Christmas Decorating Traditions: 7 Family Legacy Tips

The extremes of my bicultural childhood are never more poignant as they are during the holiday season. In very real ways, the traditions I experienced as a child erected stereotypes that held true for many years: Latinos celebrate Noche Buena with tons of food and a focus on family, while Americans cultivate this kid-centric, storybook experience with stockings and sweets and plenty of toys. Even Christmas decorating traditions varied between the two households I lived in.

I wrote about our Cuban Christmas of Noche Buena traditions before, but truly, as a child wrapped up in the nostalgia of the season, nothing was more beloved than the home my step-mom created for her family during the holiday season. For her, Christmas decorating traditions were a big part of the celebration and now, as a multiracial mom raising a family with values that blend the various parts of our legacy, the joy of decorating our home is something I want to pass down to my kids.

Christmas Decorating Traditions: Building Family Legacy

Here are 7 thoughts to consider as you establish Christmas decorating as part of your traditions:

1. Nothing is more precious than legacy and memories: I get it. Designing a beautifully styled home can be cumbersome with little kids around. Ornaments get broken or placed in a big cluster on the tree. Decor is played with and trampled. Lights are knotted and thrown about. If your little ones aren’t old enough – or interested in – Christmas decorating, use the tactics below to keep them occupied. Otherwise, take the time to teach your child how to decorate for Christmas; how to string lights or disperse ornaments in an aesthetically pleasing way. Establishing Christmas decorating traditions means you are passing down your knowledge and love of creating a festive home during the holiday season. Nothing else is more precious.

2. Set the scene: I have the best memories of decorating for Christmas because it was an easy and fun activity. Now that I’m a mom, I realize a ton of work was involved before the kids even started. Set the scene for legacy building and memory making by: ensuring all the lights work, you have extra clips and hooks readily available and that cleaning supplies are within hands reach.

3. Embrace the playful ornaments that speak to your family’s identity: My mom buys decorations that she loves, not necessarily decor that coordinates. At her house, Santa is riding a Harley or sitting on a park bench. The Nativity scene is filled with various plastic animals from any number of sets. Angles come in all colors and robes. Cohesive design isn’t even a thing. But as a kid, the memories of pulling out these decorations and playing with them all season long is one of my favorites – and I adore watching my kids do the same. Remember that, when raising kids to love Christmas decorating traditions, it’s okay to be playful with your decor too.

4. Involve the whole family, but make the experience most important: I’ve learned not to force anyone to love decorating as much as I do. In my home, Christmas decorating traditions are solely my own to pass down and I cherish it. While some people love to get in there and decorate, others aren’t as confident in the skill. Daddy D is in charge of the outdoor lights, but then would rather sit back, watch football on mute while Christmas music blares and I whisk around the house. Alina loves to do whatever I’m doing and, though Sebastian loves to be near me, he isn’t interested in taking direction. Regardless, my family is feasting on the energy one way or another and that is the most important.

5. Spread Christmas Decorating Cheer: Passed down from my step-mom, it’s tradition for us to decorate our home the day after Thanksgiving. But we’re not stopping there! The kids and I had a blast decorating Abuela’s house a few weekends later. Use your love of decorating as a way to reinforce the value of servitude and gratitude to your kids by helping others bring holiday joy to their own homes.

6. Give them autonomy: As so often in parenting, when the kids have their own tree or area or task to reign completely, things so a lot smoother. At Abuela’s house, it was Alina’s job to dust and clean ornament, while Sebas helped sweep up the pine bristles.

7. Hot Coco and Snuggles: After the hard work of decorating for Christmas, end your day with a cup of hot chocolate (or other beloved treat) and snuggles with your favorite elves. Kids love to look at their creations with pride and doing so helps to solidify the tradition and positive memories.