Tradition tells that Victorian mothers started preparing homemade Christmas presents by the end of the summer.  And although many of us tend to put Christmas out of our minds until post-Thanksgiving Day Christmas music, commercials, and sales begin, is there any reason why we cannot sprinkle some Christmas tradition into our last few weeks of summer?

I’ve created a short list of Christmas traditions that you might be able to squeeze into a summer weekend, or even an afternoon.  Please share any ideas or traditions with us!

1. Bake Christmas cookies: I chose the following gingerbread cookie recipe to fill my home with the sweet smell of ginger and cloves.  What are your favorite Christmas treats?  Gingerbread cookies

2. Watch a favorite Christmas movie: It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, Holiday Inn, Elf, or A Christmas Story are just the cult classics to entertain you and your family on a steamy or rainy afternoon.  Take a plate of cookies into the family room and savor some cinema with your loved ones.

3.  Make a craft to some holiday tunes: Put on Pandora and let yourself swoon to the crooning of Bing Crosby and Burl Ives.  Create a holiday front-door wreath, put together a basket of goodies for a friend, or make a snowy mason jar for a Secret Santa gift (5 months early).  One “Christmas craft” search on Pinterest will give you all the inspiration you need.  Snowy Mason Jar craft

“Every time you hear a bell ring, it means that some angel’s just got his wings. Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. ”  — Clarence Oddbody, It’s a Wonderful Life

~Think on These Things~

Natalie