Christmas traditions. We all have traditions of one kind or another including baking, caroling, decorating, family gatherings, special outings, and more.
As I was thinking of some of the Christmas traditions in my family, I realized that books have had (and continue to have) a special place in our Christmas traditions.
One way I incorporated book into the holidays was by making Christmas books special for my kids. As my kids opened a special advent calendar every morning, they’d find a slip of paper announcing our special activity for the day. We had red-and-green day, candy-cane day, St. Nicholas Day, and many more.
One of those fun advent days also happened to be Christmas book day. I’d bring out a big bin of Christmas books, and we’d spend the morning reading all of their favorite Christmas stories (and they’d color in Christmas coloring books).
Over the years, I collected dozens of wonderful Christmas stories, and the kids loved re-reading them every Christmas. Unfortunately, this past summer during a major flood in our town when we had two feet of water in our basement, I lost ALL of my Christmas books! I guess that means I have to start a new tradition of collecting them again!
Another way I’ve made books a part of my Christmas traditions is by listening to Christmas audio books. I collected dramatized radio theater books as well as CDs of Christmas books—like A Christmas Carol or the Legend of the Candy Cane.
In recent years, another tradition involving books is signing books for local friends. One friend in particular buys all the books I publish each year and gives them as gifts to her family and friends. She brings the stack of books to my house, and I sign a personal note in each and every book. I’ve been doing this particular tradition for many years and I love it!
Yearly tradition of signing books!
I also send signed bookplates to readers who want to give my books as Christmas presents. A bookplate is a fancy word for a sticker that goes into the front of a book. Authors do this for readers as a way to “sign” a book. (If you’d like to me do that for a friend or family member, send me a Facebook message with your mailing address along with the name of the person you’re giving the book to.)
How do YOU make books a part of your Christmas celebration? And what is YOUR favorite Christmas story or book?
Jody Hedlund
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Books have always been special in my family, something my parents always stressed with us and that I have passed on to my children and grandchildren. I still have a book of Andersen’s Fairy Tales in a box jacket that I received for Christmas when I was 12. My family members always know they can expect books from.
So sorry to hear you lost your Christmas books. One of my favorites is The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, an inspirational book with a wonderful message and beautiful illustrations. I used to read it to my 5th graders, and each year it still brought tears to my eyes. And of course, an old favorite is The Gift of the Magi.
As a beneficiary of your wonderful bookplates for several books I bought last Christmas, I heartily encourage others to take advantage of your generosity. Thank you so much, Jody. Merry Christmas!
Good morning, Betty! One of my children’s favorite picture books was The Christmas Kitten by Jame Herriot. That always brought tears to our eyes! Merry Christmas to you too! 🙂
I have many Christmas book traditions. My first and favorite is A Christmas Carol. I read it every year. For that last few years, I have listened as both Jim Dale and Gerald Dickens (Charles’ great-great grandson) read it to me. I still love the story, to which I was introduced at about 10. It has been a tradition to me, since.
I also have picked a few other books that are necessary to my Christmas reading/listening pleasure–Max Lucado’s Christmas books–The Christmas Candle, The Christmas Child and The Angel’s Story (Cosmic Christmas).
This year I added another book to my yearly Yuletide “reading” list Christmas Bells, by Jennifer Chiaverini (I think). It details the story of Longfellow writing the poem which later becomes “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”
My list keeps getting longer every year, but the books are great friends and help my Christmas cheer.
Merry Christmas to all on the blog.
Hi Dora, I love hearing about your Christmas reading traditions! Our culture has the favorite Christmas movie lists. I think we need to come up with one for books! Merry Christmas! 🙂
Every year at advent we read an Arnold Ytreeide Advent story/devotional. We read part of the story and a paragraph devotional each night of advent as a family. The stories are all centered around kids living at the time of Christ’s birth. They all have nail biting adventures and all end at the manger on Christmas Day. He takes you via Qumran where the Dead Sea scrolls are being written and to visit Zachariah, Elizabeth, and baby John. You learn about the land & the culture of Jesus’s birthplace, and the stories are really good!
Hi Karen, That sounds like an awesome book and what a fun tradition for your kids! Thanks for sharing it! Blessings to you this holiday season! 🙂
I begin with my Christmas reading in October. I end on New Years. There are just so many great Christmas books out there that I want to read as many as I can!
I have collected Christmas books since my boys were little. Board books first, then kids books and now I have many Christmas novels. I have them all collected in a big basket by the fireplace so anyone can choose. My boys still love their first Christmas books and look at them. After Thanksgiving, i choose a Christmas novel to read during the season. I’m already on my second book…..cherish Christmas books.