How to Celebrate a Nontraditional Christmas Season

Christmas is a holiday that offers a chance for family and friends to get together, enjoy some good food and exchange gifts. Of course, these days a whole host of Christmas traditions have arisen both religious and secular. Whether it's a break with the old or just the chance to try something new, celebrating a nontraditional Christmas is the opportunity for new experiences. Below are just a few suggestions for a less traditional holiday season.

Instructions

1. Pick a different country or culture each year and create all your food dishes based on the traditions of that country. It is nice to choose a country that means something to yourself or a guest.

2. Throw out the Christmas tree or never get one in the first place. Rather than cutting down a tree that will end up in the burn or garbage pile in a few short weeks, try planting a tree next holiday season. If you live in an area where this proves difficult due to weather, you can always go online and donate your Christmas tree fund to a conservation organization.

3. Create all decorations from scratch using only recycled materials. Christmas decorations are expensive and easily broken. Making your own not only saves money and helps the environment, it provides a teaching opportunity for younger children.

4. Attend the service of a different religious denomination. If a Christian Christmas season is all you have ever known, visiting the church or temple of a different sect or faith offers the opportunity to learn and appreciate your own and others customs. Lighting a Hanukkah candle or attending a Kwanzaa service not only expands your understanding but offers the chance for cross faith communication.

5. Donate all of your Christmas to charity. Donating to a children's charity or a women's shelter not only breaks with tradition but it makes you feel really good inside.

6. Go on vacation to a hot sandy resort for Christmas. Sun and surf rather than snow and cold will certainly provide an untraditional Christmas experience. It's a good idea to book in advance.

7. Consider skipping Christmas altogether for a truly nontraditional experience. In many cultures Christmas does not exist and taking the time to experience this concept helps you appreciate what you have and perhaps enjoy a traditional Christmas even more in the coming years.