Each year my husband’s extended family gets together the week before Christmas to shop as a family for another family. About 20 years ago (give or take a couple), they realized that they could take the money they spent on gifts for each other and help make Christmas that much more special for a needy family in their area. They would get the name of a family from the local school and then get together one night and gulp back dinner while dividing up the task force. Some people would hit the supermarket and load up on all the fixings for a Christmas dinner with groceries to spare while others spread out in Zellers shopping for individual members of the family.

Recently we have started to shop for a family or individual women that are spending Christmas at Interval House (a safe haven for abused women) and we are given a list of items they can use. We’ve also ditched the grocery shopping thanks to supermarket gift cards. Now they can shop as they see fit.  Then we all head back to Sharon’s house (it’s always Sharon’s house) and wrap up the gifts to be delivered the next day.

Note that my father-in-law is one of nine, so there are always lots of people to contribute and everybody just chips in whatever they can afford. A smaller clan could always just shop for toys for a local children’s charity or even just kick in whatever they can toward the gift card. (Though we like to make an event out of it.) Obviously everyone still buys gifts for their own immediate families, but now the money spent on thoughtful knickknacks for “family gifts” goes toward a much better cause. If you see a similar pattern in your own family (and even if you don’t), consider instituting a tradition like this. Because giving really can be more fun than receiving.

(Image courtesy of Ben Garney on Flickr.)

This is yet another reason that you will never have to set foot in a mall ever again if you live in or around the Junction. Kids will be lining up to tell Santa what they want for Christmas at the Junction City Square and partaking of free cups of hot cocoa, carols, story-telling, crafts and general neighbourly cheer. Of course, families from all across the city are welcome to visit and maybe even do some shopping at the local retailers. You won’t get that pre-fab-mass-market feel that you get at the mall and you’ll have to walk down an actual street to get from store to store and none of the local cafes and restaurants have franchises at food courts, but who knows? You might even like it.

Disclaimer: Last year the Junction Santa did happen to promise at least a couple children that he would for sure, no problem, be delivering on their Christmas wishes. Prepare as you see fit.

From the press release:

The Junction BIA invites you and your family to the
“Santa in the Junction Event”
at The Junction City Square (Dundas/Pacific)
on Saturday, December 13th from 2 – 5 pm.

The Junction has become one of West Toronto’s most child friendly neighbourhoods. This year at our “Santa in the Junction Event”, we’ll have and abundance activities from dancing and sing-a-longs to crafts, free hot chocolate, and candy canes for kids young and old. Come celebrate this holiday season by helping us decorate our Christmas tree topped by a lighting ceremony! Internationally renowned storyteller Norman Perrin and the children’s dance performers will be joined by HO, HO, HO Santa Claus himself!

So when my mother-in-law asked whether we wanted to drive out of the city and cut down our tree this year, I was skeptical. It was more than two weeks early, and I just didn’t know what Christmas tree hunting will be like without that special holiday desperation in the air. Figuring that it’s only fair for my husband to get to indulge in his childhood holiday traditions (no matter how predictable the outcome) from time to time, I acquiesced. And it was okay.

The tree farm was a good hour’s drive from the city core, and the smallest tree starts at $45. But our tree is beautiful and Colum got to spend the better part of a day getting it. Driving into the “country”, trudging through the snow, “helping” Grandpa saw the tree down, and watching the farm worker truss it makes for a real experience. Whether searching the city streets or choosing a tree to cut down, the point is to make a true occasion out of it.

Post Script: We have decorated our tree now, and the ornamentation is delightfully bottom heavy. At one point there were five shiny balls all hanging from one branch. They have since been dispersed during the daily ornament shuffle, and I’m predicting at least a few will turn up during spring cleaning.