Heartwarming Holiday Activities

‘Tis the season of visiting with family and finding fun holiday activities to do. Also, known as the silly season and the season of big spending and doorbusters, sometimes it can feel as though everything fun to do costs money to do it.

Here are a few holiday activities to keep on your to-do list, including some that can be enjoyed at little or no cost. You don’t need to break the bank to survive the season.

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Christmas Caroling or a Visit to the Senior’s Home.

Does your grandchildren’s school offer a visit to the Senior’s Home for caroling? Maybe you have a senior home nearby that you have visited before or would like to.

This is a rewarding time of year to visit our community’s senior citizens and spend a few moments with them in a special way. Some children are afraid of the elderly, and this is also a great conversation piece that senior citizens have wonderful stories and all sorts of interesting and diverse backgrounds. Also, during the holidays, they can get lonely, and paying them a visit truly sparks their whole week with joy! Imagine, such a small thing could light up one’s holiday season.

Giving cookies to neighbors.

What is better served to others than to keep for ourselves? Homemade cookies!! This is a GMB book sticker activity and also a wonderful way to do something special for someone else. Baking cookies together with your loved ones is just a fun way to spend the day. And when you create a special present or giveaway for a neighbor, a grandparent, or a teacher, your hard work and creativity become a very special gift. This activity offers multiple wins in one!

White Elephant gift exchange.

A fun twist on the gift exchange. White Elephant exchanges are a truly fun way to spend with a bigger group of people. Who will end up with the best gift and will someone ‘steal’ the best gift? It’s likely! And it’s all in the fun of playing the game together.

City Lights.

Visiting the holiday city lights can be high on the list of anticipated holiday outings. Lights can be found at sports parks, botanical gardens, convention centers, and many other places. There is usually a listing for your town online with times and pricing.

However, another version of enjoying holiday lights, and a little lighter on the budget is driving through town or to the nearest big city and seeing the lights that have been put on all over town. Put your favorite holiday tunes on the radio and enjoy. Sometimes, the city will have a big tree in town that has been lit with a nearby fire pit and hot chocolate. These fun outings don’t always have to be at the cost of an entry ticket. Add on some window shopping and you’ve got a date!

And don’t forget to take time…during the holiday hustle…

• Take time to be quiet.
• Read, or rest.
• Call a loved one on the phone.
• Go for a walk, just to walk.
• Go window shopping with loved ones.
• Take a bath.
• Listen to others, and ask questions.  

And a few more…

Write Christmas Cards.  

Nowadays, we get lots of Christmas cards that are pictures of the previous year.  These are surely a treasure to receive and see how the children and grandchildren have grown and special things they have done.  But, consider for a moment, that writing a card can be a wonderful unexpected treasure for someone to receive.  How often do we get hand written cards with a heartfelt note inside?  In our world of faster-is-best, doing the very opposite can be surprising and delightful, for both the recipient and the sender.  

Take your favorite people to the Christmas parade.

Towns put on wonderful parades.  Our town’s parade has gotten to be almost three hours long if you can imagine!  From the rescue dogs and the police on horseback, to decked out jeeps, Toys for Tots, the firetrucks, the town council, the Irish dancers, the elves giving candy and Santa, it’s a fun to-do, especially with grandkids.  Some kids like to go early and stake out the best spot.  Most like to be in the front to see the dancers and get the candy!  All in all, it’s a great morning out.  Remember your beanie, your coffee, and your folding chair!  

Food Drive and your local food bank.  

During this amazing season of giving, your local food bank is one in the most direst of needs for the community.  It is important to remember those who are food insecure during this time of year.  Their needs are very real, and at the most fundamental level.  They need food to have a decent meal with their family.  Some need help with rent assistance or utilities.  Others are asking to receive from the giving tree services at church so their children can get a few nice toys.  Of all the reasons that families come to a food bank, the holiday season is such a real time of year to remember those less fortunate.  Consider running a food drive with neighbors, a school club, friends, a sports team, your walking group, or your coffee group.  It takes minimal effort to pick up essential food items, and it has a powerful impact on the lives of others.  It is at the very core of heartfelt giving.  At GMB, we support the Cleveland Food Bank. Their website link is Home | Greater Cleveland Food Bank.

Be Creative and make your own holidays a season of peace of joy!  From all of us at GMB, we send warm wishes for a very happy holiday season!