1st Day of Christmas Giveaways with Karen Ehman
Welcome to the 1st Day of Christmas Giveaways!!!
Tweet ThisFor the next 12 days, I will be featuring a special guest sharing a Christmas idea, recipe, or favorite memory with you. They will also offer a giveaway of the day and toss out a simple question about the topic of the post. To join in on the fun and be entered to win the various prizes, simply leave a comment on the post answering the question of the day. ALSO—one grand prize will be given to one person who comments on all 12 days. Are you ready? Here we go.
I am going to kick things off today a favorite idea what we have done for our children over the years, especially when they were small. But first, today’s giveaway AND the grand prize.
Today’s giveaway is this darling Christmas apron and wooden spoon from ALynn’s Aprons Etsy shop and a $25 Target gift card.
The Grand Prize is a $50 gift certificate to Proverbs 31 Ministries store and a $50 gift certificate to Amazon.com!!!
Now, for today’s post….
The 3 Gift Tradition
While my husband and I have made many mistakes and missteps in the rearing of our brood resulting in some “I wish we could go back and do that all over again” feelings, there is one decision we have never regretted. That was our decision as brand new parents to simplify the Christmas gift giving and NOT spoil and splurge and give into their every whim going into debt in the process.
When we became parents over 20 years ago we began the tradition of giving these items at Christmas:
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One thing to open on Christmas Eve –usually pj’s, slippers, a soft throw blanket, a stuffed animal to sleep with—something they can use right then as they try to fall asleep with all the excitement.
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In the morning, there is a stocking full of treasures and treats. (This is where I am tempted to overspend!)
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And then, they open their three gifts from us.
Yep…. that is not a typo. I said three. That is all baby Jesus received- remember gold, frankincense and myrrh? When they were younger, the categories were: one thing to play with, one thing to read, and one item to wear.
Over the years, we morphed this tradition into a gold gift, a frankincense present, and a myrrh package. Here is the concept:
GOLD GIFT
This, like gold, is a highly desired item; precious; maybe even pricey. An electronic gadget, tickets to a professional sporting event, a new hunting rifle, a fancy coffee maker for our adult daughter.
FRANKINCENSE GIFT
Because the real frankincense was burned during prayer and arose heavenward, the gift in this category is something that will draw them closer to God. Perhaps a new Bible, a book series, a CD, or tickets to an event or concert.
MYRHH GIFT
This is a burial spice used to cover the whole body. So the myrrh gift does the same thing. It goes on the body. In past years this has been leather boots and a new coat for Kenz, a hunting jumpsuit and camo boots for Mitch, or Spence’s favorite Detroit Tigers player jersey and pair of tennis shoes he really wanted.
Since our kids knew the number of items was limited, they didn’t expect oodles of gifts, just three. And we also included them when we shopped for a less-fortunate family we adopted each year. We also took them along when we delivered the gifts to the family. It was good for them to see that we used some of the money we would have spent on more gifts for them to purchase for a family who might not be able to afford any gifts.
The three gift tradition. Try it out this year!
Growing up, I would love going to my grandparent’s house on Christmas Eve and walking with my cousins to church. After church we would all get back together (Aunts, uncles, cousins) to do a gift exchange. We would have previously drawn names. My grandma always had some kind of homemade thing to give us. This tradition is long past now that all my cousins are grown up and moved out of state with their families.
Now my immediate family (sisters, nieces, and nephews) get together on Christmas afternoon to do a gift exchange (again with names we drew). The last few years I have bought personalized ornaments for each of my nieces and nephews, This year I am planning to spend Christmas eve, eve with my nieces (my nephews are too old and cool to hang out with me), take them to lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon making a craft, watching a Christmas movie, and reading Christmas books. I hope to make this a tradition that they will remember and to bring Christ into their lives.
I’ve never heard of gold, frankincense and myrrh gifts as you have described…very innovative!
I try to focus on giving rather than getting so my husband does all the gift shopping. I bake gingerbread which we like to give away.
I don’t have any special gift giving ideas or gifts but I love the 3 gifts idea. My boys are both married but this is a great idea. We have always kept Christmas morning for just our immediate family and still have them wait to come into the den together. Then we all take turns opening our gifts.
I try to get everything that everyone would like. I usually get to much. I can’t do that this year we have very little money to buy gifts. I will still try to get their gifts.
My traditional gift for friends kids are always books.
My adult kids get one gift from me, usually something I picked up on, they wanted.
I do love the 3 gift idea! I will begin this tradition with my grandson.
