It’s the most wonderful time of the year! (Or so I’ve heard about 1000 times a day on my radio.) But seriously, who doesn’t love this time of year? Advent calendars are up, Christmas decorations are all over and the first semester of school is winding down. While that means finals are coming up, it also means that Christmas Break is right around the corner.
Whether you’re going on vacation or staying home this Christmas, grab a delicious cup of eggnog and read on as I break down my top 5 favorite Christmas break activities:
- Christmas Card Toss. Who doesn’t love a Christmas card? Seriously, there’s something so beautiful about receiving a $4 piece of folded paper with a cute greeting inside. Get a stack of all the cards you’ve received from your aunts, uncles, second cousins, and your mom’s brother’s girlfriend’s parents. Gather some friends together, and setup a basket with 3 different scoring lines about 3, 6, and 10 feet away. One at a time, choose a distance and attempt to throw the Christmas card into the basket. Give 1 point if you get one in from the closest line, 3 points from the middle line and 5 points from the farthest line. Whoever has the most points at the end wins!
- Old School Toy Night. There is something I love about toys from my childhood. Inside this 31-year old man is an 8-year old boy who wants to bust out his G.I. Joe, go out in the backyard and be “A Real American Hero.” This Christmas Break, why not live out some of your earlier years? Head to your local toy store, get a bunch of old school toys (Toss Across, Skip It, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots), invite some friends over and play. Then try to wipe the smiles off your faces.
- Make Gingerbread Houses. Graham Crackers? Good. Graham Crackers and icing? Better. Graham Crackers, icing and candy all built together into a house? A taste explosion. Go to your local grocery and get a box or two of Graham Crackers, a couple cans of icing, some paper plates, and several of your favorite candies. Have a contest with your friends to see who can build the coolest house, and then eat them all.
- Frozen Turkey Bowling Tournament. What do you get when you combine the exciting sport of bowling with everyone’s favorite holiday bird? A whole lot of awesomeness! Get a set of plastic bowling pins or 10 empty 2-liter bottles of soda and a frozen turkey. Find a smooth surface – preferably outside – set up the pins and bowl. (Note: Be sure to leave the turkey in its packaging).
- Giving Tree Shop-A-Thon. While we should be giving to others throughout the year, Christmas is especially a great time to do so. Get a bunch of friends together and head to your local mall. Find the “Giving Tree,” pool all your money together and shop for some kids and families who are less fortunate. You’ll not only be giving them something tangible, but you’ll be giving them the gift of hope just as God does for all of us by giving His Son to the world (Luke 2:1-14).
Where ever you spend your break, I hope that your Christmas is not only holly and jolly but that it’s blessed by God’s grace, peace and love.
