Christmas Traditions

[kristasmom]

For us the Christmas season kicks off on Thanksgiving day. After a big dinner at my parents, my DD10 uses all of her leftover Halloween candy to make ginerbread houses (1 for our house and 1 for grandma & grandpa's house) and then she writes her letter to Santa (she still bellieves ). Then we put up our Christmas tree, usually sometime over Thanksgiving weekend, but we don't decorate it, we have a "camp-out" in the living room under the tree first. We take a night time hike around the neighborhood, then we roast hot dogs over the flame on the stove and make smores, then watch Christmas movies until we fall asleep. All the Christmas movies and books come out for the month of December. We go caroling at a local convelesant hospital, go to a local candy shop where you can watch them make giant candy canes (complete with warm peppermint samples), drive around to see the Christmas light displays, visit Santa, and try to fit in at least one trip to the snow (if there isn't any in the local mountains yet there is a mall close by that has fake snow). On Christmas Eve we got to church, and when we get home DD is allowed to open one gift. We leave out cookies and a bottle of water for Santa, and carrots for the reindeer, and sprinkle reindeer dust (oats and glitter) outside to attract the reindeer. My parents come over early on Christmas morning to watch DD open her presents from Santa (he always leaves 3) and from me. If she is up before they get there she is allowed to open her stocking (which I fill). Later we go over to my parents to eat and open presents from them. We just hang out, play with the new toys and maybe watch a movie on Christmas afternoon.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

W are big on tradition and DS now 13 still loves it. Black Friday starts it all when DH and I get up at 5:00am and shop ALL day. The next day is spent decorating the tree and house. We choose one night a week or so before Christmas and go for a nice dinner out and then to look at Christmas lights.

Our favorite tradition is Christmas Eve dinner under the tree. WE started it when DS was a toddler and never miss. We always prepare a simple but fun meal that most of the time is hot wings or ham biscuits. Always we have christmas cookies and always open a new box of chocolate candy. We read the Chirstmas story from the bible, eat and DS opens two gifts. one is PJ's and the other something new to wear to Christmas Eve service. We go to church together and Always spot SAnta on the way home. DS puts out cookies and carrots &goes to bed and even though the "real" Santa was gone years ago, those cookies and carrots get eaten!!

We get up early to open home gifts then go to mom's for breakfast. The three grandchildren have to present something before they eat. A song or poem ect. WE have a birthday cake for Baby Jesus and open gifts. Lunch is at in-laws.

We love Christmas and all the traditions!!

Jordans' mom

 

[dougsmom98]

We always go with my DH's parents to pick out a tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The kids love to run through the "forest" of Christmas trees and then they get to see dad cut down the "perfect" tree. We decorate the tree that same day and that really gets the kids excited. We buy each of the kids one of those advent calendars that has chocolate behind each door. Last year our 4 year old twins opened each and every door the first day, but our 6 year old did each day and enjoyed watching them open as the big day got closer. On Christmas Eve, we make place and bake cookies for Santa. They are straight from the store but they are easy, no mess and yummy. We go to church for the 7 pm service and then go home and the kids go to bed. DH and I make a frozen pizza, egg rolls, and onion rings to snack on and have a few beverages while we wait for the kids to fall asleep. We watch Christmas specials and turn down the lights and enjoy the tree. When we are sure the kids are asleep, we play Santa and then sit for a while longer enjoying the tree and the gifts. After the first couple of years after the kids were born, we decided that Santa would leave the stockings upstairs. The kids didn't care about the stockings as much when they were with the other, bigger gifts. Now, when the kids wake up, they bring their stockings into our bedroom and they open them up on our bed before we go downstairs. After that, we open the rest of the gifts. After the presents are open, we go to my inlaws and open gifts and have a buffet lunch over there. DH and I do not open our gifts on Christmas morning. We found we couldn't enjoy it in the morning because it was too busy. We were too excited to see the kids open their gifts and then we of course had to put those toys together afterwards. So, now we keep our gifts separate and after the kids go to bed on Christmas night, we open our gifts to one another and enjoy some quiet time.

 

[horsegirl]

Our favorite tradition is Santa wraps the room! The doorway and opening to my livingroom (where the tree is) is completely covered with Christmas paper and a large bow. This way if anyone gets up first, no one can see the tree until everyone is awake. My DK"s love breaking thru the paper and checking out the presents, they think of new ways to break thru the paper every year. Even though they are now 12 and 15, they still like to have the room wrapped.

