stevenwynn One way I reduce stress is to not worry about who may or may not drop by. Keep it intimate, as few guest as possible. And as a Christian person, I simply ignore all of the criticisms about pagan traditions and merely enjoy the pretty Christmas trees and decorations. It's fun to go, "isn't that beautiful? Look at that."

Sierra Jones Most important is number 8. This time of year makes my heart ache. I am so fortunate to have a lovely home, a bundle of kids and a wonderful family. I can't help but think of those going through hard times and what their Christmas must be like. It's so easy to get lost in the commercial hype of this holiday. Everyone should slow down, and evaluate the importance in their lives. Instead of putting a fifth present (or more) under the tree, maybe stop to think of those without presents ...or even worse those not with us anymore to open theirs...my heart goes out to everyone affected by the Connecticut tragedy.

kellymarie1963 We only buys gifts for the children in our family. It reduces a lot of stress, and we can focus on other things like what we'll do for others that year and the meal we'll prepare and enjoy as a family. Writing cards, decorating the tree, baking and listening to Christmas music are simple joys that we can experience during the holidays without all of the stress. It's not about what's underneath the tree, but who's around it that matters.

Lanie Brown Traditions are difficult with blended families, so I got my heart in the spot that Christmas-is-for-kids and it's-not-about-me. But that can hurt because Jesus did come for me so my Christmas celebration is important too. Tried and true way to keep stress at bay? "No expectations!" has become my & my sis-in-law's battle cry.

Lanie Brown And guess what: My Mom just called and is coming to our home for Christmas! Yay!!!

appytrails Holiday tradition for me is that I host family and friends who are like family for a Xmas eve afternoon dinner, then everyone leaves for the Village Green where there is caroling and Santa arrives every year in a unique and fun way (on a camel, elephant, in a sled, appearing on the steeple of the church, where firefighters led him down, etc.) Then the immediate family come back for the opening of presents, second helpings of food, and just being together. It's a very special day for me, to be sure.
How I avoid stress is by carefully planning my dinner menu for the 27 or so guests. I make lists, shop for dry goods early, figure stove times, what I can make a day ahead, etc. so I feel everything is under control and I can really enjoy the time with my family. The first few years of doing this I was a nervous wreck, but have discovered the tricks that work for me and now, although still lots of work, it's not stressful.

1shirley When giving gifts only to the children, what is the cut-off age?

leslielevin The blessing of Christmas tradition became heartbreakingly apparent when my mom passed away last year. My dad had passed three years earlier, but when my mom was gone, so was Christmas in a way. My two sisters my brother and I, no matter where we were living as adults, always came home for Christmas, so it became the yearly family reunion time. As we grew older and married, the Christmas crowd grew bigger and as each of the eventual eight grandchildren showed up, mom and dad's small house was bursting with noise and laughter! Last year was our first year without anywhere to go for Christmas so my siblings and I decided on a new plan. Because we live so far apart, we would celebrate Christmas in our individual homes and then meet somewhere warm in the middle between Christmas and New Year's. We met in Charleston for five days and had a blast and this year we are meeting in Nashville. Our first tradition just grew over the years and we sort of took it for granted it would always be there. Our new tradition is somewhat manufactured, but the result is the same . . . we are together, surrounded by the love and acceptance that only family can offer which is really the old tradition, after all.

trasgorshek This is my time out, looking through Houzz! :). There isn't a lot of time right now so I take 10 minutes in the morning, with my coffee, and catch up on a few of the articles. But, once my time is up, then a running we shall go. Merry Christmas everyone! Wishing you all the blessings of the season!

9898 This year, for the first time, we decided to go on vacation the week before Christmas. We're loving it! It's been a wonderful way to connect and focus on what's really important during this time--family. Even just a few days of focused away time can do wonders. We've given the phones a rest too--only using them once or twice a day to check email. Going on vacation before Christmas will definitely become a tradition in our house for years to come!

Susan Palazzolo I agree with all of the above comments about what the true meaning of Christmas really is; realizing our blessings, and holding our loved ones close:)

bleeps3 1shirley asked what the cut-off age for "kids" would be in families that give gifts only to the kids. My own take on this is that kids are in school -- so that goes all the way through college (or basically 21 years old). Couple of reasons: first, people under 21 are unlikely to have the spare cash to be able to be in on giving to younger family members; second, and more important to me -- it's hard growing up! it's hard, especially at the holidays, to find yourself making that transition from being a kid to being an adult. We have the rest of our lives to be the grown ups, to be the ones making the magic for children, so why not let kids be "kids" for as long as possible?

