Christmas Eve traditions

[AnneLovesGilbert]

What are yours? DD will be nearly two this Christmas and more aware of what’s going on than last year and I’m trying to think of what we did as a family when we were younger. I know traditions evolve but I’d like to start some small things we do the night before.

We usually go to carols but our church is closed. DH and I usually go for a nice lunch then start prepping food, lay the table and enjoy the calm before the storm but the lunch place is closed and DD is a live wire so no time for lying around after a boozy meal this year.

What do you remember from childhood or do with your younger ones?

I used to do baking with DD from before she turned 1 (she could mix together the flour and spices and baking powder with a spoon that I also held, and use a fork to mix the eggs in a bowl/jug - and it built from there to she now wanders in with her phone having found a recipe online, finds all the ingredients, makes an almighty mess, but sometimes turns out nice things!! ).

But she always baked cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. We use the same basic cookie recipe, that you make a log of dough and slice off the rounds of cookies. It can be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge or frozen, so I always make some in earlier December and freeze half the batch in case we don't have the time or energy to bake from scratch on 24th. But they are relatively straightforward to do if we have managed to not be too busy and want to start with flour, butter, sugar and eggs.... DH and I are normally doing things like peeling veg and other jobs for the turkey feast, together, and DD generally does some helping out before wandering off to entertain herself.

We also have a family tradition that is somewhat rooted in Irish tradition - that once it's dark (we do it after our early dinner), the youngest in the family lights a red candle that is then placed in the window to show any weary travellers on the road that there is room for them in our "Inn". Our candle goes on the mantlepiece over the fire after DD has lit it, but before it is moved, we have a short interlude as a family where we remember the good and bad things about the year just finishing, and to think about people who have died and cannot enjoy our celebrations (whether immediate family we would have seen, or further extended family or friends who are missing their own family celebrations). We finish with a "Hail Mary" prayer (the tradition would be a decade or even the full rosary - but we are not particularly religious and this is the level that feels right to us).

Then the Hamper comes out with new PJs and a bath bomb/shower gel for everyone and DD's stocking etc (the Hamper Elf is, and always has been, me, and fully acknowledged as such - so reusing things every year is no issue, and occasionally I get suggestions from 1 for the other about their new things). So DD organises the stocking and Santa's snack (including cookies), before heading for a seasonal bath, new pjs, and a hot chocolate together before snuggling into bed (clutching her snowman covered hot water bottle that gets used all winter, and listening to "Twas the Night before Christmas"). Although, she gave up on the bedtime story last Christmas (aged 13) - but still insisted on everything else!!

DS is massively into picnics randomly so I love the idea of a picnic by the tree and will be stealing that!

@TrickyD could you eat the alpine meal elsewhere? Seems a shame to be laying a table when you could VE enjoying the merriment with your grandchildren

Maybe even in the garden? Bratwurst on the bbq maybe, German market style?

We always have a picnic by the tree. It's a tradition from my childhood.

I will run that idea past DH, myhobbyisouting . We could wear our ski outfits and be very alpine indeed., I really don’t want to be laying tables after Christmas Eve supper.

Possibly premature worry anyway, who knows what Christmas will be like? 😟

We always take the children for hot chocolate at a café on Christmas Eve. Dinner is just snacky party food and bedtime story is The Night Before Christmas. I love putting out the carrot, mince pie and drink before the DC go to bed, it's the tradition I remember from childhood.....along with feeling sick with excitement when going to bed

Oh I know I hope we're able to get together with our families although it's looking less and less likely to be any more than 6 - which is tricky because I've invited both sets of parents making us 8

Getting togged up in ski suits would be fabulous! A fire pit and a bbq full of sausages. I love the little crusty rolls with 3 small sausages they do in Nuremberg. Yum. The kids can toast marshmallows afterwards!

To add to the outdoor fire pit theme, you could have either flasks of hot chocolate and a can of squirty cream, or flasks of hot squash for the DGCs to drink.

And Gluhwein, mulled wine, hot spiced apple cider....etc for the grown ups.

Lots of Battery operated tealights (perhaps strung up in jam jars around the garden) or fairylights.

I would suggest a cushion on each chair (as insulation), and blankets over the back to wrap around people (if needed) might be useful.

The outdoor fire-pit Christmas Eve becomes ever more attractive thanks to myhobby and biddypop.

As yet we do not own a fire-pit and the scheme does rather rely on a dry evening.
But we will be optimistic.

Camping stores doing their end of season sell offs may be good places to look for a cheaper fire pit (or even just use a charcoal BBQ and lots of charcoal - they're also likely to be getting sold off on specials about now)....and maybe a tarp or gazebo that you could put up if there is a slight dampness to be counteracted....