HELP! Need ideas for new Christmas Eve traditions

[kldmom2000]

My mom always used to host this big family gathering that was the highlight of the season for me-she began doing it when I was a baby and continued for the next 27 years until DH and I got our first house and had our first baby which was when she turned it over to me. Since that time (Dec. 2000) many of the family members have moved away or sadly have passed on... last year, DH and my 2 girls were stricken with influenza, so I had to cancel our party. Now, it looks as though for this year, the only guests we would have would be my parents, brother, and a small, small chance of one aunt and uncle. I'm not sure if it's just time to find a new tradition to share with our girls... just wondering what everyone else does on Christmas Eve or Christmas in general-I love to read everyone else's traditions and perhaps may be able to get some ideas for my family! Thanks in advance for sharing!!!!!

 

[golfgal]

We altered our tradition some last year because the kids are older but until then we would bake and frost cookies during the day. We would go to Mass at 6:30 and drive around town after looking at Christmas lights. We would get home and have munchie type food and the kids would each get to open a present (usually from a Grandparent because none of their other gifts would be out). We would set out cookies and carrots for Santa and the Reindeer and the kids would go to bed.

Last year we went to the late service at church so we did the cookie thing and then made some munchies and munched on those in the evening. The kids were able to open a present and then we went to church. When we got home they set out cookies, etc. and went to bed.

 

[hydster]

Christmas Eve we have my parents over for dinner. I cook a turkey, we smoke some brisket and have a giant feast. During the day we do sugar cookies, make some reindeer feed and get ready to sprinkle it on the driveway to guide the reindeer to our house. We then read the Polar Express and usually we end up watching a Christmas Story on TV. We then sprinkle the reindeer feed on the driveway and the kids open the dollar store presents they bought each other that night and then when it's bedtime we read The Grinch.

Christmas morning my inlaws come down for breakfast of waffles, bacon, sausage, fresh squeezed OJ and fresh fruit. They come AFTER the kids open their presents (because my mil can be a pain in the rump) and then we usually play with them and their presents and in the afternoon we go to my parents for a huge lunch with my siblings and their kids.

 

[Kirby]

Our Christmas Eve tradition of being together began with my dad's parents. After they died, we continued it with my parents. It's just us, my sister's family and our mom and dad. We get together early in the evening, 5:30 - 6:00, have an easy dinner (pizza, sandwiches, etc.) and open gifts to each other. Then later on my cousin and her family usually come over to visit (they are in town visiting with his side of the family). We have had to reschedule this a time or two due to sickness or trips but that was okay. Sometimes other relatives join us if they are in town. Sometimes we go out looking at Christmas lights, it all depends on who is there. Other times we may attend a Christmas Eve service. We are very flexible. Just being together is our main focus.

 

[jennyl772003]

Well, we usually visit my mom's side of the family for Christmas Eve, but I am sure there are a TON of new traditions you could start.

One thing we did last year was to go out to Candy Cane Lane to see the holiday lights, and then we came home and made hot cocoa/ hot buttered rum to warm up with. Then we watched some Christmas movies.

 

[marybet]

We always went to my moms on Christmas Eve. She had a huge stocking and there were small gifts for all the kids and the adults. My sisters and I would buy something for Mom and sneak it in the stocking. I can still see her sitting on the floor and passing out the gifts, it was great fun.

 

[we3disneygo]

dh works in retail so he usually won't get home till 6:30 or 7 pm, a little late to go to our Christmas eve service at church, so we go to my mom's house and have light finger foods and then we listen to German music, open our gifts with my mom, step dad, dd and dh. we then go home and set out the cookies and head for bed. When I was growing up Christmas eve was spent going to grandparents house for a big dinner and gifts and the other a clam chowder, old home movies and gifts.....those were the days................

 

[simba928]

We usually just hang out at home on Christmas Eve. My brother and I get to open 1 present (either from eachother, my parents, my dog, or my cat), but we usually con our parents into letting us open either the one from them, the one from the dog, or the one from the cat and the one that my brother and I get eachother. We set out the cookies for Santa, carrots for the reindeer, a ziploc baggie for Santa to "take home some cookies to Mrs. Clause", and write a note to Santa.

On Christmas, we get up and open presents. Santa always leaves "bootprints" from the fireplace through our living room, so my parents clean that up after we open the presents. We then go get dressed and go to my grandma's and my aunt's houses. This year, though, my aunt will be taking my grandparents (on my mom's side) away for Christmas, so we will have Christmas for my dad's side at our house. We're making stuffed shells and don't know what else. I finally get to watch all of the Disney parade this year. It's like the first time that I get to see the whole thing without having to tape it. LOL.

 

[Nickunited]

Go with the flow and a new tradition will be born - Traditions are born at random! Good Luck - Im sure you will find a great new tradition to last you years to come!

 

[daisyduck123]

We go outside each Christmas Eve & sprinkle "reindeer food" on the lawn (snow, if we're lucky). This is something we make in my 1st grade class & each student gets to take home.

