Buy a tall red candle. Mark off lines on the candle every half inch. Light the candle each night before Christmas and have family activities, singing, stories, etc. for as long as it takes the candle to burn to the next line.

I use candy as Christmas tree decorations! Everyone that comes to our house goes straight for the tree! While they are munching they take the time to notice the "real" ornaments I've made and collected over the years. I hang different flavored candy canes and make candy packets containing M & M's, Reese's Pieces, Skittles and any other treats I can find! I put some candy in the corner of a sandwich bag, twist the bag and tie it with curling ribbon. I then curl the ribbon "tails" to add some color. They are really a hit!

In my family the only tradition we carry on is sharing with our young ones the experience of being part of the Christmas decorating of the tree with anything they feel like they would like to add! Some of them are a little different but beautiful in their own way!

Before eating Christmas dinner, each person is asked to say a prayer for a special cause.

Every year my family and I string cranberries and popcorn to trim the tree with at Christmas. It's traditional and unoriginal, but it's fun, very pretty, and inexpensive. We also bake Christmas cookies by the dozens, package them in colorful plastic wrap, and give them to all our neighbors for gifts. It's cute because we distribute them from my daughters little red wagon decorated with garland and bows!

Put some cinnamon, orange peel, cloves and allspice on the stove in a pot full of water or in an electric crock pot to simmer all day, filling the house with holiday smells. Be sure to check the water level so that your potpourri doesn't simmer dry and burn.

I kept a paper "candle" tacked to the wall during every Christmas season to measure the children's heights from one year to the next.

Sprinkle glitter on a snow covered front yard. The Christmas lights make it twinkle and shine!

Invite grandparents or older relatives over to share your evenings together. Encourage them to tell the children how Christmas was celebrated "in the old days". Make a cassette recording or video of the evening as a memory for years to come.

My tradition is ever since my two children were born I cross-stitch them a new ornament with the year on it. When they move out they will have ornaments for their tree. Their ages 11 and 7, it never meant much to either of them until the last couple of years. Now they get excited and can't wait to see what this years ornament will be.