Christmas eve

[foodiemama26]

Just wondering what Christmas eve traditions people have and how they started. I love watching a Christmas film in my new pjs with some Christmassy snacks!

My dd's friends to make gingerbread for Santa! She loves it.

Things have changed for us this year as DCs are now 13 and 17 so a lot of our 'Christmas Eve Hamper' type things will be shelved. Daytime we will go on a long dog walk, have a light lunch at home and then probably watch a movie in the afternoon. Then, when eldest gets home from work, we are off out to have supper at a local pub. This will feel so weird as it's been at least 17 years since I was last out-out on Christmas Eve! The DCs are surprisingly looking forward to this bit. I think for them it signals that they are growing up whereas in years past we would have got all pj'd up by 7pm and spent the evening playing games etc. One thing they won't let me change though is the bedtime reading of "The Night Before Christmas". I can't believe they still want to hear it but they tell me it wouldn't be Christmas Eve without it :)

Dinner and then our traditional gift giving. Never miss a bit every Christmas!

Usually it involves visiting family.

In the past it has been us heading to PILs for lunch, with a visit to DH's grandad nearby.
Then we head to my parent's in the afternoon for tea/dinner and sometimes we all head to my nana's (though also often go there day before instead as its her birthday.) Sometimes my sister, BIL and little nephew is at my parent's too, usually my brother calls round.
Christmas Fairy always delivers a gift of Christmas Pjs and some chocolate and/or a new book to my parent's house too. Even though dd is now 15y she still likes this.
Sometimes its swapped around as my parents sometimes go and visit my sister for Christmas and need to set off in the afternoon.

We always follow Norad on our phones to track FC - again DD still did this last year at 14 :) And we still leave out reindeer food, carrot, mince pie and a drink before bed too.

Bit different this year as PILs are spending this Christmas at BIL/SILs house for the first time, and sadly DH's grandad died earlier this year. But we will still go to my parents, probably earlier before lunch as they going to my sister's this year, and then head home for dinner and drinks in front of a Christmassy film.

Loving the idea of the grown up daughters doing the cake together and the making feeders for the birds in the park 😊

We always have my mum and dad for dinner on Christmas Eve (and sometimes my brother and his wife too) and have the same menu each year - game pie with potatoes and broccoli, followed by cheesecake

My sons get a Christmas Eve box in the afternoon;
New jammies
Christmas socks
Got chocolate and marshmallows
A Christmas coloring / puzzle book
Cheap Christmas DVD
Christmas bath bomb

After they have their bath my mum always reads them 'the night before Christmas' just like she used to do for my brother and I when we were little.

Definitely thinking of adopting the making bird feeders idea for during the day as sounds like a good thing to keep them occupied and not over excited 😆

I love christmas eve as much as christmas day.

Do all the food prep for the next day, par boil spuds, make gravy etc, usually some last minute shopping. I love the house to be tidy and pretty on christmas eve, so lots of candles, some gifts already wrapped under tree.
In the afternoon DD and I may bake biscuits for Santa have drinks for a few friends in the conservatory, mulled wine and carols from kings on the radio, but only for an hour or two, Mrs christmas brings a hamper, then we have a chinese delivered.
We snuggle down, watch a christmas movie, hang stockings then early bed.

Get excited about Christmas
Go to the children's service at Church
Have dinner - either out or at home
Put out Santas treats
Curl up in our new PJ's and watch a movie or Christmas TV
Box of chocolates opened and other treats
Crack open the booze
Fire on and just wishing time would stand still
DC to bed.
DH and I get the presents ready. We try and do something special with the gifts such as the way we decorate them or we leave a trail of small presents and sweets to the sacks form Santa.
The anticipation in the few days before is better than the main event.

Get excited
As it's a Sunday this year, we'll have 9am Mass followed by our normal post-Mass bribe coffee and walk through the park to feed the squirrels and birds. That normally takes us up to about 11/11.30. If the weather is shocking we won't do the walk and will probably head home to do films, baking, and getting the DC to help sort out the presents we're giving to family members.
The DC will have their Christmas Bath (the same as a regular bath but on Christmas Eve ), then PJs, stories and the Night Before Christmas. Then put stockings out, and get the mince pie/lebkuchen/beer/carrot out for Santa. DC in bed at around 7.

DH and I will then watch a Christmas film - probably Die Hard as is our tradition - then sort the presents and stockings before going to bed at around our usual depressingly early 10.30. And moving the cat's food/water/litter tray into the bathroom so we can close the door to the living room over (kitchen is accessed via living room and remembered to do this last year after I was comfy in bed and she started meowing at me).

I haven't managed midnight mass since DS was born - they're in bed by 7.30 normally and the Mass is at 8pm in our church. I don't drive and I can't go myself because there's no one to take me/I wouldn't feel right leaving DH by himself with the kids on Christmas Eve night.

We usually visit my nan and deliver her present. Then nice walk/park visit and crib service at church and home for tea then preparing for father Christmas (DS is 4).

Once he is in bed, myself and DH watch a Christmas film with a drink and snack

So fairly relaxed but I like that as we host Christmas day so it's hectic and then there is loads of visiting/seeing family/friends in the days that follow.

Nicpem I love what you do! Teaching your little one to think of others (even if they're not of the human form),whilst also getting fresh air into her lungs is just lovely : )

It's a normal day for us.
Dh is at work. I'm at home with ds
The only difference is hanging up his stocking and leaving things for Father Christmas

NutElla - she loves all animals so it works for us :)

We just do the usual: put a bottle of beer and a mince pie out for Father Christmas and a carrot for Rudolph.

OH and I (don't have children) order a curry and watch Elf