MAKING YOUR OWN TRADITIONS

Starting new things at Christmas.

I used to think that you could only have traditions as a family. That was the only time I had ever experienced traditions really, with my family. Even then we could be fairly lax on them. So, understandably, I grew up believing that in order to make new traditions one must first have the whole works: husband, children and pets. Well right now I only have one of them (a cat) but I am saying screw it. I want my own traditions and I do not want to be relying on anyone else being there.

So this Christmas I decided to make my own traditions and I think that that is perfectly okay. I set to work making myself a new advent calendar, one that I can fill with things myself. I love the way it turned out and getting to fill it with all sorts of things to make me smile was lots of fun (but, let's be honest: most of it was filled with after dinner mints, my favourite Christmas chocolate). Aside from sweet treats, I also put in a new ornament for my tree, eyeshadow, festive silly earrings and, my favourite thing of all, a new Pandora charm. I decided to treat myself for Christmas and got a new bracelet, one especially for these Christmas charms.
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I did think of that scene in The Santa Clause where Tim Allen goes on a date with the crazy lady who wears a Christmas charm bracelet all year, but then I had another "screw it" moment and went for it anyway. It is a nice tradition just for me, to give myself a new Christmas charm each year as the last present in my Advent calendar. 

Another little tradition I started, though it is rather more vague, was making my own Christmas decorations. If you know me at all, you'll know that I love to give homemade presents. I've made scarves, cushions, blankets, ornaments, soap, all sorts really and I love the delight on friend's and family's faces when I give them something that I have made myself. It makes all the time and effort put in to their gift worth it. I haven't made many things to decorate my house with though. This year I decided to change that. I made some garlands using Christmas themed paper and strung them up around the house. They gave my living room such a homely festive feel. I adore the idea of decorating with dried fruits such as oranges but never got around to that this year. I just love the idea of having and giving things that you have made yourself, it makes things much more meaningful. 

So, if you are like me, and were waiting for others to come along to kickstart traditions, especially during the holiday season, you don't need to be! It is just as fulfilling to create your own traditions, ones just for yourself and ones that can be enjoyed by others.