Children grow very fast. Surely you have heard it from your mothers since you became teenagers. And it is true, it seems incredible that my baby, my laughing little boy, has already become a man who shaves, prepares food and organizes his study without needing supervision. My little one, who was looking for me for everything, now, although we enjoy a lot together, he has his own interests and activities too.
I look back and Christmas is especially part of the most wonderful moments we shared in childhood and that, despite being a grinch mom as I told you last week, now I treasure. Do not let time pass without enjoying it fully. And to help you do it, I tell you the eight Christmas activities that I think you should not miss.
The Christmas holidays They are, in fact, very short for the kids. They fly by because, in addition, there are many hilarious things that like the rest of the winter there is no time for programs or that, of course, can only be done these days. For them everything is new and different. They are amazed at such joy and light. They are the protagonists and there are activities that they will always remember with them, just like you. Build a magical Christmas.
The snow
Unless you are especially fond of winter sports or live in a place where it is usually very cold, surely your children have few opportunities a year after see the snow. And they love it. Good boots, hat and gloves and pants that don't fit are all you need to spend a special day in the white snow.
Running sinking in half a meter of snow, throwing yourself with a sled even if it's improvised, making a ball battle, sculpting a doll (don't forget the carrot for the nose) and making the angel are things that no child should try. They will love it and, yes, they will return exhausted and radiant.
Decorate the tree
Decorate a Christmas tree With a child it is a chaotic and creative experience. The tree is an ancient tradition that possibly connects with the Yule tree, in the pagan tradition, but that passed into later centuries. Today we no longer decorate a natural tree cut inside the house and some people prefer a tree that is then replanted and who chooses a plastic one, but one thing is for sure, all children will have a great time.
The truth, although the decorative trees in a single color are very elegant, the children what they love are the multicolored balls, the tinsel, the little packages, the figurines of all kinds and the luminous star in the glass. We must put it on, even if we are lazy, and enjoy that crazy afternoon of assembly, decoration and beauty.
Eat nougat and polvorones
I know that the sweets you don't have to eat them daily, of course, and you don't have to binge yourself until you get bad, but precisely at Christmas we can take a break and discover those traditional flavors that, precisely because they are typical of these holidays, the rest of the year will not be at our table
And the roscón, blessed roscón, is one of the richest things that exist. You can do it at home, they are not a very difficult cake or buy it at a good trustworthy workshop. In addition, if children like them more, there are cream or chocolate fillings that reach glory. The experience of being attentive to see who gets the prize excites them. I have saved the figurines of those years still and I remember the illusion of my son with each one of them.
Visit a Christmas market
In almost all the towns you can already visit a Christmas market. They are not like those German wonders but children love to look out at each position and choose a story, a small craft gift for their grandparents or some candy made with candied fruit.
The Kings Cavalcade
The truth is that the Kings Parade My town was always weak and with the crisis was losing more and more. Did that matter to him? Not at all, each float was a surprise and seeing the Kings a tremendous emotion. It is very cold and you have to wait a good while, but part of the excitement is in that wait, to discover each theme of the floats, pick up the candies, run from one place to another to see the Kings once more before from the end of the night Wonderful that feeling of joy and magic that is in the eyes of each child. But please, with a lot of attention to the safety of the little ones.
Go see nativity scenes
There is always a church or institution that organizes a Bethlehem with huge figures or build it large, with an impressive detail and full of surprises. Children love it and give them many creative ideas. And if you live in a place where it is customary to open the house to the neighbors so they can see the nativity scene, do not deprive yourself of that especially relaxed socialization time in which each family offers its work to visitors. Of course, if you are going to see a living Bethlehem, I would advise you to be one without animals, because for them it is a torture to be like that.
Midnight Mass
A tradition for Catholic families is the Midnight mass, which is usually celebrated near midnight Christmas, commemorating the birth of Jesus. I remember it as a particularly beautiful Mass full of joy and, if you are believers, I encourage you to be part of your Christmas traditions.
Undefeated Sun
If you like pagan traditions you can celebrate the same Christmas night the Roman festival of the sun Undefeated god, date that the Church chose to also commemorate the birth of Christ, to make it agree with the ancient cults. The celebrations of the previous days of Saturnalia ended with her, in which a certain relaxation of customs, feasts, visits to friends and family and distribution of gifts was common. The night of twenty-four is a night of waiting in which the Invincible Sun will appear again at dawn, shining again with splendor, remembering that it has not been defeated by death and that long days and Light return again.
It is now time to start preparing your Christmas plans and surely some of these eight Christmas activities with the children They will appeal to you. If any of you have missed it, write it down next year or enter it now. There are many more things you will love to do with your children and above all I encourage you to spend a lot of time with them and accompany their dreams and their games.
