Winter holiday resources

Recommendations from the UUA's Lifespan Faith Development staff.
By Staff Writer
11.28.05

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People with evergreen garland

(Robert Neubecker)

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Creating UU family Christmas rituals Finding the right mix of family traditions. Meg Cox (Winter 2005)

RELATED RESOURCES

The Book of New Family Traditions: How to Create Great Rituals for Holidays & Everydays. By Meg Cox. Running Press, 2003. (UUA Bookstore)

The Intentional Family: Simple Rituals to Strengthen Family Ties. By William J. Doherty. Avon Books, 1997. (Amazon.com)

The Gift of Faith: Tending the Spiritual Lives of Children. By Jeanne Harrison Nieuwejaar. Skinner House, 2003. (UUA Bookstore)

Living Simply with Children: A Voluntary Simplicity Guide. By Marie Sherlock. Three Rivers Press, 2003. (UUA Bookstore)

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Looking for help celebrating the winter holidays with your family, Unitarian Universalist-style?

Barbara Gifford and Tracey L. Hurd, who develop programs for children and families for the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations's Lifespan Faith Development department, identified a variety of resources you can use to celebrate the winter holidays at home:

General Resources: "Winter: A Garden of Activities for Family and Fellowship": Includes Christmas, Hanukkah, Posada, Saint Lucia Day, Advent, New Year, Kwanzaa, and Yuletide celebrations. (Connections, Church of the Larger Fellowship)
Advent: "Celebrate Advent." By Betsy William. (Unitarian Universalist Family Network) [This resource is no longer maintained, but we have linked to an archival copy. —Eds.]
Hanukkah: "What Is Hanukkah?": Includes a driedel pattern and activity. By Betty Jo Middleton. (Between Sundays: Answering Kids' Questions, Church of the Larger Fellowship)
Winter Solstice: "Sharing Inner Gifts: A Family Celebration for Solstice," adapted by Betsy Williams (Connections, Church of the Larger Fellowship)
Christmas: "Why Do We Go to Church on Christmas Eve?": Telling UU kids the story of Jesus' birth. By Betty Jo Middleton. (Between Sundays: Answering Kids' Questions, Church of the Larger Fellowship); "Inviting Santa to Your House": Should you keep this joyous story alive for your children? By Mimi Doe. (Beliefnet.com)
New Year's Day: "January: A Fresh Start": Six ways to create family harmony this year. By Mimi Doe. (Beliefnet.com)
Celebrating instead of consuming: "The Gift of Time": We need to claim time as our most central, most precious, family value. By Tracey L. Hurd. (UUA Lifespan Faith Development) [This resource is no longer maintained, but we have linked to an archival copy. —Eds.]; "Simplify the Holidays": Can money buy what matters this holiday? (Center for the New American Dream)

For links to books with tips for simplified and meaningful family celebrations, see the sidebar.

Winter holiday resources

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