Taryn Strauss

Director of Religious Education

REflections

December 2008

As the holidays approach this year, many families are concerned about keeping costs down. This can be more than a financial necessity, it can become an opportunity to be more spiritually connected to the traditions of each holiday, and to create meaningful family traditions. I would like to offer some creativeideas to deepen your family’s links to the warmth of community and the magic of the holidays. 

Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving meal is the perfect time to begin The Guest at Your Table. Though you won’t receive your boxes until December, you can start it on Thanksgiving with just an old coffee can. As you go around the table and share what you are thankful for, drop some money in the can and discuss the link between gratitude and sharing.

Solstice

Using a vine and sprigs of the evergreen, make a solstice wreath together. Add white lights to the wreath, and on the eve of Dec. 21, light your walk with luminaries made from candles and sand in paper bags. Then share a festive solstice meal together, complete with “food the sun grows,” like nuts and fruits. 

Hanukkah

In my family, we light candles each night of Hanukkah. Instead of giving presents each night, try having theme nights. The first night of Hanukkah could be a craft night, the second night could be family fun night and bowling, the third night could be tzedaka, or charity night. The fourth night could be music night, the fifth could be movie night, and so on until the 8th night is a celebratory meal of latkes that you make together.

Advent

Throughout the days before Christmas, hang a good deed paper chain in a prominent area, writing down the name of one family member on each link.  Every morning, each person has to break a link and do a good deed for the person whose name she picks. 

This holiday season, rather than focusing on scarcity and stress, commit to a different abundance. Sharing gifts of time, family bonding, charity, and creativity will bring more joy to your family than a mountain of presents.