 

[clarabelle]

Church
Oyster Stew
Open 1 present each

 

[pfishgirl]

On xmas eve we go to DH's Grandparent's house and exchange gifts with the 2nd cousins (they are children) then we eat dinner then we go to a late mass...

xmas day we start off home just the 3 of us, for our "family" opening of presents then go to my mom's for brunch and more presents.

nothing fancy but then again DS is 15 now and too old for christmas as he always says..

ETA: I forgot every year we see a NY City Broadway xmas show and go to dinner at my favorite place we look at the sax windows, peek in st patrick's church, go to the disney store and this year DH promised me a Build a bear...

 

[froglady]

I'll be "hosting" Christmas this year. I have relatives arriving Christmas Eve Day, so won't be doing cookies or baking.

I plan on having our formal dinner Christmas Eve. DH ALWAYS has shopping or wrapping to do, and SIL is flying, so won't wrap her gifts until she gets here. Dinner will be around 7PM or so. We'll have a snack in early afternoon, then those who aren't shopping/wrapping will go for a leisurely walk. We'll all have Christmas crackers with dinner, and will play with them for a while. The evening will be spent eating, socializing, and then going to church at 11PM. Then folks will stuff stockings, and off to bed.

Since one set of relatives will be leaving at lunchtime, I plan on having a brunch rather than a sit-down dinner. More Christmas crackers will be set out, and people will be opening gifts and nibbling on treats.

I anticipate that my neighbors (and friends) will also be dropping in. I have a couple of "Santa" gifts hidden in my garage for neighbors with younger children, and my childless neighbors will be dropping off gifts for my children. They'll all be invited to stay for a drink and snack, of course.

 

[ElizaB39]

I usually buy a new family game each year and we spend the day finishing up all of our wrapping, DH makes his famous sauce, we go to the inlaws, play games, have the feast of 7 fishes, come home, wait for the kids to fall asleep, then get ready for the onslaught the next day.

Playing card game and board games was a BIG part of my childhook and my kids love to play games, so this is something we have continued.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Not really a direct family-get-together sort of thing, but DW and I always indentify 2-3 people who deserve a little secret something in the form of a surprise stocking on Christmas Eve. It's usually someone who is alone or who struggles to make ends meet. DW shops for practical things and a few luxury things; then I secretly deliver the goods on Christmas Eve.

 

[figment52]

We go outside each Christmas Eve & sprinkle "reindeer food" on the lawn (snow, if we're lucky). This is something we make in my 1st grade class & each student gets to take home.

Can you share your recipe for "reindeer food". I would love to make some with my little neices? TIA

 

[daisyduck123]

Can you share your recipe for "reindeer food". I would love to make some with my little neices? TIA

All we do is pour some Quick Quaker Oats into a big bowl. Then each student gets to add some red & green sugar crystals (the kind you sprinkle on ice cream or sugar cookies) & then we stir & mix it up. Some teachers prefer to use red & green glitter. Each child gets to take home a baggy full & then we attach this poem. (I make copies & staple one to each baggy). Note that on Christmas morning DH or I goes outside and tries to make it look like the reindeer food is mostly gone but usually DS7 is too busy to notice.

REINDEER FOOD
Tis the night before Christmas
and since every year
you feed Santa Claus
now feed his reindeer!!

INSTRUCTONS
1. Wait until Christmas Eve
2. Open reindeer food & sprinkle it on the lawn
3. Quick! Jump into bed!!!
4. Sh-h-h! Listen for Santa
5. While you're asleep Santa's reindeer will come & eat all
the food you have left on the lawn.

CONTENTS
Enough reindeer food for Rudolph & eight of his tiny friends.

Merry Christmas!

 

[DisneyDotty]

This is fun reading other Christmas Eve traditions...
I LOVE Christmas Eve. We (my DH, me, my DD and DS, and every other year my parents) have a very quiet and peaceful time after the getting-ready-for-Christmas-frenzy of shopping, baking, wrapping, etc. On Christmas Eve we go to 5:00 Mass, then out to dinner somewhere nice (BTW, I always feel guilty that my going out to eat requires someone to work on Christmas Eve--**sigh**). Then we drive around neighborhoods famous for their lights displays, and home to bed.
Love it love it love it.

 

[newholidayx2]

This year Im planning on Mass, out for dinner, lights and maybe a Christmas DVD

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

We've changed traditions a few times over the years. Both mine and DH's family always opened gifts on Christmas Eve (then slept in Christmas morning!) We always found an excuse to go out, dad would take us around town looking at lights and decorations, then we'd get home to find Santa had been there!

When I was older (high school age) my family would open the gifts, then go to midnight mass. (even if you are not usually a church-goer, the midnight thing is special) Anyhow, we'd come home after church, (by 1:30 a.m. or so) and mom would cook this huge breakfast, we'd have neighbors or other people from church come and just party all night!

With my own kids we continued that, but also made some changes. We're actually not doing the midnight thing this year because my 2 younger girls are in the children's choir and they are singing at an earlier service.

Have fun making your new traditions!