We don’t have any traditions however I always stuff their stockings with candy, mints and gum among other goodies!!
For many years we gave the girls ornaments so that someday when they have their own tree, they’ll have plenty to decorate it with.
We keep things simple. I’m loving reading other’s ideas on here!
As adults my sisters and I would be given a box each or one to share of Rocher hazelnut chocolate either from our mother or grandmother. They did this for several years. We haven’t gotten them as a gift for a few years but I always try to get them. This year a fun gift I found for my two nieces is chocolate in the hape of make-up.
We do stockings, clothing, and usually one fun gift for each child. Often there is a gift or two they can all play with together. Great ideas in your post, thanks for sharing!
Our kids are grown (35,34 and 27) but we still do stockings. I trained my daughter well, so she sends stuff for my stocking all the way from Illinois, where she & her husband live. The newest thing we have tried was NOT having a tree (last year) but this year we will spend the money for one.
I love your explanation of the 3 gifts. My children received only a few gifts on Christmas morning, mostly things they needed. For my grandchildren, I have been doing the 3 gifts to symbolize the 3 gifts Jesus received. However because of their many blessings these gifts are more what they want then need.
I love to give bath sets and books to friends and loved ones each year. It is the thought that counts and with so many more to buy for these days, I am able to spread more joy to others. I love to buy things for others that I would also enjoy receiving myself. I also love to bake cookies, fudge, etc. for others too.
Our children are very young, my oldest is five, but even so we decided to share the true Christmas story with her at the age of two. We’re excited to continue this tradition with our middle child who is two this year! I love your idea of just three gifts. Makes for meaningful purchases and more time for memories of time spent together!
In the past we have been tempted to go a little crazy at the holidays. Not necessarily in spending a lot of money, but in the number of gifts given. This year we’re trying to go with – something to wear, something to read, something you want and something you need. It is challenging to spend similar amounts on each of the kids since their ages and interests vary. I really want our focus to be more outward this year.
I have a very young child, and my sister used to do this thing I loved and want to try with my child. She made her kids choose one of their unwrapped gifts and they got up and took it to someone less fortunate on Christmas. My nieces and nephews were always so stunned by the places they dropped off the gifts that they were super excited about giving their gifts to these children.
Love this idea. Wish we had started this early on.
Our tradition is Christmas Eve at my grandparents farm.. All the cousins are there, etc. The kids get together and prepare a program, singing, bible reading, playing music , celebrating Jesus’s bday. Then we open presents .. I’m 43 and it’s how it’s been since I can remember.. And we all love it!
I’ve so enjoyed reading everyone’s comments. It’s certainly given me a lot of food for thought. I love the idea of the 3 gifts, & wish I had heard of it years ago when my boys were young. Certainly something I’ll put into practice with my grandchildren to teach them the idea of quality not quantity, along with some of the other ideas posted here.
Forgot to share that this year I will be starting the tradition of giving a Willow Tree ornament to my new grand-daughter (my 1st). I love the figures & gave my son & DIL the one of the expecting couple when they announced their pregnancy. They are so beautiful.
(Also tried to post yesterday but my internet service was acting up & kept closing down on me.)
I was unable to comment yesterday. I like this idea. We have a tradition of drawing names we keep it a secret and do nice things all month long and then exchange the gift on Christmas Eve.
Thank you for this series
My husband has a tradition that he carried on from my dad (who did it for my mom). He gives me a gift each day for the 12 days of Christmas starting with Dec. 13-24. The gifts are usually small but they convey his love for me. I like the example for our children of parents who love each other even after over 20 years of marriage.
When our children were younger, before they had their own families, we bought pyjamas or a robe to open Christmas Eve. Christmas morning we allowed them to open their stockings …little inexpensive gifts and the traditional Christmas orange and candy cane. Then we had breakfast, followed by reading Luke 2, and then gift exchange. One of the nicest Christmases was when they picked “their” gifts from the Gospel for Asia catalogue.
Now when the children and grandchildren come we read a Christmas storybook which clearly gives the true message of Christmas.
I tried to comment yesterday but it wouldn’t upload :( we have a tradition from when I was a girl that we put an apple, an orange and 5 nuts in our stocking so it looks like a foot :) I love the idea or 3 gifts for our kids!
When it comes to gift giving, we don’t have a set number of gifts that we give to our children.
One gift tradition that we do as a family is usually opening all our gifts on Christmas eve since we spend the day with our extended family. I love the idea of gold, frank and myrrh gifts though!!!