DC Redesign Home Staging & Design Stylist Love reading all the comments about Christmas and the Holidays; my husband and I make all of our cookies in one night, we only buy for the grandchildren and draw couples names for the gift exchange, limit of around $50. It is still a fun time with family opening gifts but not so chaotic. It's also a time to reflect on the past, be thankful for everything, and enjoy family. It's a hard time for some people so I try to understand their position and keep more upbeat while out in the crowds of people shopping and appreciate my surroundings.

lorirobinson I'm sipping my coffee this morning and am happy to see this list. I remember my brothers, my sister and I usually having two or maybe three small gifts under the tree. Happy to receive them and more excited to see if our folks and siblings would like what we had gotten them. We didn't have a lot, but our parents spent days with us. Playing games, walking in the snow, and teaching us to make all the Holiday goodies. The tree was bare till Christmas eve, and we all decorated it together. Some of my favorite memories ever, I get all warm and gooey inside just thinking about it. My Dad has passed and my mom isn't able to travel anymore, but I passed the tradition on to my sons, and now my grandsons. The tree is down right funny looking some years, but I wouldn't change a thing! Blessings and Happy Holidays all!

pmansfield I love bringing in the spirit of this season with Christmas music. Nat King Cole, The Temptations, Mormon Tabernacle Choir and anything else that puts me in the mood. Music is so soothing to the soul -- especially at Christmastime.

tym4zin To 1Shirley - In my perspective, I'd say when the child is earning an income - say 16+, but it would depend on the family situation. With so many adults out of work or truly struggling, I would propose with my family to figure out other ways we could make Christmas special with gatherings, games or even doing something like providing a selfless act together as a family such as visiting those less fortunate and making THEIR Christmas special.

Marite Castillo Moods are infectious: agradecemos en otros idiomas a las personas que reúnen datos, fotos, pensamientos, ideas y las comparten en esta página con todos nosotros. Feliz navidad para todos Ustedes.
Desde Querétaro, México.

Sierra Jones @leslielevin: I found your story very real. Although my parents are still with us...I often wonder about how the family and traditions will continue when the day comes when they are not around to unite us. Being without your mom must've been hard that first year ( I can't imagine. So nice to hear you have found a way to keep your family together. I actually get quite sentimental this time of year. Usually driving home from Christmas Eve dinner with everyone, hearing the carols, I get a little teary eyed ...thankful for family here, sad for those gone....makes you think....

pmansfield These moments of sharing memories and thoughts of Christmas have been so uplifting for me and takes me back to distance memories of my childhood when they all began with my brothers going out in the woods to find a scrawny little tree that we would decorate on Christmas Eve. No Christmas was complete without the mistletoe hanging over the doorway and fruit in the basket in the middle of our small dining room table. We used our own socks back then and carefully sewed our names on them - waiting to find them filled with nuts and candy on Christmas morn. Those were sparse but wonderful times. Good memories:)

queenanneslace I am not doing Christmas Cards this year.... First time in many yrs, that I have not sent out cards.

symasapi With blended families and multiple ages, gifting can be extensive (and expensive!) We opt for small $ gift cards for itunes, etc for the older kids. We have three new babies this year, so they are getting handmade things which can be made quickly and will hopefully become heirlooms later on.

evelynbiliter This is my second Christmas as an orphan. My mom died of bone cancer six weeks before Christmas last year. Dad died of bone cancer twenty-two years ago on the first day of school. I am a retired teacher. I was the primary caregiver. I am passing out handmade scarves, hats, decorations, etc. that my mom had stockpiled. She had bought lots of silver chains, too. I always bought most of her crafting supplies and I paid half of her jewelry purchases. She lived with me. Everyone came during Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day. Mom loved it. I did not. I had decorate, clean, wrap, buy food and gifts, to fetch and carry, cook, etc. From 8:00AM until 10:00PM both days I had to cook and clean, etc. I was so tired and frustrated and broke! I thank God for my wonderful family, but I can't go back to having twenty or thirty of them in my house at one time! Instead, I get together with them at a brother's house in early December!

marcialb5 I am trying to do at least one random act of kindness everyday. I am at an age where I've realized that it is not about the beautiful home (though I totally love the blessing) or job or car; but the greatess blessing is allowing the love of GOD to shine through us to others.

1shirley Thanks for the help with the cut-off age for kids. I've decided to go with the until college graduation or full time work for gift giving. Last year I went through all our albums and chose all the Christmas pictures from past years, put them in an album, left the album on the coffee table, and the kids loved looking through them and reminiscing about the gifts they received over the years. Fun, too, to see our hairstyles and clothing evolve. I'll bring it out again every year.

