Family Traditions

[user2234534]

What are your family traditions that you love for the Christmas period ?

It isn't really a tradition but I always used to help my grandma out with the food preparation on Christmas Eve. Something very small but I always looked forward to it and meant a lot to her.

Every Christmas eve I read 'twas the night before Christmas' to my boys as my mum always did it for me and my brother. Mine are now teenagers and insist on it still, that moment, now sat on the landing (when they're too big to tuck into bunk beds), is so special to me.

@StrictlyAFemaleFemale I love "little Christmas Eve" 🤣

@Rupertgrintismyguiltypleasure That sounds like a lovely Christmas Eve. I bet your kids really enjoy it too 🥰

@TazTheFairy That's so lovely. I might steal that idea for my girls!! They are both under 2 so maybe start it next year xx

My parents do this!! Such a beautiful and personal tree.
I bet it's lovely putting the tree up every year and remembering them all ❤️

My parents are from Eastern Europe. Christmas for me was always Christmas Eve. That was the special day of celebrating, gift giving and eating. At school I was aware I was different to friends, but it is only when I met my English girlfriend / now wife at how different.
However we still celebrate Christmas Eve at my mums. That is her special day so we make it our special day. We arrive at her house, now with grown up kids. We no longer go through 12 courses of meat free dishes, but we do have several courses including Boscht with noodles, pierogi, and a salmon course (thanks M&S for your excellent Salmon plates every year). We then exchange gifts.
My kids, who have the option to go drinking with their mates on Christmas Eve always want to go to "Babci's". They know before long there will be no trip to "Babci's" on Christmas Eve and a piece of our lives will be lost. But every Christmas Eve we will have a set meal, a fussy meal, a meal where we will fall out and then become friends again when we exchange gifts. That is our special ritual and long may it continue.

Each child chooses a new decoration for the tree which they can take with them when they leave home.

We also have a gingerbread house decorating competition.

@ChewDog this sounds lovely. My brother moved to Germany to be with his fiancee a couple of years, they celebrate on xmas eve and generally xmas is a big deal lol x