Have FUN Creating Holiday Traditions

As you can see on my blog, I absolutely LOVE the holidays. I look forward to using these special times of the year as springboards for teaching since it makes learning so much FUN. I also like continuing our family traditions that can be traced back for generations.
I've never given much thought to the origins of most holiday traditions or symbols in America. I've heard the debates on why or why not families should participate in certain celebrations, and I try to be considerate of everyone's views.
Kirk Cameron is on a mission to reveal the truth about the holidays. He feels too many have been deceived for far too long. Watch this excellent interview.


Last night, my husband and I went to see "Saving Christmas," and I learned a lot about Christmas traditions. I hope many people will be able to experience freedom after viewing the movie.
Recently, I have been taking a Community Bible Study class. We've been digging deep into the Word and learning about 1 Corinthians.
Read what Paul says about being released from false teachings.

1 Corinthians 8:4-8 (NIV)- So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

Paul recognized that he could eat the meat without sinning, even though others felt like it was tainted since it was sacrificed to the false gods. Paul knew his one and only God created the meat and he was not bound by the Pagan laws because he did not believe in them. My study Bible states,“Paul does not expect us to be bound by fear of offending rigid or legalistic Christians.” 

This study reaffirmed that I am free from the Pagan laws since I do not believe in them. It makes me sad that so many Christians feel like they are in bondage to certain false customs and celebrations. More and more Christians are even going "dark" during certain times of the year. I choose to live each day in freedom for I know that only God created every single day of the year and I will give only Him the glory.

Psalm 118:24"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be gladHere are some of the reasons I have heard from fellow parents on why they did not celebrate certain holiday traditions.
I refuse to teach my child about fantasies.
The fact is children love fantasy. Look on a young child's bookshelf and you will find almost all fiction books with most falling into the fantasy genre. Children make-up imaginary scenes throughout the day. My daughter is constantly dressing up as a Disney princess or playing mom with her baby dolls. My youngest son enjoys acting like a superhero and pretends to fight the bad guys. It is part of how a child's brain is wired. Eventually children will outgrow this, but until then, my family will enjoy sharing imaginative stories and having visits from a leprechaun, the tooth fairy, the Easter bunny, and Santa.
I think most people would be surprised to learn how special days of the year that seem fictional can be traced back to the Scriptures. From St. Patrick to St. Valentine, there were real saints who did miraculous things, including St. Nicholas. By the way, Santa was one tough dude! Not only was he a generous man who shared gifts with others, He was a defender of the faith. At the Council of Nicea, Saint Nicholas fought the heretic Arius who was spreading lies that Jesus was not in fact the son of God, but a mere man. Saint Nicholas’ actions produced the Nicene Creed – a statement of faith and belief in Jesus Christ in the Christian church.
I like how Christianity Today states:

God made our imaginations and hardwired us to connect deeply with stories. Jesus himself appealed to people's imagination by telling parables—stories that communicated profound truths. Even if stories are fairy tales, and therefore not empirically true, they still communicate truth. Smart parents will use the Santa story to teach their children to be giving rather than demanding and to experience generosity and grace.

I don't want to lie to my children.
I understand how relationships are built on trust. The reality is parents tend to stretch the truth or embellish the facts all the time and never think twice about it. Here are some examples of how I have done this:
When my older boys tried out a new recipe last year, I told them it was delicious even though my husband and I could barely swallow a bite with straight faces.
When my daughter asks me if she can be Cinderella when she grows up, I tell her of course she can.
When I do not want my young children using my phone to play games, I sometimes tell them my phone is dead or it needs to charge.
When I am trying to leave the house but my older kids keep running in back into the house for items, I occasionally say "I am leaving without you." (Of course I will not leave them, but for some reason this works.)

When my teenager asked for an cell phone for his birthday, I told him that he would have to wait for a couple more years (just so his dad and I could see the surprised look on his face when he opened his present).
When my kids ask me a question that I can't discuss at that time (such as when I am on the phone) or I do not want to even consider answering their question because I know it may involve a preschooler having a meltdown, I use the phrase "We'll see." (This is really mommy-code for "This is never going to happen but move along and keep quiet.")
I never worry about my children no longer trusting me when they learn the truth about who the tooth fairy really is. My oldest son was not upset with me when I broke the news to him but actually laughed.
When I was a child, my parents never had the talk with me about how they were working behind-the-scenes during Christmas. I was left to figure it all out on my own. Did I resent them and later need counseling to sort through my emotions? Of course not. I thought it was super sweet how they spent so much time and effort in creating magical memories for their children. In fact, if I called my dad right now and asked him if Santa is for real, he would still answer, "Of course he is."
My dad still continues to have family traditions by hiding Easter eggs in his yard every year for the grandkids and even for us adults. Yes, all my siblings and our spouses (ages 30's-40's) run around his backyard to collect the eggs that are above eye-level (our kids get the ones that are lower). The adults are VERY competitive. Heels come off and women are dashing through the grass barefooted in sundresses. It is hysterical. Did I mention that my Dad puts money in the plastic eggs? It is quite a sight to see but certainly one of our favorite family Easter traditions.

