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Teaching Christmas traditions is very personal to the family and their own traditions, but I would imagine regardless of what the traditions are or were they are tough to teach in today's consumer-oriented world. Even if you do not hold too much for the religious aspect of this favorite holiday, even the mere idea of giving has lost ground with the youth of this Country.

The days of getting joy from giving have been replaced with making sure your child has the latest and greatest, or, your child demanding the latest and greatest at price tags that truly astound. It is depressing in more ways then one can say. When we start seeing Christmas decorations at Halloween in stores, we know it's gone too far. What next? After Labor Day?

In any event, I think lovely traditions can be passed on. We took our children to see the Nutcracker this year which was a tradition in Boston when I grew up. We also have a huge deal when we decorate the tree every year with egg nog (spiked for those who prefer), Christmas music and much festivity the day after Thanksgiving another great family tradition. We have attempted caroling the week before Christmas every year for the last three years, but here in Florida is has fallen flat to be sure. Still, we try. We also watch the favorites, Rudolph, The Grinch, It's a Wonderful Life, etc., with a new one added on in the last ten years: Scrooged which the adults watch later in the evening on Thanksgiving to kick of the Christmas season.

Still, it is not so much familial tradition that is tough to teach my kids, but the spirit of Christmas. To have joy in giving, not just receiving is a challenge when all of their friends boast at the extravagances their parents bestow upon them even if they can ill afford it. The appreciation for whatever they receive regardless of how small when our society demands and portrays a holiday that is replete with every bell, whistle, treat, toy and over the top expenditure possible. These are the things that we have to strive to teach our children.

The only way we can teach our children to cherish what they have, whether big or small, old or new, is to allow them to see and experience the holidays of those who have less or nothing. Some great ideas we have employed that have truly helped he to appreciate and want to give more and ask for less are:

- Adopt A Family. Hugely important to the receiving family and so wonderfully fulfilling to give where it is so needed.

- Limiting Christmas lists and explaining to them

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