Inspired by the Hundred Dollar Holiday, I started thinking about how I'd like our holidays to be this year, and in subsequent years. Having a relatively young family, our traditions are still in the process of being built and solidified. But even if your kids are older, I think you can still change things up a bit, especially if it brings more peace and meaning to your holidays. Here are a few things we plan on doing to celebrate Christmas: 
A Week of Candlelight: I have such fond memories of power outtages when I was a kid. They weren't an uncommon event in rural Maine and were always a cause for some excitement. We'd pull out the oil lamps, flashlights and boardgames, build up a roaring fire and enjoy each other's company and an early bedtime. I hope to recreate that peaceful feeling by turning off the lights as the sun sets and lighting candles and oil lamps for the week preceding Christmas. No computers, no TV, just books, puzzles, boardgames, snuggles, and of course, the ever-elusive early bedtime. 
A More Meaningful Advent Calendar: Last year I made a reusable advent calendar with an activity tucked into each pocket. This year I plan to add to it by incorporating the Christmas story. It will be a way to remind us each day of why we celebrate Christmas and a way to sort of take the journey along with Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus. Each day, along with the holiday activity, there will be a note or scripture to read starting with Mary's visit from the angel and culminating with the birth of the Savior. So, perhaps one day we might pull a slip of paper from the pocket that reads, "Mary and Joseph were on their way to Bethlehem on a donkey. Joseph likely walked while Mary rode as she was so very pregnant. Let's do something today to make another person feel good like Joseph did; let's bring Christmas cookies to a neighbor." Or something like that, I'll work out the details in a few weeks:) 
Traditional Christmas Eve Dinner: Rather than a traditional American dinner, I'd really love to have a simple, Israeli meal that will remind us of what Mary and Joseph might have eaten on the eve of their son's birth. Perhaps we'll even spread a blanket on the floor. And, of course, it will be eaten by candlelight. From what I've read
, I think the meal might include an herb salad, lentils and beans, dried pears, pomegranites, dried figs, dried apples mixed with toasted sesame, flat bread with vinegar, and honeycomb for dessert. 
Some fun traditions we're continuing are the handmade sibling gift exchange and the making of Tomten. This year I'm hoping to also make a soft nativity set. I've always wanted one that was child-friendly so the kids can really engage with it, but I've never seen one that was just right. So, perhaps this is the year it will finally be made.
What fun traditions are you looking forward to?