Do I care that Easter eggs are thought to be Pagan symbols? NO, I choose to relate the eggs to wonderful memories of my family, as well as Christ breaking free from the tomb just as a chick breaks free from an egg. I also like using eggs as a teaching tool during Easter, such as the Resurrection Eggs.
Most Kindergarten teachers have a leprechaun visit their classrooms while the children are not in the room. Children go all out in creating elaborate traps to catch the leprechaun and his pot of gold. The leprechaun will play some tricks on them and then he leaves them a treat, such as a cookie or cupcake. I never had students return years later to my classroom upset to learn that the leprechaun was not real, but they would comment on how fun it was and how they missed it.

On a side note, I believe God loves these silly traditions and also has a huge sense of humor. There is no other way to explain this true story that happened to my oldest son and I on St. Patrick's Day.

It is ultimately a parent's decision on which traditions they would like to do with their family and exactly how they would like to implement them. Parents can choose to be completely honest up front or work behind-the-scenes. No matter which way they choose, it is all done in fun and out of love.
The Great Halloween Debate
This debate is very common in the Christian community. I've heard both sides and never felt convicted to stop participating. My family even volunteered in our church's fall festival that was held on Halloween. I have a hard time believing that my daughter dressed up as Cinderella or my son as a Ninja Turtle is worshiping false Gods. Just like Paul, I do not believe in false Gods, so therefore, I am not bound by those laws, customs, or dates.
Now to make things more interesting with the Great Halloween Debate, what if it really did not begin with Pagans? Read this article to learn how Halloween might actually be traced back to the days of Noah. 
This year my family went to Disney's Not-So-Spooky Halloween Party and we thoroughly enjoyed it. No guilt. Just pure family fun with lots of yummy candy.



I think Kirk Cameron would smile at my family creating our own traditions since he recently said Christians should be throwing the biggest Halloween party on the block.
Reinvent new meanings for old symbols and traditions.
Christians should be cautious about condemning practices as Pagan just because of their probable origins. Many American traditions and symbols that most Christians participate in and use have Pagan beginnings. They just don't realize it.

How about wedding ceremonies and wedding rings? Yes, they have Pagan roots.
What about the days of the week? We still read our Bibles and pray on Thursday, which was originally a day dedicated to Thor (Thor's day). Other days of the week fall into this category, too.

Funeral ceremonies began as Pagan ceremonies.

The fish (Ichthys) people have on their bumpers of their cars has Pagan origins.
It seems that most popular symbols and traditions used in America for the hoildays could be traced back to the Pagans. Evergreen Christmas trees, the giving of gifts, holly, yule logs, and mistletoe were all elements adopted from the ancient Pagan traditions. The Easter bunny and Easter eggs. The act of dressing up in costumes and going trick-or-treating. Even Thanksgiving Day is debated to begin as Pagan before it was celebrated in America. The cornucopia and foods we typically eat on Thanksgiving, including turkey, were supposedly used in Pagan feasts.
Do you see how you could go on and on? It is exhausting. The bottom line is legalism robs your joy and is never-ending. The more you hide and choose not to create your own traditions out of fear of offending others and God, the less you can celebrate His blessings and be a blessing to others. We are free in Christ. By His grace, we have been brought from the darkness and into the light.
You have a choice.
I encourage you to stop listening to others' opinions about their personal convictions and pray to the one and only God and seek His wisdom. It really is that simple. You are only a slave to Him (not to false Gods) and you can live freely to enjoy each and every day of the year.

1 Peter 2:15-16"For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves."

Here is my favorite quote from the movie "Saving Christmas."

"We need to make traditions of our own. We need to infuse old symbols with new meaning. We need to arrange our lives and our homes so that every single thing points to Jesus." ~Kirk Cameron

Having FUN using the holidays to create traditions with your loved ones.
Many Blessings,