What are your Christmas traditions?

[wickesy]

With 7 days to go until the big day I was wondering if any of you have some unusual Christmas traditions.

For us Christmas starts on Christmas Eve when we always have shepherd's pie for tea. I'm not sure when or why it started but for some reason that became our normal evening meal for Christmas Eve and it became a running joke that when we had it at any other time during the year "tomorrow must be Christmas Day."

Then on Christmas Day once we were all up we would have a glass of Bucks Fizz and a piece of shortbread each and then I would 'be Father Christmas' and dish out all the presents from under the tree to Mum, Dad and myself. We still do that although it's just Dad and myself to give out to now.

So are there any 'non-traditional' traditions that you have?

 

[wils]

We always have a 'family present' which we open on Boxing Day (or on the first day home when we are away for Christmas) It's a DVD or a board game - something we can all do together - this year its a game for the Wii.

When DS is a bit of older I'd like to start the tradition of going to the cinema on Christmas Eve (I think someone on here does that)

Oh and of course there's the tradition of finding at least one extra present which was meant for one of the kids in the loft about Easter time!

 

[PoppyAnna]

Great thread David I love hearing about this stuff especially up and down the country - facinating!

Christmas Eve is a light meal, so no shepherds pie for us

We have only shortbread for breakfast on christmas day too - must be peticoat tails, I wonder if it's a south London thing

Our presents are always distributed from under the tree, never the end of the bed (DH's tradition).

Shhhh but I now do what my parents did for me and it is........stand DH's size nine's at the front door facing in and sprinkle talcum powder around them to make it look like Santa's footprints

The Christmas holiday usually involves a walk down the Thames (southbank) and Dulwich Park and village (including a drink in the greyhound) - so more south London stuff again, then

We also have to phone our close friends in France, a challenge for us to get to them before they call us - daft!

That's all I can think of, I look forward to hearing everybody elses.

 

[DisneyJo]

We don't really have any traditions as this will be our first year ever staying at home and we've been married 13 years!!!! DH has had enough of going from Kent to Norfolk then Suffolk he's put his foot down this year

Can't wait to start some though

 

[natalielongstaff]

xmas eve we always have a chinese (im a lazy devil ) and then we always put out a mince pie and sherry for santa and a carrot and water for rudolph

we also watch NORAD to tack santa before getting the kids to bed !

the kids get stockings at the end of their beds and the rest of the presents Are left on the sofas in the lounge (my mum used to do that !)

xmas lunch is here with all the grandparents and boxing day is a buffet at my inlaws

 

[scottish mum]

On xmas eve I always have new pyjamas for the kids to wear so that they look nice for santa coming and then we read "my xmas adventure" which is a personalised book about the kids helping santa
No real traditions on xmas day except that every year the kids get far too much .
My mum and dad always come for dinner and we leave all their presents until afterwards.

Oh I forgot I always hang my stocking up at my mums even though I left home 12 years ago.

 

[tennisfan]

We always have a chinese on Christmas eve. Have presents in the morning on Christmas day & in the evening we always had a little present each that was under the tree.

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

We dont really have any traditions.

I know this year we will be leaving out the talcum powder foot prints for Kyra.

This year shes really into Christmas.

 

[Graeme]

Unfortunately it's my birthday on Christmas Eve so my Christmas traditions tend to be getting too drunk and then having a hangover all Christmas day. 40 this year though so I think it's about time I forgot this one!

 

[irongirlof12]

we always have a take away pizza on xmas eve as I work all day! I also set the table and do the table decorations etc ready for the big event. DH and I also open a present each when the kids have gone to bed

 

[Joanne UK]

Christmas Eve we always go to a Christingle service at 4pm. Every year DH has to go back because he's forgotten something or says he'll catch us up. WHen we return Santa's Elves have been and left out a new pair of pyjamas for both DD's.

Eldest DD(8) said to me a couple of days ago. "I wonder what pyjamas the elves will leave for me this year while we're at Church". She hasn't yet made the connection between the PJ's being left and DH having to pop back home though.

She still completely believes in Santa - don't know if that's unusual for an 8 year old or not? I don't expect she'll believe for much longer though.

 

[wilma-bride]

I am a real stickler for traditions at Christmas - as such, it is rare we spend Christmas with other people because they don't do things 'our way' and it just doesn't feel like Christmas.

