Christmas Conversation #12: What Christmas traditions have you chosen not to follow and what have you replaced them with?

By Stacey Tuttle

We have been talking about Christmas traditions the past few days.  Which ones have been most meaningful?  What do you about Santa?  Now we are going to take a slightly more negative approach and ask you if there are any traditions (say, for example, Santa) which you have decided not to embrace and why? 

And, so our focus isn’t entirely negative, we are curious if there is something which you have chosen to replace that tradition with?  And I think this is the more interesting question because it opens up exciting new possibilities and new ways of looking at things. 

One simple example I thought of was if you decided that Christmas trees weren’t the thing you wanted to focus on in your decorating, so you replaced your Christmas tree with a nativity scene.  I am just making this up, and I’m sure the real examples you think of will be much more exciting!  We can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

Check out our other Christmas Conversations:

We have 25 different “conversations” going online and we’d love to hear your thoughts!  See the list below and add your two cents when and where you can, and benefit from the collective think tank as you go!

1. How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Cristmas shopping?
2. How do you bring Jesus into your shopping experience?
3. What do you think about Christmas music?
4. What’s the worst Christmas song and why?
5. What’s your best idea for using a Christmas movie to spark a conversation about Christ?
6. What’s the worst Christmas movie and why?
7. What’s the most meaningful Christmas tradition that your family has?
8. How do you get your kids attention (or even your own) off of the gifts you get?
9. How much is too much when it comes to giving your kids gifts for Christmas?
10. What are your favorite service-oriented things to do during Christmas?
11. Is Santa a naughty or nice Christmas tradition and why?
12. What Christmas traditions have you chosen not to follow, and what have you replaced them with?
13. If you’ve chosen to do Santa, how can you use him to point your kids to Jesus?
14. Do lighting displays add to or detract from the real meaning of Christmas?
15. What kinds of gifts can you give to non-Christian friends that make Jesus attractive?
16. What are your best ideas for using Christmas to spur conversations about Jesus?
17. Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas – Does it really matter?
18. Should we boycott stores based on Christian principles during the Holidays?
19. How do you deal with the Grinches in your life this Christmas?
20. How do you deal with Christmas as a joyous family time when family is hard? 
21. What do you know about the Biblical concept of hospitality and how do you apply that during the Christmas season?
22. How do you find spiritual refreshment in the midst of an exhausting season?
23. When do the excesses of Christmas cross the line from communicating the lavishness of God’s love for us to fostering excess, greed and pride?
24. How do you respond to feeling like someone else “does Christmas better” than you?
25. What is the most meaningful Christmas memory you have?