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Christmas

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Original poster

I need a christmas eve tradition - tell me yours please!

87 replies

IlanaK · 17/12/2006 19:29

We want to start a christmas eve tradition this year, but can't think of one! Our boys are 5 and 2. We want to make it something a little special. One thing i thought of we are having to do the day before as Christmas eve is a sunday (baking little cakes and taking them around to all our favourite shop keepers in our street who indulge and talk to the boys throughout the year). We don't want it to be anything commercial, but we would like to get out of the flat and not have it be just something inside.

Any ideas anyone???

OP posts:
DimpledThighs · 20/12/2006 11:35

whenI was little I remember sneaking down ealry one morning and eating thre quality street whilst watching the Wizard of Oz. This is going to be my tradition with the children - after lunch on christmas eve will get the dvd out and open the chocolates - just three each. Then we have a meal of ham and salad and I am quite disorganised so there will be wrapping to be done when they are in bed!

CliffRichardSucksEggsinHell · 20/12/2006 11:36

Aw! I'm thinking of giving mine hot choc with marshmallows as a bedtime drink with warm mince pies!

PeachyIsNowAChristmasFruit · 20/12/2006 11:40

The school got them all to make Baby Jesus caked for the Eve, digestives with a jelly baby and an icing blanket. We made DS eat it yesterday, didn't seem appropriate (and frankly rather bizzarre) to eat baby Jesus on the day of his birth!!!!!!!

CliffRichardSucksEggsinHell · 20/12/2006 11:44

Us catholics "eat" him every Sunday!

DimpledThighs · 20/12/2006 11:44

peachy- I love that especially that you made her eat it!

PeachyIsNowAChristmasFruit · 20/12/2006 11:47

That did occr to us about the sacrament, but you don't sit there discussing with your brother whether you go for the head first do you????

Some of the kids were getting rather upset at eating it, was actually quite funny

CliffRichardSucksEggsinHell · 20/12/2006 11:48

They don't moan about eating Father Christmas cakes though do they?

Could you not have turned him into a snowman or something?

PeachyIsNowAChristmasFruit · 20/12/2006 11:50

DS was very, vry sure it ws baby Jesus, they go to very religious school.

(besides Dh would have eaten it had it been left mroe than, oor, a minute in his sight)

CliffRichardSucksEggsinHell · 20/12/2006 11:51

Ooh, is it a catholic school then? They're probably preparing them for the sacrament! I do see your point however, 'tis a bit harsh to eat baby Jesus on his birthday. Still, bet he tasted good!

PeachyIsNowAChristmasFruit · 20/12/2006 11:59

It was a black jelly baby too, the tastiest.

Not Catholic, but VERY high CofWales. And I know the Vicar believes in transubstantiation (sp).

CliffRichardSucksEggsinHell · 20/12/2006 12:08

Ah, one of those wannabe catholics but don't want to follow all the rules of the church so we'll just do our own thing!

Nice to see Jesus is being portrayed as black though! Probably just cause they don't do white jelly babies.

angie17 · 20/12/2006 13:56

My mam used to make xmas dinner for the family when I was younger so on Xmas eve we would listen to christmas songs and set the table ready for the next day. It was the last thing we used to do before settling down for the night (in new pj's of course). I have been thinking about what to do this year with my 2.2 ds. My parents now come to my house so I think I will carry on the tradition of setting the table with my son, put on his new pj's and I think i might have a little baileys

PeachyIsNowAChristmasFruit · 20/12/2006 16:18

Well yes wannabe catholic, but ome fo the two is female so can't really convert.....

His friends were eating green babies, they don't do PC here in the Welsh outback (OK three miles rom newport ). Muslim kids play kings; somerset kids (mine) play shepherds; black kids play donkeys (if male).....

Like ea trip abck in history!

Sorry hijack over

noddyholder · 20/12/2006 16:27

We always go for a curry Not very xmassy but I love it!Always the same place which is like a little house very christmassy inside Then we walk home and watch the rubbish tv Ds still goes to bed early and gets more excited each year He is 12 and loves xmas OOh I can't wait now.....