Aloha Aina Designs The most stress free tip I have that I actually practice is to do literally everything ahead of time so that by the first week of Dec. I am ready to enjoy. It is a gift I give to my self and never fails to give me a huge feeling of relief. I enjoy cooking so I save that as a pleasure to savor but I have the menu's/recipes lined up and planned in November. It really helps.

olldroo Thank you Laura, that is one of the most beautiful ideabooks I have ever read. I felt so relaxed and at at ease just reading it.

My daughter has taken over Christmas now, but being in the middle of summer we don't do the big fancy meals you do so entertaining is so much easier and I help out financially as food is expensive at Christmas. Generally, like Aloha Aina I like to start early so gift shopping is done before November, the heat and the rush.

To reply to 1shirley question about cut off age for children's presents, I'm afraid I'm such a softie, there is no way I can cut the first child off while all the others have presents to unwrap.

amy_davidson We have 'Pizza Eve' ; a day in December before Christmas that the entire family assembles together, decorates a tree, sing Christmas carols and eat pizza! Tradition for 40years. Also, I stopped Christmas cards altogether and do Easter cards instead (if I am so inclined). No stress. Still bake cookies and breads for teachers and neighbors, but over the course of the month. Re: Christmas gifts for children; Santa came for each child until they fully understood the meaning of Christmas and the purpose of giving gifts from the heart not just volume. Older children began to receive gifts that encouraged us to spend time together; gifts to theatre, weekend trips, concerts etc. Jesus is the core of our faith, and every effort is made to make sure He is included in everything! Merry Christmas and God bless us, EVERYONE!

Lanie Brown amy_davidson, I've focused on Easter cards too or Thanksgiving cards. It gets an activity off my To-Do list at Christmas and lets loved ones get a nice card in the mail at another special time of year. Merry Christmas!

gschneider We've cut back in gift shopping/giving, even keeping it simple with our grown kids & 2 new grandchildren this year. It's also important to us to be intentional about remembering ways to bring joy to those less fortunate or going through a difficult season. Even so, reading this feature was still a good reminder & reinforced personal "permission" to slow down & remember what's important. Aside from all that, one of my favorite & simplest memories as a child (even more than making cookies!) was taking time at night to sit quietly in the living room & gaze at the reflection of the Christmas tree lights on the ceiling - still is a favorite especially when done with a loved one (reminds me of a starry night long ago, I guess).

jillhlister What a completely wonderful treat to read all the comments about Christmas! It is so uplifting to hear all the lovely ideas and to know that people everywhere and of all different persausions love God and love their families and friends. When I was growing up, we would always have waffles with vanilla ice cream and strawberries for Christmas breakfast. Each of our 5 children have continued this traditions in their own homes.
Thank you everyone for sharing your comments, Merry Christmas!

mchgrn Some of my favorite Christmases were those when I was newly married, over 35 years ago. We were gutting a house in the country and restoring it down to the wiring and plumbing that it was without when we bought it. We had a small tree that I decorated with a collection of shell buttons from my Grandmother's button tin. The only other embellishment was made of antique pinked gingham that I tied into bows onto the branches and old fragile found lace that I draped as garland round and round the tree. We made elaborate cookies as gifts that we presented to friends and family in vintage containers. For our own gifts we limited ouselves to $5 each to spend. The first year, in spite of our gifts being kept secret from each other, we both exchanged unusual coffee cups. The second year, trying to outdo each other, we bought the same thing again - screwdriver sets with different tips inside the head of the handle. While it was an effort to make ends meet, we were without debt, except for a small mortgage. We lived within our means...and we lived happily. Those were sweet Christmases.

olldroo mchgm - don't you wonder what the young miss out on today? I think back to early days of marriage too, no credit cards, you saved for what you wanted and made do for things you didn't have. We learned to be creative. Bought second hand things that don't even last through a first hand today and when we or our friends entertained, we all took our own chairs or had picnic dinners on the lounge room floor. We played games for entertainment and thoroughly enjoyed the company of good friends. The young today have to have everything, buy on credit and worry about paying for it afterwards, they don't know how to make do and have fun doing it.

mchgrn olldroo - It's true that there is a sense of entitlement and expectation that some younger people seem to possess. In my opinion, they miss out on a lot. At the same time, we do have the pleasure of knowing some wonderful young couples who amaze us in how involved they are in the community, their professions, their homes and new families. It's at at a different level than it was when we were their age. By the way, wirh regard to @1shirley's question about the cut-off age for giving gifts to children only, this will be the first year that we will not be giving to this generation of family and friends. Our cut-off is loosely geared towards the end of undergraduate school. But we will be giving them all specially selected Christmas tree ornaments for their new homes or apartments.