Tell me about Christmas Eve

[Mistlefrog]

It’s our first Christmas Eve in our own home, and as a married couple and Id love to start some traditions and nice things we do together. Obviously some traditions appear organically and others are a bit more planned, but would love to hear what other people do.

Please tell me what you do in the day,
what you eat or cook all day,
what you do in the evening together
and then after the DC go to bed

i loooove hearing other peoples traditions anyway but would love to take some inspo from you all!

Christmas Eve we have a lay in with the kids, add extra decoration touches to the house so it's all tidy and organised then after breakfast then we bake, play games, watch Christmas films,video call family we won't see over Christmas. Sometimes we do some crafts or go out for a walk down the seafront or park as we live on the coast. Church does an early nativity service , carol's with mince pies and mulled wine so we always go. Back home we have a high tea as it's easy, Christmas Eve box which is just a Christmas box with new PJ's, treats for Santa and the reindeer, hot chocolate and marshmallows and maybe a silly Christmassy game. Bath time whilst blaring out Christmas tunes! Hang stockings by the fireplace, read The Night Before Christmas, look out the window for ages to see if we can see Santa, tune in to the online app where we track Santas sleigh then once kids asleep have a big drink or two and creep about like lunatics getting everything ready for the morning and prepping the food for the next day, I love it 😁🎄🎁⛄

Normally a long walk or play centre for few hours
See family
Xmas eve boxes, crafts etc always have bath bombs in them.

Bath hair wash and dry.
Take away
Movie
Bed

.

In the morning we make cookies and decorate the gingerbread house. We'll usually go for a walk somewhere. Then it's a late lunch (apple baked ham cooked the night before, hasselback potatoes, quiche, pate, crisps etc) and a board game or two. We all go to the Christingle service. Then it's back for eggnog/mulled wine/hot spiced apple juice and leftovers eaten picnic style under the Christmas tree by candle light/fairy lights. Then I read the navitity story and the Night before Christmas and we play another board game with hot chocolate. The kids hang up all the stockings and leave a pint of Guinness with a whisky chaser, a cookie and a carrot for "Santa" and go to bed. I prep the veg for Christmas and then the adults finish the mulled wine/apple juice and eggnog. We usually play another board game and then I curl up with a christmas murder mystery.

Since DC came along we wake up and have a cooked breakfast, a simple one though, like a wee fruit salad, christmas tree pancakes and sausages for DC and bacon sandwiches for us. We open the Christmas eve box and read the goodbye note from the elves. In the box there is a package for everyone, ours just have our Christmas pyjamas, but for DC there will also be bath stuff, sweets, popcorn and a few activities.

We generally do an energetic family activity, ice skating or a nice walk or something, followed by a swim. Then we go home, I do a bit of prep to make Christmas day easy, meanwhile the activities are put to use. The reindeer food (not with glitter) is sprinkled outside.

We have a lazy dinner, canapes and/or buffet food or antipasti, a baked camembert, some bread and wine. A Christmas film and the sweets/popcorn from the box. Check out Norad, put out a mince pie and a whisky for Santa, carrots for reindeer. Bath for DC with new bath bombs or bubble bar or whatever the elves left. Read "Twas the Night Before Christmas". Bed for DC (usually surprisingly easy due to being knackered), frantic activity for us. Everyone in bed as early as manageable because of the early start on Christmas morning!

I love our Christmas Eve. We have a slow morning, maybe watching some Christmassy TV and playing games. We bake some cookies or similar for Father Christmas, then we get all wrapped up for a wintery walk in the forest. Then we come home and warm up with hot chocolate and watch a movie with treats (popcorn, some sort of pudding type thing!). Then we decorate the cookies, have a light dinner and it's bath time for dd. Then she puts out the cookies and milk and goes to bed with warm milk and a Christmas story. Dh and I then get everything ready for the morning, sneaking in to get the stocking and filling it etc.

