Complicated holidays arrangements - help

[threeonefour]

Hi all, and Merry Christmas Eve! :)
I was wondering if there is anyone here with a similar dilemma to mine, or perhaps someone else who can give an advise. Prepare for a complicated story :D

I am divorced mother of a 3 y.o. boy. My roots are Russian, but we have lived in Eastern Europe my entire life. We have always celebrated New Year's Eve as the main holiday (with a family dinner and gifts giving etc), but we live in a country where Christmas is celebrated on the 24th, plus my ex husband is not Russian so he only celebrates Christmas. And after living in England for 6 years I have also began to love Christmas more and more. So now that we have a child I am trying to decide what to do during the holidays. His dad obviously wants to spend Christmas with him, so this year he has him 22-25th, I will pick him up in the morning of the 25th. But then my family will celebrate on the 31st. I feel like I still want to do something just related to Christmas but I don't really know how. Perhaps, have Santa's present under the tree on the 25th and then give the regular gifts from everyone still on the 31st? Do a mother-son day on the 25th? I know it's not the end of the world and im over-complicating this, but I feel it will be a mess without a proper plan considering how many different traditions there are in the family, and now that we are divorced it is even more messy. Any help would be appreciated :)

And Happy Holidays!

He needs to see a gift under the tree, so he knows Santa went to both houses.

The thing is that in Russian families Santa comes on the 31st :D So we live in a country where in some families Santa comes on the 24th, and some on 31st. In my family it's mixed so I don't know what to do about it. Leave Christmas for Santa (in my exes and in my houses) or for 31st then with all the other gifts?

Your child is lucky he can do all three surely?

Santa gift under the tree and new year to look forward too.

Some children here do presents in the 24th per their tradition.

There’s no right or wrong way.

As for 25th you’ll be limited. I’d suggest Christmas movie and games and snacks for tea.

I am not in this situation. However my advice is think forward.

Will dc be doing Christmas every year at ex’s house or alternate.

Also bear In mind when dc is in school, nursery the story will be Santa comes Christmas Eve.

I personally would find a way to incorporate both traditions.

I thought Russians celebrated Christmas on 7th January? I know presents are exchanged on NYE, but I thought the actual Christmas element was on the 7th?

@Starlight456 most likely he will be with my ex each Christmas unless something changes in the future. The nursery/school part is also the reason I started thinking that probably it's best to keep Santa for actual Christmas on the 24th. Thank you for the advise!

@GreenTulips ah interesting, I thought everyone is getting their gifts on the 25th in the UK :) thank you!

@DonutCone yep, actual Christmas in on the 7th but it's mostly religious so the main holiday celebration is on the 31st - that's when Russian Santa comes in the evening, you exchange gifts and see your family etc. Plus since we don't live in Russia we never really celebratd the 7th