Page 2 | Ok, we're allowed to be christmassy now - please tell me some more lovely traditions!

danceswithreindeers · 2006-12-01T08:14:20+00:00

Resurrecting this threadhere but I didn't want the title again! Here's a new (hopefully going to turn into a tradition) for us - dd asked if she can make a gingerbread man for father christmas and we're going to ice on a beard etc Come on, please cheer me up I've been a miserable cow all week....

christMissybaby · 01/12/2006 12:28

ooh yes, time to dig out the xmas cds...

mmmmchocolate · 01/12/2006 12:34

We have a smow man on the xmas dinner table that has small gifts in for everyone to open after dinner. he is so battered as is now 35 years old. My grand parents used to doit for my mum now my mum does it for my children.

ProfYaffle · 01/12/2006 12:42

I'm really excited about Xmas this year, dd will be 2.9 and it's the first year she's been really aware of what's going on.

Today we opened the choccy calander (yes, she ate the chocolate before breakfast and no, there werent' any tantrums about only having one!) this afternoon dd and I will be making star shaped biscuits, when dh gets in we will decorate the tree together. Then later my parents are arriving for the weekend and we will have the star biscuits and mince pies. Then tomorrow it's our local Xmas lights switch on and we're going to an Xmas market on Sunday!

(who said 'peak too soon'??)

I think marking the 1st Dec is going to become a family tradition!

joelallie · 01/12/2006 13:01

The 'trip to get the tree' is a family tradition now. We go to the wildlife trust HQ where they grow trees and cut them freshly for you. Then we have a long muddy walk and go out for a pub lunch. Tree goes up later that day if there's time or the next weekend if not.

santasaltire · 01/12/2006 13:04

JARM i don't think i could face a takeaway of any sort on Chrismtas Eve, i would find it too filling, especially when having a big meal the following day. We do tend to eat our Chrismtas Dinner early - about 12.30 ish so that's maybe why. Last year we had beans on toast for dinner on Chrismtas Eve.

santasaltire · 01/12/2006 13:04

JARM i don't think i could face a takeaway of any sort on Chrismtas Eve, i would find it too filling, especially when having a big meal the following day. We do tend to eat our Chrismtas Dinner early - about 12.30 ish so that's maybe why. Last year we had beans on toast for dinner on Chrismtas Eve.

danceswithreindeer · 01/12/2006 15:37

Hooray! I was feeling really miserable when I got home now I've read this thread I feel all christmassy again! I've just bought a copy of House Beautiful (a once a year purchase) to sigh over the gorgeousness of other people's houses and hopefully for some inspiration

Jabberwocky - what recipe did you use for your gingerbread house? I started a whole thread on this and it seems no one (actually maybe just one other mnetter) is making their own. I want to! I did one last year which looked fab but tasted awful!

I took dcs to a big garden centre today where they have loads of christmas stuff and we bought some gold and red beads for the tree...lovely sparkly...mmm.... We have a full on mish mash of stuff on our tree, no taste here!

Right I'm off to ring dh and harass him home from work, I want the christmas stuff out of the loft NOW, NOW, NOW

ska · 01/12/2006 15:46

i asked my kids last year what special dinner they wanted for christmas eve and they said 'toad in the hole'!!

Kittypickle · 01/12/2006 15:58

Well I thought it would be nice (naff I know but 3 year olds seem to like naff) to have an illuminated Christmas village which I found today in Lidl for a tenner. It started so well as well, DS really enjoyed helping me arrange it all and his face lit up when the little lights were turned on.

However, it might end up in the bin at this rate. DD has come home from school and war has broken has broken out over it.

WonderCod · 01/12/2006 16:00

lol@"dicksnesian village"
no child alcoholics or poverty

WonderCod · 01/12/2006 16:01

OUr trastions are gneralyl
!"How have you broken it already . I said WAIT till i puteh batteries in. NO youa re not watchin g TV with all these tosy"

jenkel · 01/12/2006 16:35

Just read this thread and seen one of the first ones by fortyplus. Mum always told me about the snowhouse she had when she was little, again just after the war and she came from a large family.

NYciclesMummy · 01/12/2006 16:50

My parents always have the neighbours over for Christmas drinks and nibbles on Christmas morning (-there is a lot of coming and going as people check on their turkeys every so often )

janeite · 01/12/2006 17:18

OMG Fortyplus - we have Snowhouse too!!!!! Have been doing it for genrations - I thought it was unique to our family!!!!

Heartmum2Jamie · 01/12/2006 22:46

What a lovely thread! It made me feel so xmas-t that i have just been to dig the xmas cd out!

