Literary Traditions - A Christmas Mouse in the House

Posted on December 6th, 2007 by Leisa
Filed under: Christmas Mouse, Literary Traditions

Do you want your kids to develop a love of reading?

Want to give the kids books for Christmas, but fear that they will just get set-aside and not looked at once they get their other gifts?

Do you want to keep your kids happily occupied in the evenings during the holiday season?

Than you need a Christmas literary tradition.

My parents created a tradition in our home that, for me, brings back even fonder memories than the annual visit from Santa. It was the annual visit of the Christmas mouse. The Christmas mouse was a tiny creature who sat in our living room during the month of December. We anxiously waited for signs of life because that meant he was busy getting ready to deliver a box of gifts.

Sure enough a short time later we would find him. He’d be sitting on a wrapped box. Inside we’d find books, games or other media selections. We’d anxiously looked for the book that was intended for us. Even though it was meant for the family there was always something in the box for each person. We could tell what gift was intended for which person because there was always something inside that we were interested in at the time. Each one of my brothers and sisters have carried this tradition on to their family. You can read about my sister Natasha’s memories on her blog. My parents made it easy to ensure the tradition lived on because we each received the magical mouse as a gift from our parents.

My children have loved this tradition. Just as kids traditionally set out cookies and milk for Santa my girls set out things like toast and water for the Christmas Mouse. They always manage to find the toast nibbled on and have determined that preparing for his visit must leave him unusually thirsty. They even insist on having him sleep in the bedroom as well.

Most years the mouse only came to life on Christmas Eve. That was the magic night when he delivered a big box of books, games, and music. Sometimes he’d bring a video game. However, last year, he broke from tradition and came to life more than once. This created even more excitement and my kids look forward to each day wondering if the Christmas mouse was going to visit that day.

The Christmas Mouse has communicated with me that he has even bigger plans this year. His plan is one that will really develop even fonder memories in my children and one that will foster an even greater love for literature in my children. I’ll be sure to journal right here on my blog all the Christmas Mouse happenings at our house.

If you’d like to learn about some fun things you can do to develop a love of literature at your house be sure to subscribe to our RSS Feed, subscribe to our Literary Traditions E-Zine , or at the very least bookmark us and come back and visit often. You’ll also be able to learn about some fun literary traditions through you can use throughout the year.

I think I’m even more anxious for the Christmas mouse to come than the kids are. You’ll soon find out why.