Christmas traditions

[GingerPCatt]

DH and I are planning on having Christmas at home with 2 yo DS instead of going to visit our parents like we normally do. We want to start some traditions just for our family, though we will keep some that we've grown up with. What are your favorite Christmas (or other seasonal holiday) traditions?

Magical 4pm crib service on Christmas Eve - candlelit, & very child focussed. Absolutely the start of Christmas.

Home to bed, and 'surprise' on the pillow - new pj's, ready for Father Christmas coming. Laying out carrots, mincepie and sherry for CC * the reindeer.
Reading "T'was The Night Before Christmas" as the bedtime story.

Waking up to find FC hung chocolate tree decorations on the tree (as well as leaving the presents, obviously)

On...I wish mine were little again.
Have a lovely first Christmas in your own home, together.

While we are at the blessing of the crib on Xmas Eve, an elf visits and puts little Xmas presents in the table chimney (tall tin covered in brown paper with bricks drawn on in felt pen and snow [cotton wool] around the top). Under the DC's pillow is a new book.

Oh - and the Xmas fairy moves into the house around end of September. We find traces of her here and there periodically (glitter mainly). She has a hotline to FC if DC are naughty

We always let the dc open 2 presents on Christmas Eve..
Jammies and slippers so we get nice photos for the morning. Last year they got matching monkey onesies from next.

After having a bath and getting them on, we go outside and sprinkle reindeer food (oats and a tiny amount of glitter) on the grass/snow. If you time it right you can get amazing glittery photos!