Christmas in my family has always been a very special holiday. We usually start decorating and preparing for the holiday right after Thanksgiving day! Usually, the day after Thanksgiving, my family starts decorating the exterior of our home.

We hang our Christmas wreath, and put up any lights at this time. Recently, we’ve gotten into the habit of running lights all the way around our chain-link fence that surrounds our house.

December 1st is generally the day we put up our Christmas tree. As we have a lot of allergies in my family, we opt for using an artificial tree instead of a fresh cut Christmas tree.

We decorate our tree together, as a family. This is always a fun and joyous occasion and my children look forward to participating in this even every year. We use a lot of Christmas lights, glass ornaments, and garland to decorate our tree.

We also save ornaments that our children have made throughout the years to hang on the tree to give it a more personal touch. On the top of our tree, sits a beautiful angel. December 23, is an evening we set aside and totally devote to baking Christmas cookies, making candies, and other yummy Christmas goods.

We pack them up into packages and deliver them to family, friends, and neighbors on Christmas Eve as a family. Anyone can go to the store and buy a gift, but baking something for others takes time, effort, and love.

Finally, there is Christmas morning! My children are still young enough that they believe in Santa Claus, and as such, are excited to wake on Christmas morning to see all of the wonderful gifts left the night before by Good Ol’ Saint Nick! We usually leave our Christmas tree up a while – until New Year’s Day, and then take it down and pack it away for the next year.

Christmas is a very joyous holiday at our home. I’ve always tried to fill it with love and cheer and my children have caught on and do the same. Regardless of religious practices, Christmas is a time of year that you can set aside to give to others, and spread love to everyone. It is a time of selflessness, charity, and good will. So, in my opinion, you don’t have to be a Christian to do any of those things – just a kind, loving person.