Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 21 - 27, 2022 UCW 13 COVER Christmas Eve is viewed differ- ently by different people, even those who live under the same Santa- ready roof. Adults may see Christmas Eve as crunch time when they must pre- pare food for the next day or set up presents for their children to open in the morning. Children, on the other hand, are focused on Santa's visit and little else. Parents naturally want to make Christmas-time as special as possi- ble for their children, and that may involve ensuring that Christmas Eve is just as memorable as Christmas Day. e following are some ways to impart more magic into Christmas Eve celebrations. Attend Mass at midnight Practicing Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christ- mas. On Christmas Eve, churches often hold celebrations that may include late-evening or midnight masses that celebrate the birth of Christ when the calendar switches over to Dec. 25. While it does make for a late night, it can be thought- provoking for kids and a unique experience unlike any other. Bake fresh cookies Children like to leave out a plate of cookies and a glass of milk for Santa. at makes Christmas Eve a perfect time to whip up a fresh batch of cookies. Explore different recipes to come up with a unique offering for Santa each year. Read a Christmas story Watching television or looking at a tablet or mobile phone before bed can be too stimulating when it's time for children to wind down for bed. Choose a holiday tale or tales that can be read as a Christmas Eve bedtime story. Reciting the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas ('Twas the Night Before Christmas)" is a great way to set the Christmas Eve mood. Make a batch of "reindeer dust" Why should Santa's reindeer be left out when it comes to receiving treats? Reindeer dust, made from a combination of oatmeal, rice cereal and dried fruits, is purported to attract Santa's reindeer and provide them a nibble at the same time. Plus, it's generally safe for other animals in the yard to eat. Go caroling Caroling may not be the norm, but some families may want to revive it. Close-knit communities can organize family-centric caroling opportunities and roam the cul-de- sacs and other pedestrian-friendly areas singing popular songs. Christmas Eve is a great time to embrace various traditions that help to make the season even more special. A popular Christmas song attests "there's no place like home for the holidays." For many people, a truer statement couldn't be uttered. But sometimes life gets in the way of an old-fashioned holiday spent at home. ere are a number of reasons why individuals may not be able to spend the holidays at home. Active military service people may not be able to leave their posts to travel home. Some students studying abroad or even far away domesti- cally may find that getting back to their homes can be time- and cost- prohibitive. Some people may not be home for the holidays because work obligations keep them out of town, or because they have planned vacations to serve as nontraditional holiday celebrations. Being away from some familiar sights and sounds of the holidays doesn't mean celebrations should be any less special. Here are tips for celebrating away from home. Find people in similar situa- tions. Chances are you will not be the only person away from home, particularly if you are a student or someone on a business venture. Connect with others who are away from their families and do some- thing together for the holidays. Partake of local traditional ac- tivities. You may be used to baking sugar cookies for the holidays, but in a foreign country, the locals may make another type of dessert. Figure out how the locals celebrate the holidays and then take part in any way you can. Volunteer your time. If you will be away or alone for the holidays, volunteer your time to help the less fortunate. Deliver meals to those who are not able to leave home, like seniors, or volunteer at a soup kitchen. Visit a children's hospital and deliver small gifts. Engage in virtual fun. Connect with people at home through the power of digital technology. Video conferencing services connect people who can't be together in per- son. Utilize these apps and services to remote into a holiday dinner or when loved ones open gifts. Cook up your favorites. Evoke traditional holiday celebrations by cooking the foods you would nor- mally enjoy at home. ose tastes and smells can transport you back to grandma's kitchen or dad's living room. Stay off of social media. Being away from home during the holi- days can be challenging, and that challenge can be even greater if you see photo after photo on social media of people you know spend- ing time with their friends and loved ones. Tune out of your social feeds for a few days. Invite others to you. Maybe you don't have the means of getting home, but you can bring those at home to you. Find out if anyone can plan a road trip, train ride or flight to where you are and then enjoy the holidays together. Being away from home during the holidays may not be ideal. However, there are plenty of ways to maintain your holiday spirit when celebrating in unfamiliar surroundings. Ways to make Christmas Eve special for kids a STAFF REPORT Celebrating holidays away from home a STAFF REPORT ere are a number of ways families can add some magic into Christmas Eve celebrations. ose away from home during the holidays can still find ways to celebrate.