what are your Christmas Traditions?

[princessbaileigh]

My Chrismas Tradition is always the Chirstmas Stockings....a big one at my house! We go all out for them, neat things that you would not normally get yourself. My mom aways liked that when I was growing up, she said that her stocking was her only surprises!

When my daughter came along, I started a new tradition. I get her a Chrismas Night gown or PJs. I give them to her Chrismas eve. This way when she gets up Chrismas morning she is very festive for all the pictures we take.

My Mother-in-Law started one when my Neice and Nephew were born, they are teen-agers and still love it. Now, my Daughter enjoys it too! She puts one gift for each child on the roof of her house. She tells them that "SANTA" dropped it out of his sleigh on the way to their house, It just falls out and knows right where to go. My Neice always calls about 7:00 a.m. and asks her if "SANTA" dropped anything this year.......SHE IS 17 NOW!

I always like to hear the traditions of differnt people from differnt cultures and backgrounds.

 

[DisneyBug1995]

My husband's Grandma has a nice meal for everyone on Christmas Eve served on her finest china and crystal.

We take a family photo in front of our Christmas tree every Christmas Eve.

The kids also get pj's to open on Christmas Eve.

The Grinch usually visit our house too! He is sneakier than Santa Claus, his present is hidden or just magically appears after all the present are opened.

The past two years my Aunt has my DD and her 2 cousins that are the same age over to spend the night and they make gingerbread houses.

That's all I can think of right now. Christmas is my favorite time of year and we try to do it up big.

 

[luckywife]

Kids always get new PJ's and robe to open on Christmas eve. Christmas eve, before we all go to bed, we have blueberry muffins with hot chocolate and watch some of our favorite Christmas shows, Rudolph, Frosty, Charlie Brown etc.

When my mom was still alive our big tradition at my parent's house was having a bunch of snacks like cheese and crackers, pretzels and homemade candy and sitting around listening to Christmas songs and playing Monopoly.

 

[monarchsfan16]

We used to have lots of traditions. But now things change every year because my stepdad doesn't like our old traditions.
We used to always go up north to my grandparents' house either Christmas day or the day after. Always. Now sometimes it's not until a week later-pretty much whenever he gets around to it.
The one thing that has remained the same is that my sister and I always sleep over our dad's house Christmas eve and have stockings and a few gifts over there in the morning.

 

[mudnuri]

lets see what I can think of off the top of my head..

christmas eve has ALWAYS been at my mom's house. All of my aunts/uncles/cousins etc.. come over for a large buffet dinner, and then we open all our presents except from santa. It's smaller now- as cousins have moved away, joined the miliary etc.. but it's still the same tradition.

Christmas day- we all are at DMIL's...all DBIL/DSILs/ neices nephews etc. We have a HUGE prime rib- after our other 4 courses ...big italian christmas. They do seafood christmas eve at DMIL's that we miss due to being at my moms.

one tradition that we only had a the joy of doing for a few years, after my DD8 was born, my dad would come over before she woke up, and have coffee with DH and I, then enjoy her opening her gifts. DD8 remembers this, but DD7 who was 2 when he passed away does not. It was a tradition I deeply wish we could have had many more years.

the first Sat of December, we go tree hunting. My mom comes with us, and now that my brother has a son, they do as well. We hunt for the perfect trees for all of our houses and we cut them down. DH and my brother load them in our truck, and we go to my mom's to put hers in the stand, and enjoy hot cocoa.

DD's go to DMIL's and make cookies on one Sunday with the rest of the grandkids. They LOVE this, and make enough that EVERYONE gets beaters to "lick clean"..LOL

The girls get christmas PJ's from my grandmother each christmas eve, just as all of my cousins and we did when we were little.

There's a ton more, but this game is getting WAY to excited for me to type LOL

GO SOX!!! 4-0 1st inning..whoohoo

Brandy

 

[decker96]

We always take a family picture in front of the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve when we're all dressed up after church.

When we're with my side of the family these are the things we do:
We drive around after church on Christmas Eve looking at Christmas lights.
My mom reads the Polar Express to the grandkids on Christmas Eve. My dad rings a jingle bell at the end and the kids' eyes get all huge and they all look around. The adults pretend like we didn't hear anything. My oldest is 7 now, though, so I'm wondering how much longer she's going to believe.
They put out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. My dad writes them a note that's from Santa and leaves it by the plate so they can read it the next morning.
On Christmas Day we watch White Christmas with Bing Crosby, my mom's favorite.

When we're with my in-laws we:
Read the Christmas story from the Bible with Christmas dinner.
All the grandkids get to open one gift on Christmas Eve.
My MIL reads Twas the Night Before Christmas to all the grandkids before they go to bed.