Oh I love that idea. I wonder if I'll be able to swing that?!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

My Christmas traditions start in July!

The first day Hallmark ornaments are available (in July) I go and buy the "Son" ornament for DS. We have baby's 1st through Child's 5th Christmas that are a series, then we have "Son" for every year since he was born. Since he was about 6 I have taken him with me to Hallmark and he is allowed to choose one special ornament for himself.

On Thanksgiving he gives my mom the "Grandma" ornament for that year, and she gives him "Grandson". My MIL passed away before he was born, so my mom is his only grandma. He is the only grandson, too. We put the tree up Thanksgiving weekend.

On Christmas Eve my mom (and sometimes my sisters) come over for sandwiches and chips and we exchange presents. We started doing that after my parents split up - I figured if I had Christmas Eve at MY house I could control who was invited. Since DH and I usually have to work Christmas Eve we thought low maintenance food on paper plates would take some of the stress out of the whole deal. Everybody is on their own Christmas day.

My middle sister got married and had a baby this year but she lives with her in-laws so I can't imagine we will see her at all. If she expects them to support her and her worthless DH then she has to do what they say. Maybe in several years she will get tired of that.

Have fun developing your own traditions!

 

[kc10family]

• We have a birthday cake for Jesus sometime the week before and yes we sing Happy Birthday also.
• All Santa gifts are wrapped in Santa paper only
• No wrapping paper is used twice in one year (yes I have A LOT) and WOW is it cool looking! I only buy one or two rolls per year. (questions, pm me)
• Tree goes up with Christmas music playing and Hot Chocolate for the tummy.
• Oldest child puts her “Babies First Christmas” ornament up first then the next DD does hers.
• First gift opened is the baby Jesus from the Nativity
• Stockings are opened next, then everything else.
• Santa brings everyone at least one gift (yes the dog and Mommy and Daddy) DD’s get more than they need from Santa.
• DD’s get three special ornaments per year. 1. A year one 2. A Santa 3. A Disney one. All from Hallmark (I am also a hallmark ornament freak) these are put away for when the get married. Why? I want them to have a good start for when they have a family.
• Tree stays up for 1-2 weeks into Jan

 

[allaboutmm]

Every Christmas Eve, I prepare Oven French Toast with nut topping. It takes about 20 minutes, but then you refrigerate it overnight. On Christmas morning, I am the first up, pop it in the oven and the house smells wonderful!
We also stay home Christmas morning, there's just something so cozy about knowing that your family has nothing to do all day but spend time together!

Oven French Toast recipe:
12 oz loaf of French bread, cut into 1 inch slices
8 large eggs
2 cups milk
2 cups half and half
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves

topping:
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/3 cup brown sugar (I use less)
3 T dark corn syrup
1 1/3 c coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts

Heavily butter 13x9 baking pan. Fill pan with bread slices and set aside. I squeeze them in one layer, overlapping a little. In blender, mix eggs, milk, half and half, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. Pour mixture over bread slices and refrigerate, covered, overnight.
Make topping by combining ingredients, set aside until time to bake toast. (I do this the night before and refrigerate separately).
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spread topping over bread. Bake for 50 minutes until puffed and golden. Shield top with foil if top browns too quickly.

Obviously it's a once a year indulgence!

Sounds so yummy, might have to give it a try! Thanks

 

[allaboutmm]

Christmas Eve
We go over to my Aunt and Uncle's house( my Dad's side, he comes from a family of 12 siblings I have lots of Aunts/Uncle by marriage, then they all have 2 or 3 kids- so lots of cousins-who are now married, bla,bla,bla) where there are a ton of family. We eat lots of great homemade food ( onion soup, fish chowder, a french pork spread called gatone( sp?- not my favorite). Then just the adults have a yankee swap. Tons of laughs, people trying to trade #'s, gifts etc......
Then when we go home my children can open one gift b/f they go to bed( this takes them awhile, lots of choices!). And of coarse they leave milk, cookies, carrots and a note for Santa.
Christmas Day
Santa leaves everyones stocking outside their room. Have to wait to open up together in our bedroom. Then either myself or my husband heads downstairs w/ the camera so as the kids come down the stairs we get a picture of their face. Youngest to oldest is our order of gift opening( one at a time). Then around 10:00am, my parents and brother come over for breakfast( think I'll try that yummy french toast recipe listed above) and so the kids can show off their presents. Then we are home untill 4:00 when we go to my husbands grandmother's house for an open house. And most often get home around 8. This is how it has happened for the last 12 yrs, and I sure will keep going! Happy Holiday to all, how ever you and your family celebrate it!

