What's your favorite family tradition during the holidays?

[LisaZoe]

OK, I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for the holidays. Between October (DD and I both have birthdays in that month) and January, I'm ready to get out the eggnog, light the candles and watch It's a Wonderful Life. This year, as no doubt some here have noticed, politics have delayed my holiday spirit a bit. Now, though, I'm ready.

DD and I don't have any specific traditions yet because she's just now at an age where she'll understand more about what we're doing. We've done the basics in the past, of course, such as have the tree at Christmas, had family over for Thanksgiving, etc. but nothing for just the 2 of us.

So, I'd really love to hear what some families do at this time of year that helps get the (holiday) party started. Thanks!

 

[swea_pea1]

I know it sounds corny, but we pack the kids in the van after dinner and ride around looking at Christmas lights. They love to see all the blow-up Santas and Frosty's on people's lawns and just about jump out of their seats when they see Rudolph and Gang on somebody's rooftop.

When we lived in Pittsburgh, we used to go to Ogalbay Park to see the lights (anybody know what I'm talking about?). It's a thing where you drive through the park and the lights are in huge displays...like a great big Twelve Days of Christmas.

Our church also puts an Angel Tree up and we participate in that as well. The kids love to pick out the presents and it feels good to watch them get excited about charity.

 

[Kitty 34]

Watching Christmas Vacation and laughing.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Originally posted by LisaZoe
OK, I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for the holidays. Between October (DD and I both have birthdays in that month) and January, I'm ready to get out the eggnog, light the candles and watch It's a Wonderful Life. This year, as no doubt some here have noticed, politics have delayed my holiday spirit a bit. Now, though, I'm ready.

DD and I don't have any specific traditions yet because she's just now at an age where she'll understand more about what we're doing. We've done the basics in the past, of course, such as have the tree at Christmas, had family over for Thanksgiving, etc. but nothing for just the 2 of us.

So, I'd really love to hear what some families do at this time of year that helps get the (holiday) party started. Thanks!

"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings."

 

[LisaZoe]

I can't believe I forgot about Christmas lights. We used to do that when we were young. DD and I will definitely be doing at least one trip.

Christmas Vacation is great, isn't it? There are some subtle details that crack me up. For example, Randy Quaid's character is wearing a "dickie" under his white sweater during the eggnog scene.

BTW - for those too young to know, a dickie is a partial shirt, in this case a turtleneck, that has no sleeves and very little for the body. They are intended to be worn under other clothing so they're pretty much just the collar and enough fabric to help keep it tucked into the collar of the garment worn over top. Quaid's is a green one and you can see it through the thinner white sweater. It's that kind of attention to detail that makes this a classic.

 

[TiggerCat]

I am an absolute Christmas fanatic and I have many traditions/rituals that I follow every year. I think the two most important are trimming the tree and watching A Christmas Carol starring Alistair Sim (1951) on Christmas Eve. Of course, I always take time to remember the many wonderful traditions that my parents followed when I was young!

TC.

 

[faithinkarma]

"A Christmasn Carol"

"It's a Wonderful Life"

"Miracle on 34th Street"

They all have to be included at some point during the holiday season.

 

[PryncessChrysty]

Christmas is a huge deal in my family, so we have lots of little touches that we do...
The weekend after Thanksgiving, my dad comes with DH2B and I to pick out our tree. Gotta have that fresh douglas fir!! mmmm....I can just smell it already! We have eggnog & cookies and listen to Christmas music. It's lots of fun!

We drive around and look at Christmas lights, usually the week before Christmas as more people have them up by then.

When my brother was young (I'm 9 years older than him), I would read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to him before he went to sleep on Christmas Eve, while my mom got stuff ready for the next morning. Then I would write a note from Santa to leave on the empty cookie plate.

Also on Christmas Eve, we always get to open two presents from my mom. One "fun" one and the other is always pajamas so we look cute in the Christmas morning pics.

Christmas morning my parents would put wrapping paper to cover the entrance to the hallway so that we'd have to burst through it Christmas morning...lol...sounds weird, but it's so fun! My list is getting long....but just one more thing After we've opened all of the presents my mom will make us Santa pancakes with whipped cream & strawberrries, sooo yummy...or if I'm with my dad he makes us his french toast which is to die for!!

 

[ugadog99]

Well, since I despise the holidays, my favorite holiday activity is LEAVING town. We depart on the 16th and return on the 27th. We can't wait. Disney at Christmas is MUCH better than holidays at home.

 

[1stNoel]

DH and I get on a plane Christmas Day every year and head to a tropical beach.

I like the holidays, I just don't care to witness the way my relatives act when you put them all in a room with alcohol.

 

[christineann]

Christmas Eve we ride our bikes around the neighborhood looking at the lights and decorations. My kids are 19 and 16, and they know that we WILL bake cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. Then we go to church, and when we get home we put on our new pajamas, take pictures by the fireplace (with the Santa cookies) and go to bed.

Christmas morning, my parents come over for breakfast. Later that day, we will get together for dinner with my sis and her family, my parents and my brother and his family. Brother brings homemade eggnog, and then we go home and take naps.

 

[olena]

Poker games on New Year's Eve

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Starting the day after Thanksgiving, we watch Christmas movies every weekend until Christmas weekend.

 

[Kimberle]

Eating the traditional Italian Fish Feast on Christmas Eve.

YUM!!

 

[mskani]

One of my favorites is putting up the tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. We listen to Johnny Mathis' Christmas cd (circa 1973) and afterward we eat popcorn and watch one of the Christmas movies that we have. I can't wait!! I brought back some ornaments from our trip to WDW and USO and I can't wait to see how they will look on the tree.

 

[minniecarousel]

We always go out to dinner on Christmas Eve. We have my large extended family for the day on Christmas Day. We kinda like it when everyone finally leaves on Christmas, because we drag out a board game and the 4 of us have a great time!

 

[CourtasanSatine]

I'll spend some time with DBF at his dad's(his parents are divorced) and we'll find a movie to watch on cable

 

[gina2000]

I bake and assemble a gingerbread house each year and let DS decorate it with candy.

 

[piratesmate]

Most of ours are already listed. One that isn't, though, is a relatively new one...maybe 8 yrs? I got one of the glass pickle ornaments - a small one, about the size of my pinky - and hang it in the tree on Christmas morning after everyone is downstairs. I kick them all out of the room for a couple mintues while I hide it & then they come back in to look for it. The person who finds it gets a special gift - usually an ornament for their tree.