As jingle bells ring and Christmas cheer fills the air, families look for activities to spread the holiday spirit. From decorating the house to donating toys to local charities, the month of December provides numerous opportunities to indulge in some Christmas family fun.
The town of Greenwich gives residents the chance to participate in annual traditions like the Greenwich Reindeer Festival and the Annual Greenwich Holiday Stroll. The Dorothy Hamill Skating Rink provides opportunities for graceful skating with the family.
A trip to a Christmas tree farm such as McArdle’s Florist and Garden Center in Greenwich, or Jones Family Farm in Shelton, is an invigorating family outing. Decorating and putting lights on the trees, inside and outside, brighten dark December nights.
Christmas caroling around the neighborhood or going to a Christmas sing-along are other popular activities to spread Christmas cheer. Families attended Convent of the Sacred Heart’s annual Christmas Concert December 16 to hear students of all ages singing classic carols.
After the family bundles up, make memories by playing in the snow. Create a Frosty the Snowman and see if it comes to life. Other snow activities include having snowball fights, going sledding, creating ice angels, or racing down the slopes on a skiing trip.
Just beyond Connecticut’s border, New York City presents endless activities for the holiday season.
The brightly lighted Rockefeller Plaza’s Christmas tree and ice rink in Rockefeller Center are popular holiday destinations. Families can attend New York City’s annual Nutcracker Ballet performance at the Lincoln Center. Additionally, getting tickets to other Christmas shows in the Big Apple like How the Grinch Stole Christmas playing at Madison Square Garden, and the Radio’s City Christmas Spectacular provides Christmas entertainment for the whole family.
As the air becomes crisp during this winter season, creating holiday activities at home activities is another option.
Families can keep busy by making holiday crafts, like paper ornaments of reindeers and Santa Clauses, origami, or popcorn garlands to hang on the Christmas tree. By decorating a wreath to hang outside the door, and decking the halls with boughs of holly, the house is fully adorned for the holiday season.
An afternoon in the kitchen will fill the house with the smell of Christmas baked goods as families create messy memories. By making Christmas-shaped sugar cookies, gingerbread men, or snicker doodles, families can fill their stomachs with festive treats. A gingerbread decorating competition gives friends and families the chance to show off their creations to Santa and Christmas visitors. And after a long December day, families can snuggle next to the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate and watch some classic Christmas movies including Elf or It’s A Wonderful Life.
By opening up the Bible to read the Christmas stories in the books of Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John, families remember the true importance of this holiday. In observing a live nativity scene, families experience what the birth of Jesus would have been like. Attending candlelight church service, and experiencing the Christmas Eve mass at beautiful cathedrals also make for spiritual experiences.
Through the repetitive Christmas songs and bitter cold weather, the holidays present families with opportunities to create memories and laughs by participating in family oriented activities.
– Kristen Davis, Staff Writer