This is a tradition that really has personal meaning for me. My husband and I heard about this a few years ago but last year was the first year that we started it in our own family thanks to our first child being born and these tags I made. Christmas has a more spiritual meaning for us then spending money and time in malls. Three gifts were given to the Christ child when he was born, hence the meaning behind our three gifts of Christmas. Each person receives three gifts at Christmas. Plus a stocking. Each different gift is pictured below. This tradition not only takes the craziness out of the holiday but it helps us to remember the true meaning of Christmas and that is of giving and thoughtfulness towards others. This teaches your children that it is not in how much they get but in what they give and the meaning behind it.
Let us remember the Reason of this Season!
The gift of Wonder: something from Santa can be given for this gift, possibilities are endless here.
The gift of Usefulness: give something like tools for a husband, sewing supplies for a wife or clothes for a child.
The Gift of Meaning: (my personal favorite).....something handmade or something that would have personal meaning for both people.
I made my tags out of circle chip boards (found at any scrapbook store), covered them with scrapbook paper, I punched a large whole at the top and added an eyelet, then punched small holes around the circle. I printed out on paper sack paper from my computer the Three gifts of Christmas and glued it on top the scrapbook paper. Added a few buttons. I then mod podged the front, let dry and I then sewed embroidery floss around the edges for extra detail. Tie a piece of rick rack to the top and there you have it, tags that can be reused every year as part of this wonderful tradition.*A great thing to do with your kids would be is to have them make there own tags that can be used year after year.
May we enjoy the real spirit of Christmas! 
20 comments:
I love your idea! Hope you don't mind, I shared it here: http://mommysavers.com/boards/simple-green-living/140638-if-you-simplify-christmas-buying-fewer-gifts.html
What a great tradition for your family. Kudos to you for teaching your children the true meaning of Christmas!
I love this idea! What a great way to teach children the true meaning of Christmas!
This is a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
This is a great idea...especially for those of us with teenagers!!! I know what I'm doing from now on :) Thanks for saving me...HUGS~
This is an absolutely wonderful idea and the tags you made are adorable. I want to do this myself for my daughter.
Really cute! We do the three gifts at Christmas for our kids too. Three wise men brought gifts to baby Jesus!
These are really wonderful. I just love the way they look!
I love this idea!! I wish I had done this when my kids were younger. I think though that we will incorporate this into this year's Christmas. Thanks so much!
I love the idea of three gifts - for so many kids (me included), Christmas was such a study in excess.
But what I also wanted to say - I love the idea of using the floss to dress up the edges of your tags a bit! I have several projects in mind (Christmas and others) where I can use that idea - thanks!
I love this idea! Thanks for sharing!
I love this! I want to start this too! Sorry you have been feeling so yucky... I know how miserable it can be and I am sad you are going through it. Hang in there. This too shall pass! Love- Steph
This idea is wonderful ... I hope I find time to make these tags for my daughter's second Christmas in 2010.
I mentioned your Christmas gift tags in this blog posting:
http://vteamtourstheworld.blogspot.com/2010/01/family-traditions.html
I'm not sure how I got here...but wanted to comment about your tradition.
We do something similar, but we call it The 4 Gifts of Christmas:
Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh and Santa Claus
Gold: Something Worth Gold in sentiment.
Frank: Something that blesses or encourages the receiver's Talents/Hobbies.
Myrhh: Something Spiritual.
Santa Claus: Something Whimsical.
We've done this for years and love it.
Looks like we both want the same thing:
For Christmas to be more than gifts.
I also love the ideas of three gift especially for this coming Christmas. Anyway, I am looking forward to your next post. :)
gift to Philippines
We do similar one gift they need something they want and then a gift from the heart. It is a tradition in my husband's family that we love because it helps take some of the commercialism out of Christmas.
I am running with this idea for next year! The spending and hassles have got to stop.
Thank you Jesus for your wonderful gift!
God bless all of you...Merry Christmas
Thank you for sharing. I *love* this idea.
This is so amazing! It is so easy to get caught up in the holiday shopping frenzy, but you guys have it down pat to keep everything Christ-centered. I love your tradition!
We would love for you to share this at our Home for the Holidays link party!
http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/2011/11/home-for-holidays-link-party-2.html
Post a Comment