Christmas traditions

[Danauk]

Hi everyone,
I am a primary school teacher in the UK and am doing a project on christmas traditions all over the world. I was wondering if anyone could tell me exactly how you celebrate christmas in the USA (or any other country.) Do you have a traditional turkey dinner with chrsitmas pudding like we do in the UK? Or do you celebrate thanksgiving more? Plus how exactly do you celebrate thanksgiving and what are the traditions behind this.
Thanks in advance,
Dana.

 

[Poohnatic]

Dana,

I think the tradition here in the US is that we each have our own traditions! There are things that my friends and coworkers do that my family doesn't.

For instance, growing up, we'd open presents Christmas Eve (or after mom and older sibs finished wrapping them around 2am!). We'd hang around all day, playing with the new things and have a big dinner around 5 at night.

Once my sister and I hit middle school, we changed to opening presents Christmas day, as soon as EVERYONE got over to the house for dinner (and we're talking immediate family of 20 people!)

Dinner has been different things over the year, but the standout was Prime Rib with lobster tails.

My own little family has our own traditions...we open presents in the morning, I make a huge breakfast and we have either Ham or Turkey with another couple joining us (alternating who hosts). The only constants in the menu are the side dishes and my crabcakes. My family is of the mind that it's not Christmas without Crabcakes with remoulade, LOL!

I think you're going to hear many variations, based on region and family! It'll be cool to see what other people do (and get hungry at all of those menus, like the SW Louisiana Thanksgiving on another thread)

Suzanne

 

[chell]

My family doesn't have any traditions. I wish we did. It will be fun to see what traditions other families do have though.