I always buy a board game for my family. It is the last gift we open under the tree and then we all play it later that day. (I actually stole this idea from my grandma! )

 

[poohtown]

we used to have more 'traditional' things when my husbands grandmother was alive. She used to have a blessing and had food for the evening blessed at church.

we also always received a gift from God to celebrate. It was never anything big but it was always special. Like an angel to watch over you, or a cross, or a special saying. I had never heard of this before I met my husband. After she died, the tradition died along with her. MIL tried to do it the first year, but it just didn't seem the same.

of course we have the normal traditions everyone seems to have - favorite Christmas shows, stockings, certain peoples houses on Christmas Eve, cookies for Santa.

We have traditions when it comes to Santa. He usually only brings homemade gifts "from the elves". (this has really saved me from the "hot toy" hunt) The kids have received Raggedy Ann dolls and such, stuffed bears, old-fashioned toys, wood toys, etc. DD16 started asking for a Nutcracker when she was very young and every year Santa brings her a nutcracker. DD9 gets a Christmas bell since her nickname is Belle, but she's been asking for the Nutcrackers too. Usually they also get a special ornament in their stocking that relates to something about them. When they both were picked to be in Christmas Carol, they each received an ornament from that. Last year they got Disney ornaments since Santa knows all and knew Mom & Dad where surprising them with a trip. I really like this tradition because the toys seem forgotten, but every year when we unpack we love setting up the nutcrackers and all the "special" toys that I hope will be decorating their houses when they are older.

 

[MerryPoppins]

We always take a family Christmas photo. The last few years it has been our Christmas card.

We decorate the tree as a family. Each year the kids each get a new ornament from us. Usually it is from our vacation. For example this year they will receive one from our Disney cruise this spring. These ornaments will go with them when they are grown and move out, so they can decorate their new tree with memories. When it is decorated the kids pose in front of it in pjs with the dogs. Not sure how this one got started, but it's fun.

We spend lots of time over the holidays watching DVDs of our favorite Christmas movies and munching on popcorn.

We never open Christmas cards when the mail arrives. We open them at dinner and pass them around. It allows us to remind the kids of who the person is that sent it and we all look at the photos that are enclosed.

We keep an advent wreath on the kitchen table and often eat by it's light, especially toward Christmas when there is light from several candles.

We try to spend an evening every year at the light display in Chickasha, OK. It's beautiful! We drive down there listening to Christmas music along the way, and when we arrive we park and walk through drinking hot cider.

We have hot muffins for breakfast on Christmas morning. The kids sing Happy Birthday before we eat. It was the way we connected the meaning of Christmas for them when they were small and it stuck.

We ALWAYS go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve, and Santa comes while we're at church. Note: our kids are 13 and 17, but Santa still comes to our house. Usually, Christmas Eve day is spent with my in-laws (until we need to leave to get ready for church) and the 26th (my brother's birthday) is spent with my mom.

Christmas Day we try to always work at our Christmas Community Christmas dinner. It's a dinner for anyone who is alone at Chrismas. It's very rewarding.

We always adopt a less fortunate family for the holidays. The kids get a kick out of buying the things on their list.

This sounds like a lot, but we've learned to be a little flexible. Some years we have to change the game plan a bit. I think it's important to be able to do that. But we agreed when we got married that we spend the night at home on Christmas Eve and have a window of time to be just us.

 

[transparant]

My kids always get new pj's to open on Christmas eve. After the kids go to bed...DH and I decorate the tree, and the kids think that Santa decorated it But...before they go to bed, they each get to hang one ornament on the tree - when they wake up in the morning...they always check to make sure Santa didn't move it. They always leave cookies and milk for Santa and a treat for the reindeer too. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[VampHeartless]

We always go to see the christmas lights around the city...my brother and I shout out, "christmas lights, my side!!" and try to outdo each other.

We also watch the Christmas tree lighting in downtown Salem, which has now moved to the riverfront.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Originally posted by VampHeartless
We always go to see the christmas lights around the city...my brother and I shout out, "christmas lights, my side!!" and try to outdo each other.

My brother and i STILL do this..we used to fight to see who would get the best side of the car so we would "win"..

on CHristmas eve, my whole family on my dads side goes to my grandmothers house..we eat dinner and exchange our pollyanna gifts...after that ,my dad,mom,brother and i go to a close friends house for dessert and presents..
we sleep in till around 9 or 10 on Christmas and then do presents before my other grandparents come over..we save stockings to do while they are there..then they come over and we have an early dinner...
usually at night, my dad will work (hes a firemen) and we go to my aunts house

 

[ksjayhawks]

Pj's for Christmas eve

Midnight, or as close to it as we can get, candlelight service on Christmas eve

Presents, then breakfast, then stockings--big dinner in the evening

Stockings are a big thing with us--always come from Santa "insert the name"

Sugar cookie baking and decorating; making candy

Making treats and taking them to neighbors and special friends

Christmas tree goes up the Friday after Thanksgiving

Making Christmas boxes for Operation Christmas Child--these are done in early November, but we shop for items all year round and see how stuffed we can get the boxes

Putting up a special creche and adding figures each Sunday until adding Baby Jesus on Christmas Eve

Making a trip to the plaza to see the lights; touring certain neighborhoods that are decorated

Neighborhood cookie exchange

Spirit of Christmas exchange by children in the neighborhood (one child starts it with a poem and a small bag of candy--done anonymously)

Reading one holiday story a night

Watching our favorite holiday movies in our pjs, drinking hot cocoa and eating popcorn

Working at our Christmas Bureau

Family picture in front of the tree

 

[Jenn Lynn]

We are just starting new traditions for our own family.