SueQ · 20/12/2006 20:09

Very good friends, lots of lovely wine and a delicious fish pie - hmmm

girliesmum · 21/12/2006 10:12

OK so now i have to go out and buy new PJ's! for my dd's.

our usual tradition is to go to Christingle in the afternoon and then come home and have hot chocolate and homemade sausage rolls, we are doing Christmas day at our house this year so I think we will lay the table together and then snuggle in front of the telly.

Lullabyloo · 21/12/2006 10:28

Opening the last window on the calendar,baking orange & cranberry muffins that can be warmed on Christmas morning...yum..Recording a cassette of ds's favourite songs,christmas carols & poems that will be fun to listen to in later years & will be a great present for grandparents etc.Will be personalised with photo on front.
A trip to the cinema in the afternoon,then home to bake gingerbread men that will be decorated to look like all the individual people we will see over christmas & then hung on the tree.Ds can give them out himself as people turn up on christmas day.
An early family buffet type supper as more relaxed and then pop to the crib service at the local church.
Bathtime and hot cocoa followed by mini treasure hunt for christmas p.j's.
Leave carrots outside for reindeers & magic key so Santa can get in.Light lanterns outside to make it more magical.Glass of milk and gingerbread man for Santa & hang up stocking.
Huge kiss goodnight x

jencroc · 21/12/2006 11:14

Make yourself stiff G & T pop three valium and start wrapping all the presents and then discover there are some your forgot to buy ... but seriously we go to my parents listen to carols, have mincepies and leave out some for Santa with a bottle of beer .... which grandpa used to drink but I don't think he does anymore

Dottydotthehalls · 21/12/2006 11:27

Well, we're not hugely religious but I'm taking the boys (5 + 2 ) to the local Church's crib service at 3pm on Christmas Eve. Ds1 is very into bible stories at the moment and I think it'll hopefully be a lovely child oriented service - lots of carol singing.

Then we're going round to a friend's house for tea with their boys.

Then at bedtime we'll put the pillow cases at the end of our bed (because ds1 doesn't want strange old father christmas coming into his bedroom..!) and leave a mince pie, milk and carrots out for FC and his reindeer.

Feeling all glowly at the thought of it all..!

mateychops · 21/12/2006 11:30

Last thing we do is to open the front door, stand the kids on the steps in their jammies in the freezing cold, and get them to shout to Santa that they are off to bed. Scream their little lungs out for a good five minutes, telling Santa that they won't peak and that they've left out a wee glass of wine for him. After that, they are shattered and fall asleep straight away. Works every year.

After that, there's no way they'll see Mummy kissing Santa Claus...

jingleboobs · 21/12/2006 11:33

we got my nans then eat all her nibbles and drunk on grandads homemade baileys

cremolaturkeywishbone · 21/12/2006 11:57

we do a Santa run-dress up as Santa and elves and deliver pressies to dd's best friend and other friends and family who we won't see on Christmas day.( this year have done bunches of holly from the garden tied up with nice ribbon)usually drop in to about 5/6 houses but only stay 15/20 minutes.
Then back for a big bowl of soup and garlic bread and a few mince pies.
Then hang up stockings over a few glasses of mulled wine/hot ribena!
Then a film or two and bed( as early as possible)

LemonTart · 21/12/2006 12:02

dinner, "late" night walk in the dark with torches and wrapped up like big blobs, just round the village looking for Father Christmas in the sky, all of us "almost" spotting him - kids love this! Then back to the house for hot choc, sparklers in the back garden. Early Christmas pressie of new PJs, bath and bed all rosy cheeks, warm and tired out. I Love it

paulaplumpbottom · 21/12/2006 12:38

Why not go caroling for charity? Sometimes you can join up with other groups if you search around so you don't have to do it on your own.

jencroc · 21/12/2006 12:51

Your traditions are all so lovely, I like the idea of shouting out to Santa, pity mine are a bit big for that now .....

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