Children write letters to Jesus. Parents will mail them or use their personal connections to get the letters to him. One page only, please!
Your Christmas tree does not go up until Christmas Eve. The children go to bed. The tree is delivered by angels. You may opt to ring a bell when the tree and presents from Jesus are ready.
Take it down mid January. (Feast of Three Kings.)
Very traditional (18th century) hang a pine bough from a live tree from a center beam or ceiling instead of having a whole tree cut down. More ecological, and the smell of pine will permeate.
Hang your Christmas tree with soft candy. Soft jelly type candies covered in chocolate and wrapped in foil or perhaps homemade walnut clusters are more traditional but you can be inventive. Also consider apples, fruit, or popcorn.
American variation: home made fudge, popcorn clusters, or fruit can be hung in little net bags that have a bow. Visitors get to take one or two from the tree.
Instead of hanging large stockings, have the children put out their shoes or boots out on the evening of December 5th. The shoes must be polished and clean. Little presents from the Saint come December 6th. Put the boots out on the porch.
Deliver your presents from Saint Nick instead of Santa. Tell the children the story of Saint Nicholas.
Better yet, perhaps it's best if the gifts come from Jesus himself. Open presents from family after your evening meal on Christmas Eve.
Go to Midnight Mass.
Visit with family and friends on Christmas day and December 26th.
Instead of a turkey, cook a Hungarian inspired meal; get out your cookbooks. Consider having the children help with the meal, for instance, making fresh egg and flour dumplings.
Play classical music or Hungarian language carols in the background as you cook.
Leave Christmas Day as a spiritual holiday as it was meant to be. Generosity to others is important; consider a family gift to a charity.
