A GUIDE TO A WARM AND MAGICAL HOLIDAY SEASON

December is a big month in our household – in addition to Christmas and New Years’ Eve, we also get to celebrate Alessia’s birthday on December 6, making the last month of the year a whirlwind of decorations, delicious food, laughter, and wrapping paper.

Alessia loves connecting with her friends, family, and community throughout this warm and festive month. However, this year, like many other families across the globe, we will have to find different ways to celebrate as social distancing makes large gatherings unfeasible. From our family to yours, here are four ways you can create a magical December in 2020:

SPARK JOY WITH THE MAGIC OF TRADITION

For many families, and especially for children, so much of the joy of the December holiday season comes from the magic of sharing family traditions. With the increased amount of time at home, now is a great time to lean into old family traditions or even make new ones!

Alessia loves all of the magical traditions that December brings, like waiting for gifts from St. Nicholas and staying up until midnight on New Years’ Eve. No matter how your family likes to celebrate, holiday traditions are a great way to give your children consistency and reassurance in uncertain times, and create joy through the magic of special opportunities and exciting surprises.

FOCUS ON GIVING

With her birthday and Christmas falling in the same month, Alessia gets lots of presents throughout December. But, she always remembers that this season is not just about receiving presents; ultimately, the spirit of December holidays is all about the joy of giving.

That’s why, every year, Alessia organizes a toy and clothes drive with her friends in the community to benefit other kids in our area. The true magic of the holiday season is the feeling that you get from making another person’s life a little brighter, so this December, light up your community by donating toys, clothes, or food items to local charities.

Children of all ages can get involved in the magic of giving; encourage kids to give mindfully, selecting items for donation that they think would benefit other families in your area, forming a mindful connection with people in need.

What a better time to make your home festive and beautiful than during the winter holidays?

One of Alessia and Mirabela’s favorite ways to spend time together during December is decorating the house inside and out for Christmas. So much holiday magic can be created by taking the time to make natural, beautiful DIY decorations to foster a joyful, warm, and cozy atmosphere in your home this winter.

In 2020, when much more of our December will be spent at home than usual, creating magic through beautiful decorations is even more important. Prioritizing natural and sustainable holiday decorations will help you make your home beautifully welcoming, while also supporting the Earth and all the gifts it gives us each year.

2020 has certainly been an intense year for all of us, but as the year comes to a close, we can finally say- we’ve made it. This December, let’s take time to slow down and be mindful of all we have to be grateful for while we look hopefully towards a bright new year ahead!