What family traditions do you have on Xmas Eve?

[octopusinasantasack]

We watch a Xmas film, Polar Express or Elf this year, eat goodies and leave the things out for FC and the reindeer.
Is there anything that you always do?

[Luggage16]

always leave something out for santa and the reindeer, always read the night before christmas, always have a xmas eve pressie (pjs or a game or book). We also always have a party tea.

[PennySillin]

We go to the children's mass in the evening and then home for a movie. FC usually delivers Xmas pjs and a note about going to bed early.

[pumpkinsweetie]

Dinner, bath, christmas film, children leave glass of something for santa & carrot for the reindeer then early night for dc

[ElaClaw]

We usually go skiing. We have been very lucky that there usually has been snow. Fingers crossed for this year x:)x It really tires them out!

[Taffeta]

Go to pub for a drink at lunchtime to celebrate good friends birthday
Walk one and look at decorations
Line drive with landing lights (tea lights in jam jars down either side) and sprinkle liberally with reindeer food
Elf leaves bath bomb so gorgeous smelly baths
Watch Elf DVD
Dominos this year
NORAD tracker

[CalamitouslyWrong]

We usually go somewhere special, involving something Christmassy. Then we come home to find that pyjama presents have materialised under the tree (or a me dressing gown for S1 who doesn't wear pyjamas any more).

We'll have an easy dinner, get into the new pyjamas, sprinkle reindeer dust outside, put out something for Santa and the reindeer, put up stockings, have a story and in to bed for S2. I might watch something Christmassy with S1 before he goes to bed (they're 13 and 4, so bedtimes are not at similar times).

I love Christmas Eve.

[2anddone]

We go out for Chinese at lunch then go to the cinema or theatre depending on what's on that's xmassy (this year its panto!). Then the evening is spent going round family and friends for a drink and mince pie before coming home to put bits out for fc and put on new pjs. I love Christmas eve its my favourite day of the festive season

[ellesabe]

It's our first Xmas eve at home so whilst we do have a plan I wouldn't say any of them are traditions...ask me again in a few years!

Anyway this is what we're doing...
Morning - friends round to bake mince pies for Father Xmas
Afternoon - pack suitcases for the next day
Teatime - fish and chips on the beach followed by a visit to the final advent beach hut (in Brighton)
Evening - get home to find a bedtime hamper under the tree (pjs, bath toys, sweets, xmas book, DVD)

[Anja1Cam]

We celebrate DHs birthday with a lovely dinner and a big chocolate cake!

[EssentialCoffee]

DS celebrates his 2nd birthday on Christmas Eve, so we are sort of building traditions as we go! We will be having a day out and cake - that's for sure! In the evening we will also leave some mince pies, baileys and carrots out for Father Christmas and the reindeer!

[trulymadlyme]

We play a board game called 'race around britain'. It is about 20 years old so very out of date. It was rubbish when it was new though. Kids are now grown up but anyone who is at home HAS to play. OH usually hates board games but he always wins this one as he is the geography buff. It's a silly but hilarious tradition.

[Rufustherednosedreindeer]

Full English breakfast at the bluebird cafe

Nativity mass, baths, new book and pjs, scrooged film before bed

Usually films and games in the time in between

This year we are going to the pub for an hour or so after breakfast....will have to see how that goes!

[Mum2Fergus]

I'm working but once home it will be finger foods for tea, out to end of street for Santa visit (the joy of living in a real community focused village ) then back home for some seasonal based cartoons and (hopefully!) an early night!

[GirlWithTheDirtyShirt]

If we're at my Mum's (which we are this year), it'll be lunch with a bunch of school friends (this used to be a boozy afternoon and evening out but we've all got kids now) then tea with Mum and my bro. Then bath, new pj's and something festive on TV.

[technicallychallenged]

We go for a walk up the mountain behind our street.
Then we have takeaway pizza delivered for tea and watch Elf.
Then we write a letter to Santa and leave out carrots and mince pies.
Then we open the new Christmas pjs and get the DCs ready for bed.
Then we all curl up in my bed and read The night before Christmas.
Then DCs go to bed early at the same time ready for Santa.

[ZingChoirsOfAngels]

I adopted some of the Hungarian traditions I grew up with.

but I can't get the nice smelling sparklers here, their smell is what I associate with Christmas.
I do miss that.

so I prepare the dinner in the morning, then we go to a crib service for 4pm.
when back I cook a special Hungarian dinner, that starts with lighting four candles on a very old "carousel" type holder - as the heat rises it turns a wheel that makes the dangly bits of metal ring like bells.
it was my grandmother's.

then we sing "Silent Night" in front of the tree to "officially open" Christmas and the kids can open the presents from my mum & sister - we talk to them afterwards.

the last time I spoke to my dad was Christmas Eve 4 years ago..and he would've turned 60 two days ago - so I'll probably light a candle for him.

we might watch a film, then start off the English Christmas with leaving a mince pie and sherry for FC and a carrot for Rudolph on a little chair.

[ElfontheShelfIsWATCHINGYOUTOO]

No trads yet, love these threads....

[mandmsmummy]

Tour of local christmas lights
Church for nativity and sing song!
Steak for tea
Polar express DVD
Carrot, beer and mince pie for FC
DH reads 'twas the night before christmas
Bed

Love the idea of a bedtime hamper!

Happy Christmas all! X

[AnneWentworth]

DH is decorating the living room!!!! So not sure.

Hoping maybe for a walk and definitely a film, bath, pjs and new duvets and we also put our tree up.

[myrtleWilson]

I do a treasure hunt for Dd, the final clue reveals her Christmas PJs then nice bath, sprinkle reindeer dust, film but probably not particularly Christmas one and then bed

[ivykaty44]

work

[HerlockSholmes]

haven't got any real traditions yet- we did reindeer food last year and will do that again this year.

would love to do a christmas film and story but ds (4) will automatically refuse anything i suggest in favour of his own choice so thats out the window.

[lambbone]

All the prep for Christmas Day, but with regular coffee/sherry breaks so I can have a crack at the King William.

Nine lessons and carols

Glazed gammon for dinner

Then out to ring for Midnight Mass. I bring the mulled wine in a flask for all the ringers

[Ledkr]

It's our wedding anniversary so we always make it extra special.
We see Santa in the morning then for lunch then home for Xmas movie and veg prep then off to church at 4 followed by a drink in the pub and home for a nice tea and stockings hung up mince pies left etc.
I love it too. That's why we got married on that day.