Christmas traditions

[Vs2914]

Just coming onto see what everyone does for Christmas everyone is so different. The main thing we do is Christmas eve party my sister has done this for around 15 years and even though the kids are all getting up we all still look forward to it every year. I am thinking instead of a Christmas eve box I might do a December box where they will get more use out of it.

Chippy tea on Christmas Eve. Pop Tarts, bacon butties and Buck's Fizz for breakfast on Christmas Day (I swear I'm not an extra on the Royle Family 😁). Those have always been traditions in my family, although it was only ever me that wanted Pop Tarts.
DS gets a Christmas Eve box every year. I love sneaking it under the tree while he has his bath. He doesn't even believe in Father Christmas anymore but it's tradition, innit?

We're just moving this over to the Christmas topic.

Christmas Eve starts with a treasure hunt ending with a gift, usually something like Christmas socks. Will still be doing this even though DS is now 13, because he still wants to 😂. We go for a later lunch at our local and then off to see the panto. Still put milk and a cookie out for Santa and hang stockings.
Christmas Day is always a leisurely affair. The three of us stay at home on our own. Bacon and muchroom butties for breakfast on naice bread and mimosa's. Me and dh split cooking Christmas dinner and it is spread out over several hours in between playing games and watching tv. No rushing, no time limits, it's ready when it's ready and there's plenty to snack on in between if we get hungry.
Boxing day DS goes to his dad's, so DH and I go for a long walk and then have a second Christmas dinner with the leftovers when we get home.

@FusionChefGeoff Christmas time starts on Christmas Day.

The bit before that you’re describing is Advent

I've enjoyed reading about people's Christmas traditions.

I do wish the pps who are hear to criticise how other people celebrate Christmas would give it a rest, though. Nothing makes your way superior.

We have a very small family, just me dh, ds (age 4) and my mum so we try and make it special but it’s all about being low-key and relaxing together.
Christmas Eve morning we go for a long walk usually with a flask of hot chocolate, come home and get into pj’s, watch a Christmas film and do a Christmas Eve box (just a little bit of chocolate, some Christmas crafts/colouring and a book) and then in the evening I usually cook a Mexican meal (fajitas or enchiladas/burritos with all the extras - sour cream, guacamole, salsa, retried beans etc and then loaded nachos)

Christmas Day we usually have sausage sandwiches, and Buck’s Fizz for breakfast, then open presents. Just relax and have the usual Christmas dinner at about 5pm, we also usually a walk at some point in the day.

Boxing Day is pyjama day, ds can continue to play with his new toys, eat nice food- leftovers and a mini buffet/party food.

Christmas is very well celebrated in our house!

Tree goes up end of November - real tree, from a tree farm - FULL on celebration day

New bauble

Hunt for a Yule log (clog) to burn and bring good luck to our house for the next year

Advent calendars

Lots of days out - NT, markets, Lapland Uk, festive train journeys, Santa visits, etc

Christmas Eve boxes

Christmas Eve meal - cheesey, garlic, basil linguine

Stocking - very traditional

Friends / family round for canapés / champagne from 18th Dec (for those we don’t see on the big day)

I have loved reading all your traditions. I just want it to be magical while my children are still young

@YellowandGreenToBeSeen

I’m single and the only ‘child’ (am 45). I have zero family traditions, never did, never have. Any chance you could get this moved to the Christmas Board?

Why not just not click on the thread or not participate in it?

VestaTilley

Your christmas may start on christmas day.
My christmas starts weeks before that.

Give strangers Turkish delight and turn my enemies to stone.

[quote VestaTilley]@FusionChefGeoff Christmas time starts on Christmas Day.

The bit before that you’re describing is Advent [/quote]
Nope. Christmas Day starts on Christmas Day. Christmas TIME starts whenever you want it to. 'Tis the season to be jolly', not just one day.

Christmas movies
Christmas cake
Christmas tea and drinks etc
Christmas music
Christmas photo shoot competition
Christmas caption contest
Christmas literature games
Christmas lights
Christmas chocolates
Christmas card making class
Christmas wreaths
Christmas clothes
Christmas toy box
Christmas sweets
Christmas party

I don't think we have any. How sad 😔😔

RevolvingPivot never too late to start!

I've just googled the Spanish pooping log, 🪵 very funny what ends up being a tradition and you can't help but wonder how that got started slate.com/human-interest/2013/12/feeding-the-poop-log-a-catalan-christmas-tradition.html

Carols from King’s on Christmas Eve.
Preferably on TV at home, with mulled wine and mince pies, but on the radio in the kitchen while cooking will do, or in the car en route to family.

C from K on the BBC World Service was my absolute Christmas ‘must’ during the many years we lived in the Middle East.

@speakout

RevolvingPivot never too late to start!

We have Christmas Eve Boxes. Advent Calendars. I wish I had a larger family x

We have Christmas Eve Boxes. Advent Calendars. I wish I had a larger family x

Christmas traditions are not just for children to enjoy.

@Noshowwithoutpunch

Stockings, carol services, going to Christmas markets, chosing a new bauble for the tree, leaving a mince pie and carrot out on Xmas Eve, going sledging ( weather permitting). These are proper tradition. A box on Xmas Eve or 'December box' is not tradition in the real sense. It's naff.

At what point does a tradition become acceptable in your opinion?

New christmas eve pj's and a new book and bubble bath has been happening in my family since my DS was a girl, she's mid 60s now.

We do Christmas baking as half the family get treat boxes for their Christmas. Christmas films and activity's throughout December. Although this is DD's first year at School so we will have to make a few changes this year. My DM started doing Christmas Eve boxes for My DD and her cousin. It started last year to cheer them up, because we were in lock down, and they weren't going to see any family. She proudly showed me the overflowing boxes she has for them already for this year haha. I used to love going to the midnight service in the local church when I was wee, but we don't have a church in walking distance that holds a service where we live.

Noshowwithoutpunch choosing a new bauble for the tree every year?

Sounds a pretty modern "tradition" to me- and why is that a rightful tradition yet other activities not?

Sounds a pretty modern "tradition" to me- and why is that a rightful tradition yet other activities are not

Quite.

All anyone means when they try to differentiate between ‘proper’ and ‘non proper’ traditions is ‘things I do’ versus ‘things I don’t do’.

The need to feel superior over it is bizarre.

@Noshowwithoutpunch

Stockings, carol services, going to Christmas markets, chosing a new bauble for the tree, leaving a mince pie and carrot out on Xmas Eve, going sledging ( weather permitting). These are proper tradition. A box on Xmas Eve or 'December box' is not tradition in the real sense. It's naff.

A tradition is something that is done over and over an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior

One of our christmas traditions is to get up at 5am to on the 23/24th and go to sainsburys (which wenever normally shop at) and do the big food shop then get macdonalds breakfast on the way home. DD age 13 comes with me and she has since she was 4!! it started as a necessity as with 3 small kids I had to go at that time before DH went to work or else take all 3 kids with me!! Then when she was 4 DD asked to come too she thats how it started and now for her it is a christmas tradition that we do that.
Its now a cultural or national tradition but it is a family tradition and something she treasures as in the odd year we have gone away to family for xmas she has said she misses our early shopping trip!

I have a 1st December tradition of making the first batch of mince pies then (I don’t buy shop ones, too much thick pastry) with carols playing - proper carols - and pref. some mulled wine on the side.
No mince pies or carols until 1st Dec. here.

When dds were at home, we used to have a tradition of everyone having a stir of the Christmas pud and making a wish, but that one’s died the death now. I still make the puds though - much less dense and heavy then shop ones.