmas Eve and open again on Boxing Day as they are incapable of organising their shopping earlier or entertaining themselves. I'd quite like my family home with me, able to relax and enjoy the holiday too.

I worked in retail for about 16 years, and worked a lot of Christmas Eve's. We always used to close at 4pm though, don't most businesses?

I also worked nearly every Boxing Day too. I don't think you can really say that it is the general public expecting these places to be open then. It's the shops that choose these opening times, and so of course the public are going to go. I'm pretty sure that if the shops were closed, then the public would be able to entertain themselves for a day or two, but of course they (the shops) won't close because they want to cash in on the busiest time of the year.

If anyone's selfish, then really it's the shops, not the consumers.