 

[belle_of_the_ball]

hmmm well almost every year i sing in the 6 ABC/Boscovs parade on the steps of the philadelphia art museum. So I do that then its of to Anta Marie for turkey day where we sing christmas carols! THen the next day we put up the tree and start decorating. Then i have a christmas performance for singing. On Christmas Eve we make reindeer food (PM me if you dont know how) and go to my Auntie Ba Ba's for a crazy Christmas Eve with the dunphy family! Its so fun! Just being with everyone....we get home..sprinkly the reindeer food out side...put out milk and cookies for Santa and get into the new PJs that are on me and my brother's beds. Come down and read "the night before christmas" and run up to bed. In the morning we rush down stairs to open the presents...then we go to church and the most important tradition is THE CHRISTMAS BOX!!!!!!


this is where we all write a favorite memory from that christmas on a slip of paper and put it into a box for safe keeping. Then we read the ones from Christmas past.... while trying to remember about them. Its a great way to keep meomories. We also write down our ages and the year. I love it

and then to the nutty Bruno family!

what a busy family we are!

also on Christmas eve..my parents hide THE CHRISTMAS PICKLE!! :thewave:

on Christmas morning my brother and i look for it! Then we get a family present! (a puggle this year??! i hope!)
I say christmas is to be with loved ones...and i always am!

 

[michvin]

Baked Oatmeal

I kind of "just make it" now, but I don't think you can really mess up oatmeal!

2 cups oatmeal (not quick oats)
2 cups boiling water
2 cups milk
1 or 2 chopped apple with peel removed
1/2 cup white raisins
cinnimon..as much as you like...we love lots of 'min' as the kids call it
few dashes salt
1/4 cup brown sugar (when I make this for regular, daily meals, I omit the brown sugar and just add a tiny bit when done, or some maple syrup)
cream
real butter

Boil water, pour into (I think) 2 1/2 qt. casserole dish (or larger maybe..sorry)
add oatmeal and salt. Mix and let stand for 2 to 3 minutes. Add milk. Mix. Add raisins, apples, brown sugar, cinn. Mix. Bake covered at 350 for 45 minutes. Take lid off for about another 10 minutes. Make sure to put cookie sheet on bottom rack cause it will bubble. Remove. Dish out into bowls and add a pat of butter and warm cream. Sweeten with maple syrup or more brown sugar. Its really, really, really good!
Oh, and I have re-heated leftovers in the mircrowave and they are still good, so I guess you could make ahead...but that smell and taste first thing on x-mas morning is wonderful. I ususally serve with turkey sausage and fresh cut oranges.

 

[I Believe n Fairies]

These are great traditions!! I have two small children, dd4 and ds 17mo. Each Christmas, I get them an ornament for what they are "into" that year. For example dd loved Elmo when she was 2, she started ballet at 3, this year she loves fairies. Ds is crazy for puppies, so that is his ornament this year. I write the year on the bottom of the ornament if it's not already on it.

We also liked to do shoe boxes for Samitians Purse. We send shoe boxes filled with goodies, along with our church, to underpriviledged countries.

I'm sure there are others, but that's what comes to mind.

I'm nervous to put up the tree with ds this year!!

 

[dixipixi]

Normally I have my tree up by now...but not this year. Our house is having to be rebuilt. We're back in it...but it's hard to decorate a construction zone.

We have a tradition in Louisiana that all along the Mississippi River they light bonfires to guide Papa Noel (Santa) to the remote homes along the bayous.
We usually have just a small fire in the backyard.

This year I have been feeling pretty distraught and not at all in the Christmas spirit. That changed a couple of days ago when my DS (12) told me to look at the bright side. He said, "Mama...we can light REALLY BIG bonfires this Christmas Eve!" We have HUGE stacks of wood where we have cut up all the uprooted trees (almost 200) on our property. So now we have something to look forward to. I can't wait for that. We are just going to enjoy sitting together outside watching the fires and waiting for Santa (because of course he's still coming...my kids truly deserve a visit this year!)

 

[lillygator]

these are great - any more?

