The day after Christmas can be such a let down. I felt this especially as a kid. I would wait in anticipation for what seemed like an eternity for Christmas Day. I could hardly sleep the night before in my excitement. Yet, once Christmas Day had come and gone, the fun suddenly came to a grinding halt. No more Christmas music, decorations, pageants at church, TV specials with Rudolph or Bing Crosby; no more cookies, chocolates, glitter, and glitz. Sure, I could watch the Disney Christmas parade video taped the day before, but for all intents and purposes, it was back to the "real" world now.

Having grown up (somewhat), I don't feel the huge let down as I used to, although a twinge of the familiar sadness still persists. Is there any way to ease the post-Christmas blues for kids and kids at heart?

I think the antidote is to keep the fun going after the 25th. Give the kids (and yourself) something to look forward to every year after the holidays. One way to do this is to create an annual family tradition.

Below are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing. I talk about using these ideas with a family, but you could tailor them to a group of your best friends or just you and your sweetheart.

Ideas for an annual post-holiday-bash-the-blues tradition:

• Eat at a special restaurant.
• Have a "picnic" by the fireplace, complete with hot dogs and S'mores.
• Have a game night; play board games until after midnight.
• Dress up and see The Nutcracker.
• Have a special day-after-Christmas breakfast.
• Have a movie night; wear pjs, munch on popcorn, and watch some of your favorite films.
• Take a carriage ride Downtown.
• Indulge at a day spa (you alone or with your sweetie).
• Have a snowman building contest in the backyard.
• Hike at your favorite nature preserve, whether warm, cold, sunny, or snowy. (Bring along a thermos of hot chocolate if it's cold!)
• Keep all the Christmas decorations up until after the New Year.
• Have a pizza party; take turns talking about all the happy/funny/proud moments experienced during that year. Talk about things to accomplish in the next year.
• Have a dance night. Play fun and silly songs, get get creative with the lights, let the kids be the DJ or star in their own "show."
• Got a Karaoke machine? Same idea from dance night can be used here with singing (or at least the attempt to do so).
• Volunteer at a local charity or soup kitchen. Helping others will lift your spirits.

There so many fun things you can do to help banish the post-holiday blues! I'd love to learn of your ideas, so please feel free to share them in the comments section!

Happiness to you this holiday season... even when it has come and gone!

Photo credits: LaraMW, kirsche222

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annual family traditions, day after Christmas let down, Post-Christmas depression, sad after holidays