Anyway, our Christmas traditions:

We put up the tree and decs when we get home from whatever appointment that ds2 has in December, nomrally cardiac outpatient appointment. It is a great way to celebrate or take your mind off bad news! The tree goes up the night of Dec 11th this year (it is hard to wait that long though)

Xmas eve: We normally go on a christmas train ride in the morning and see Father Christmas and get a gift. In the afternoon, we go for a walk in the forest nearby and ask the boys to look for reindeer tracks and poo(actually made by horses lol!). We then try and go out for a meal, usually pizza hut . We then bathe the boys, let them come downstairs wrapped in towels to open a present before bed, which is always a new pair of pj's.

xmas day: Bucks Fizz, stocings, and a late breakfast. We are hoping to try out a new thing this year of only allowing the boys to open a few gifts at a time, some before breakfast, a few more after dinner and then the rest when the family visit in the afternoon. Ds2 is only 2.5 and tends to get overwhelmed and actually want to play with his toys as he opens then, where as ds1 (5.5) would open everything in sight an not appreciate anything.

We are also hoping to go and see a panto this year Oh! I feel like a kid again!

jabberwocky · 02/12/2006 05:41

dances, I have a recipe on my other computer that I will try to post for you later (currently have newborn latched on ). Here's what I found though. The tricky part is in the cutting and baking as the parts can be difficult to put together. I was going to spring for some gingerbread house forms this year until ds2 decided last week to come 3 weeks early. So it looks like I'll be cheating a bit this year with gingerbread graham crackers instead

ludaloo · 02/12/2006 06:17

I have decided to start brand new traditions this year as we don't normally have any.
I started a christmas traditions thread a while back and there are some really wonderful ideas.

I have bought Polar Express and A Night Before Christmas for the kids to unwrap and watch/read on xmas eve

I am going to make magic MN Reindeer food, and sprinkle it on the lawn, (I can't do links..but it involves rolled oats and glitter..someone also put a recepie for more environmentally friendly food involving food colouring and oats)

My xmas eve is also now going to include a nice walk and bacon butties

Steala · 02/12/2006 08:40

You can get flat-packed gingerbread houses from Ikea if you have one near. They cost about £1.50 and look and taste fine. They won't replicate the home-made houses but if you add enough icing sugar snow and sweets, no one will notice!

MrsBadger · 02/12/2006 10:43

...but always buy two of the Ikea flatpack houses as there's always a broken bit, so you need the other one for spares.
(We are really lazy and use Supercook icing in a tube to glue it together. Always impresses MIL though)

VeronicaMars · 02/12/2006 15:27

It used to be a few drinks on Xmas Eve before dd came along. Then back to my mother's house for a feast and pressies. But my one tradition that will never change is After Eights with my coffee on Xmas morning!!

Smithagain · 02/12/2006 20:43

I'm starting a new tradition this year. We will arrange for Santa Claus to give each DD a nice Christmas decoration each year. We will keep them in named boxes and they will be able to take them with them to start their own collection when they leave home. Just hope they don't think it's totally naff when they're all grown up!

We also have Christmas tree presents on Boxing Day - when the Christmas tree miraculously sprouts a number of small, wrapped presents. A couple for each person present, to give them something to look forward to when the main event is over. Generally nothing expensive, although small items of jewellery sometimes appear!

fortyplus · 03/12/2006 11:38

jenkel & janeite
I thought that the snow house was unique to our family, too! It must have originated in war time as an idea to replace the tree. My Mum was born in 1934 so she doesn't know whether her family had been doing it for years beforehand.
I feel inspired to find out more! My grandparents are all dead now - do either of you have family members 80+ who remember more than my Mum?

SantaGotStuckUpTheGreensleeve · 03/12/2006 11:43

At risk of people going "Yes, we know Greensleeves, we're all sick of hearing about your poxy Snowman Night, now sod off and find some new material"......

Christmas Eve = Snowman Night chez Greensleeves. We all have new snowman pyjamas. First we make snowmen out of card/cotton wool/decorate them and stick them up all over the dining room. Then we make snowman biscuits and decorate them with icing/white chocolate/coconut/raisins etc, and eat them. Then we adjourn to the living room and watch the Snowman while having hot chocolate with "snow" (white mini marshmallows) in, before putting mince pie/carrot/sherry out and putting kids to bed.

fortyplus · 03/12/2006 11:59

'ere, Greensleeves - you could have a snow house, too!

SantaGotStuckUpTheGreensleeve · 03/12/2006 19:32

Yes, we could - I think the snow house is a charming, lovely idea. I'd never heard about it before!