 

[disneymom225]

We started last year wearing matching (Disney) pajamas on christmas eve. We bought a new pair for this year. I'm also buying a 2nd set of stockings for our den (which is Disney-fied) to open on Christmas eve. I bought a christmas journal where you can record lots of different information about each year's holiday (weather, presents received, food, etc). Have fun! Christmas is the best holiday of the year.

 

[ch261]

Every year I make or buy an ornament for each one of our kids. It has a picture of them on it and a few paragraphs about what they're into and how they're doing. I usually make them, but if I buy one, it has to be just the right one- something to do with an interest they have and have room for me to glue a picture and the paper with the writing onto. The years we've gone to Disney, we try to get an ornament there. The kids love getting their ornaments out and rereading them each year as we decorate the tree.

We also do an advent calendar and celebrate St. Nick's Day with a few goodies in their stockings. We sponsor several needy children- the ages of each one of my sons, so they can help pick out presents for someone just like them. We also take one day and go to WalMart or Target or somewhere and split up and help the kids buy presents for their brothers. We're always afraid we look like crazy people or shoplifters because we're sneaking around, trying to avoid the other brothers seeing what we're buying. It's great fun.

We try really hard to focus on giving way more than receiving. In fact, each child has already made up his list of what he wants and given it to us, and now all the focus for them is on what they're buying for someone else.

 

[tinkermell]

Normally I have my tree up by now...but not this year. Our house is having to be rebuilt. We're back in it...but it's hard to decorate a construction zone.

We have a tradition in Louisiana that all along the Mississippi River they light bonfires to guide Papa Noel (Santa) to the remote homes along the bayous.
We usually have just a small fire in the backyard.

This year I have been feeling pretty distraught and not at all in the Christmas spirit. That changed a couple of days ago when my DS (12) told me to look at the bright side. He said, "Mama...we can light REALLY BIG bonfires this Christmas Eve!" We have HUGE stacks of wood where we have cut up all the uprooted trees (almost 200) on our property. So now we have something to look forward to. I can't wait for that. We are just going to enjoy sitting together outside watching the fires and waiting for Santa (because of course he's still coming...my kids truly deserve a visit this year!)

Wow! "Out of the mouth of babes"! "Count your blessings name them one by one" That is an old hymn that our church usually sings at Thanksgiving. What a blessing children and family are! You truly touched me with your post. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a much better year to come!

 

[KeepSwimming]

We sneak a small Christmas tree into our kids rooms while they are asleep on Christmas Eve. It's usually one of those tiny ones that are sold with lights and ornaments for $15.00. Santa puts a special ornament on the tree that represents something about that child for that year (ex: DS is playing soccer for the first time, so he's getting a soccer ornament).

The kids will usually run downstairs into our room and wake us up showing us their new ornament from Santa and then we all put the ornament on the tree and start the unwrapping.

BTW -we are not "neat and organized" unwrappers. Paper flies everywhere, and the whole thing is over in an hour. The best pictures are "after" when the kids are buried in wrapping paper, holding their new favorite toy, fast asleep.....

I am loving this thread and all the GREAT recipes.

 

[hmgolden]

Christmas eve in my family is always spent at my father's sister's house. DH calls it the 'Norman Rockwell Christmas experience'. My Aunt makes a huge buffet of food, and the whole family - its up to 22 people cram into my aunts small house filled with much christmas cheer! We've been going there for as long as I can remember and I always look forward to my crazy uncle belting out christmas songs, my other uncle playing them on the piano, the frenzy of all the cousins unwrapping their gifts...it always makes me smile.

Our Christmas traditions are changing now that I'm married and not living at home anymore. When I still lived with my parents, christmas morning tradition dictated my brother waking up at 6AM (he was forbidden from getting up any earlier), waking up my parents, and then sneaking into my room and bouncing on my bed until I got up. He did this LONG after he stopped believing in Santa. To keep some of this tradition, he now comes home with DH and I after Christmas eve at my aunt's house and spends the night on our couch. True to form at 6 AM christmas morning he comes running into our bedroom and bounces on me! Luckily now that he's 20, he can finally be persuaded to go to back to bed for a few hours. Last year was my first married christmas, and my parents ended up coming to our apartment for breakfast. DH and I server my families traditional cinnimon buns and scrambled eggs. DH and I then had dinner by ourselves and had his family up for dessert. We found that process too stressful (and a little lonely) so I think this year we'll see his family on Dec. 23rd, do christmas eve at my aunts, and then have my parents (and my brother who is already talking about this years christmas morning wake up!) over for Christmas Day dinner.

Good luck forming your own traditions!