Like the Longstaffs, we always have a chinese on Christmas Eve - mainly because I usually spend the next few days cooking so feel I deserve a night off in advance

We put out mince pies, milk and carrots for Santa and the reindeer before the kids go to bed and they do their stockings then - they always write their name and a little note to Santa on a piece of paper to leave with their stocking.

On Christmas morning, the kids open their gifts from Santa, then we don't open any other presents until after dinner (which we usually have about 1ish). Once all the washing up is done, the kids play 'Santa' and give out the pressies, which we then open in turn so we can 'ooh' and 'aah' over what everyone has got. Usually, the kids have that many pressies that we end up putting some back under the tree for Boxing Day. Me, Gary and the girls usually leave a few presents to open in the evening once Daniel is in bed.

Oh, and one last thing, I never eat anything on Christmas morning - the very first thing that I eat on Christmas Day is always a piece of turkey from my dinner

 

[jjk]

Christmas day the boys open there stockings upstairs and we all sit on our bed with a cup of tea,nobody is allowed to go downstairs until we are all together then we open pressies together,break for christmas dinner,go for a walk and finish the rest in afternoon.

 

[Tillybud]

this is the first xmas eve in about 5 years that hubby and I have both had off so I can't wait

we always get new pj's on xmas eve and we try to make sure we're all locked up and ready for Santa coming quite early. We used to have domino's delivered but they now close on xmas eve so this year it's just going to be light nibbles and party food.

We always watch a xmas movie, dd's favourite is Elf so we'll probably watch that and when she goes to bed dh, ds and I will watch another.

We will also ring Norad, we started calling them a few years ago and they really are amazing ... my brother, sister and I then all send one another text message updates about where he is at !

Don't do the Santa footprints anymore, ds is too old but maybe I could introduce them to dd, thankyou for reminding me

We also try to get to bed early after hanging up our stockings and leaving out some goodies.

I love xmas day morning, even now ds is older I still have to go into the living room to check he's been ... it's fab !!

 

[fizz13]

So nice to hear what others will be getting up to. Xmas Eve is and always has been since I was tiny, dinner with my grandparents and we get pressies from them. They used to spoil me and now its my kids, so we have a roast, then toast marshmallows on their fire. this year my boyfriend will be coming and i am hoping he becomes tradition too I try to go to midnight mass but wont make it this year, but it is the one time of year i go to church.

Xmas day I have put my foot down since i had the kids that we are at home. i want my kids to be able to just enjoy their pressies, and me and my brother take turns having my mum over. this year is my turn, so i am cooking for 6 now she has a boyfriend too

Boxing Day is chill out day. the children go to their dad and it is junk, pyjamas and not much else.

have a great xmas everyone!

 

[T16GEM]

This is a lovely thread, it's really nice to hear about the special things that everyone does with their families.

We haven't really started any traditions yet so maybe this year could be the time to start? I have bought a lovely story book for the kids that we will have at bedtime of Christmas Eve, and we will be leaving a can of Strongbow for Santa along with some Bombay Mix! (DH's fave snacks! )

I plan on tracking Santa with Shelby before bed too.

We usually have bacon or sausage sandwiches for breakfast and then we will have a late dinner, - well about 2.30pm. I'm cooking for me, DH, my parents, the kids and two grannies.

 

[Tillybud]

I forgot, we always roast some chestnuts on xmas eve ... I just love them ! I remember the year dh forgot about them in the oven and they started banging like popcorn in the microwave

 

[mandymouse]

I love reading all your different Christmas traditions

We don't really have any traditions, now that the girls are older. But we'll probably get up, open our pressies, I'll make Bacon sarnies, and then we'll stuff ourselves with chocolate before we have dinner around 3pm

 

[Bolanette87]

Wer get new PJs on Christmas eve, and we make a buffet of party food.... We then watch 'A Muppet Family Christmas' and relax in the evening. We then put the pressies out on display and go to bed. Then I stay up being obsessed with when Santa is coming!!

Christmas day we get up (after I've been setting off alarm clocks outside doors, flushing the loo, etc...!) and do the pressies, then we have Bucks Fizz and Bacon Sandwiches....

Bob xoxoxox

 

[wilma-bride]

Isn't it funny how we all have our own little ways of doing things.

Are we the only people who don't open our presents in the morning then