We all exchange PJ's on Christmas Eve.

We usually have cheese, crackers, and beef log slices and watch a Christmas movie before bed.

DD puts out milk and cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.

Then DH and I put together DD's Santa present and get it set up for her to see.

We have some wine before bed.

I make potato soup on Christmas Day.

 

[minniecarousel]

My kids are so lucky - they have always stayed home on Christmas - my entire family comes to our house for Christmas.

One of our traditions is hanging stockings for everyone in my family - good thing we have two mantels! All of the adults' stockings are in the living room and the "grandkids" are in the family room. The adults pick a name out of the hat on Thanksgiving - that way we only buy one gift. We buy for the kids though. My older son and his oldest cousin will be in the "adult" exchange this year.

My kids are grown - & we've suggested opening our presents on Christmas Eve - but they don't want to break tradition - they say they'll wait 'til morning. They were so cute when they were little - on Christmas morning, they would wait at the top of the stairs until their Dad had the video camera ready!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Originally posted by minniecarousel
\. They were so cute when they were little - on Christmas morning, they would wait at the top of the stairs until their Dad had the video camera ready!

my mom was just talking about this last night with my brother and i...we are now 20 (me) and 18(him)..my dad would sometimes have to work on christmas day (firemen, had to be at work at 6:30)...
so they would wake us up early so could do our presents before dad went to work...we always had to wait till the video camera was ready!

 

[Beanie]

Another one who gets the kids PJ's and gives them to the kids the night before! We also let the kids open one gift on Christmas Eve from under the tree! They love it and watching them decide what to pick is priceless!

Stockings are a big thing in our family as well! I always try to find things that are unique for my husband and things that will interest him for a few hours! I can usually do pretty good too!

Great thread! I love reading all of these stories!!

 

[BethanyF]

Most of our traditions are geared to making everything casual and fun. We want to enjoy the time together and not fret over a big meal or entertaining.

Christmas Eve is always at my aunt's house. We used to have Chinese food for dinner, but we have recently started a 'finger food frenzy' type dinner. Lots of little stuff, and maybe a deli tray for sandwiches. After the gifts are open we play Trivial Pursuit or 'dirty bingo'

Dirty bingo is similar to a white elephant type exchange. We play either bingo or poker-keno for prizes. The prizes are almost always junk with a couple good things in there. You never know what you are going to get (could be a fly swatter, could be a nice box of choclate). Most of us 'shop' for gifts all year. Happy meal toys, garage sale finds, dollar store stuff, etc. The bigger the laugh, the better the gift. And no re-gifting the junk next year. You have to tkae it home with you. Although there was a scary clown statue one year that keeps reappearing and noone will admit to it and noone will take that thing home. He has become a game mascot, LOL

Christmas Day is at our house, anyone is welcome.
Although no one is welcome until after 12:00. Sounds selfish, I know. But both of our mother's are the type that would show up at 8:00 AM. We wanted those few hours in the morning for just us. We open gifts, watch the WDW parade, have breakfast, lounge around in PJ's, etc. We usually make an egg casserole the night before. We pop it in the oven when Sam gets up and by the time he is done with gifts, the eggs are ready

After noon both sides of the family are welcome to drop in. We dont really plan a big meal, but DH usually ends up frying at turkey or a turkey breast. So we either do sandwiches or a small turkey dinner buffet. Sometimes we have some of the leftovers from the night before.

Depending on how many show up, we may all go to a movie, or the 3 of us will go to a movie after everyone leaves.

 

[princessbaileigh]

I am so glad that people love Chistmas as much as I do. I have loved the stories you have been writing. Some I may even copy my self.
I think every family needs traditions, especially around the holidays. Keep them coming!!!!!

 

[Alice28]

I always make my grandma's almond and anise biscotti every year.

The kids get new PJ's Christmas Eve

Ravioli for dinner on Christmas Eve

One present to open Christmas Eve, the rest for Christmas morning.

 

[HollyJoy]

We have quite a few! First, we always put our tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving (Sadly, this one will be broken this year because we will be leaving for Disney a little over a week afterwards, and don't want to leave the cats alone with the tree! LOL), on Christmas Eve, we leave reindeer food out as well as cookies for Santa. On Christmas morning, the girls come down last to see what's under the tree, and after opening gifts, which includes stockings, we go to my Mom's for a family get together.