In 2021, I sat home on Christmas night and felt a sadness I had never felt before. Christmas just didn’t feel like the Christmas I remembered as a child. I spent some time questioning the reasons why. That is when I realized that the Christmas magic I felt when I was younger was created by those around me and within myself, and that the Christmas holiday is what you make it. I was finally at an age where I had to create a magical Christmas not only for myself, but for my family as well. I vowed to never be too old to search the skies on Christmas Eve – Anon. From that year forward, I have thought of new ways to create a magical Christmas for myself and my family.
Family traditions are an important part of the holidays.
Traditions create a way to look forward to each year. Over the years, my family has created a wonderful tradition of picking up Bruster’s ice cream as we drive around to local neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights. (Knoxville Moms has a wonderful guide to Christmas lights around Knoxville. Click here for our Christmas Light guide).
Another magical experience for your family is to visit Santa. A trip to see Santa is a wonderful opportunity to watch the magic come to life as your little one(s) grow(s) braver each year. I love listening to what my son asks Santa for Christmas. We love to visit Santa’s Haus in Pigeon Forge in the Christmas Place Village each year. A stop by the Christmas shop is a great way to commemorate your yearly family visit. They have hundreds of Christmas ornaments to choose from. And don’t forget a stop by the bakery for a sweet snack and drink. It has become a wonderful tradition for my family!
We have created another fun family tradition by gifting our son a pair of pajamas to wear on Christmas morning with a movie or book. The excitement of opening a present a night early is the sweetest. Gifting him a movie is also a great way to spend time together as a family.
Every family may celebrate Christmas differently, but as an adult, the magic of Christmas is bestowed upon us. To keep the magic of Christmas alive we must still hear the bells ring.
