Augusta Traditions: Is It Ever Too Soon To Put Up The Christmas Tree?
Everyone has their own time limit when it comes to holiday decorating. It does seem like stores are putting out holiday items earlier and earlier but I find most people have their own time frame for when the tree and the trimmings go up and it has more to do with their own family traditions than when corporate entities start pushing their wares.
Let the festive activities begin!
For me, once the Thanksgiving coma wears off there’s only one thing I can think about: digging all the Christmas decorations out of the attic! From years gone past, the older family traditions to the little traditions I created with my son over the years, it all just goes together in a hodgepodge of memories and holiday cheer! A somewhat transient lifestyle over the years has ended some traditions from things being broken in transit or simply being misplaced from one city move to another but somehow we always manage to find the really special ones, carefully tucked away and waiting for their moment to shine.
Family traditions
Since my son grew up and moved to his own place, putting everything up has become more of a chore. it’s just not as much fun without a little guy around to create the magic for. But in the last few years, I’ve come to realize that sometimes the traditions themselves are important, not only to him when he comes to visit, but for the older members of the family as well.
Holiday cheer
Sometimes just the act of unwrapping the delicate little trinkets that have survived cross-country moves and all the other painful life things that happen gives you a sense of hope. It’s as if the universe is telling you that if this little glass ornament can make it 4500 miles roundtrip stuffed in a flimsy box and stored away in a hot dark attic and still bring a smile then maybe there’s a chance that this holiday cheer will be the beginning of new and better things.
7 Festive Games and Activities for a Memorable Holiday Party
Name That Holiday Song
All you need is someone with a phone full of great Christmas songs, ready to play DJ. See who can guess the festive songs first after hearing just a few notes. It’s a laid-back way to enjoy some post-meal fun.
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Never Have I Ever Holiday Edition
Give this timeless game a festive twist by asking questions like, “I’ve never regifted a present,” and find out what secrets your friends and family may be hiding. You can stick to the traditional rules where those who’ve committed the act take a sip of their beverage, or you can opt for a point-based system, with the winner receiving a holiday surprise as their reward.
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Present Stacking
Here’s a game that allows you to unleash your creativity. Wrap a selection of uniquely shaped objects, and the challenge is to see who can build the tallest stack of presents. Using fragile items in this game should be avoided for obvious reasons.
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Christmas Carol Challenge
Here’s a straightforward, no-fuss game that’s perfect a cozy home get-together or an office party. Gather everyone in a circle, and the game begins with one person singing a line from a holiday song. The person to their right then must continue with the next line of the song, and so on. You can choose from timeless classics like Jingle Bells or opt for a more contemporary holiday hit like Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas is You. While you might know the opening lines of these songs, it becomes quite a challenge as the game progresses.
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Best/Worst Gift
Distribute four slips of paper to each participant. Every guest is tasked with jotting down two positive Christmas gifts and two negative ones: one from their real experiences and one fabricated. Collect all the slips in a container and let the group take turns guessing which presents were genuinely given and which were made up.
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Saran Wrap Ball Game
Make a big plastic wrap ball stuffed with little gifts like mini liquor bottles, gift cards, candy, and cash. One person starts by unwrapping it, while someone else takes the dice and tries to roll doubles. The twist is that you can’t stop unwrapping until your neighbor rolls those elusive doubles, so the pressure’s on to keep the ball moving. Players get to keep all the goodies they uncover during their turn, so everyone’s in for some prizes. You can make it more challenging by requiring the person unwrapping to wear oven mitts.
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Celebrity
Here’s a fun party game you can enjoy with friends or family anytime, anywhere. You split into two teams, and each player writes down 5 celebrity names on pieces of paper. You take turns being the clue-giver. In round one, the clue-giver describes the celebrity without saying their name or nickname, and the team guesses. In round two, you can only use one word as a clue. Round three is like Charades, where you act out the celebrity without speaking. Keep score to see which team guesses the most celebrities correctly. It’s a great game for any gathering.
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