Last year for the first time since having dc (6 years) we went to the pub for the afternoon. Had too many drinks and a massive argument on the eve when putting out santas presents. It made a very awkward Christmas morning. Unfortunately it was me who had too much to drink.

This year we are going to take dc to the late afternoon church service.

(Complete opposite I know!)

DH wouldn't usually say yes to this but after last year he probably wants to pray for a better day this year!!!!

Everything starts to get quiet. Warning lights,low tv, finish wrapping.
getting beds prepped.
last minute food bought.
fish and chip supper every year.it takes the stress away and removes food capacity problems. Also no plates needed as it just comes in the recyclable boxes.
out come the roses.
it just seems like a peace comes over everywhere.

Whether working Christmas Eve or not I sit surrounded by veg either watching a Christmas film or listening to Christmas music and I prep the lot ready for Christmas Day so I’m not spending all Christmas day in the kitchen. That’s my tradition and I perversely enjoy it. Children always found a way to entertain themselves and DH worked for Royal Mail so was never allowed to have any of December off until after Christmas. Even if it was a weekend there was nothing special done for Christmas Eve as it’s always been a day to get the house a bit tidyer for the big day. Christmas Eve boxes weren’t a thing that I knew existed when our DC were little. I’m reading all these lovely traditions and I hope you create some lovely ones with your family. I’ve only posted just in case there’s someone reading feeling like they’re failing because they don’t do anything particularly special or don’t have any family traditions. We never have, not even a carrot and a mince pie left out for Rudolph and Santa, but it’s fine and before posting I thought I’ll have to message the DC (23 & 21) to ask have they missed out. I don’t feel like they have. I have loved reading everyone’s traditions but we never really do Christmas Eve and those of you that wrap your gifts Christmas Eve deserve a medal.

Various depending on if it's a working day but this year will likely be spent watching Xmas movies and cleaning so the house is somewhat tidy before it's not again.

In the early evening we always setup the Xmas table which is where we lay out all of the Xmas chocolates and treats we buy. Then dinner is always a party food tea. I also do a simple xmas eve box with new pjs mainly so bath and get into those after.

Once the children are in bed I'll prep the food for Xmas day so I don't spend too long in the kitchen. We always have Xmas day just the 4 of us.

We are both usually at work but this year it's a Saturday so not sure. We have no traditions whatsoever!

Our Elf on the Shelf sets up a treasure hunt which requires the kids to follow clues to find him. He brings hot chocolate ingredients and some magic beans. We have Christmas ham for dinner, then the kids make and drink their hot chocolates and plant their beans (in little pots of flour, they grow into some Christmassy confectionary item over night). We watch carols on TV and then they go to bed, after putting out a drink and snack for Santa and the reindeer. It's fairly casual but lots of fun.

Out Christmas Eve is now spent at home. This started during lockdown, previously we would have gone out for the day.

During the day, DDs and I will make a gingerbread house and do Christmas crafts.

Fajitas for dinner.

In the evening we walk around our town looking at Christmas lights.

Generally a nice relaxing day indoors for us, as we always try to get everything done before Christmas Eve, including housework. Nibbles for lunch and then gammon, chips, pease pudding, and fried egg for dinner. Homemade crackers after (always do those on Eve, Day, and Boxing Day). Oh, and while it's not quite a Christmas Eve thing, we've always bought an annual tree decoration every year since we got together. This will be the 20th year! We write the year on each one so every year we can look back at the collection. Happy Christmas whatever you end up doing! Hope it's a good one.

It's my eldest dcs birthday so try to avoid anything Christmassy here! We generally try to go out to do a family activity though followed by an evening meal then when we get back the elf has left the Christmas Eve box so we can start the excitement all over again!

We usually have Peking crispy duck on Christmas Eve. Either from the takeaway or make it ourselves. I'm not sure how the tradition started but I like it! Hopefully can get a duck for a decent price before Christmas because they've gome up a lot this year!

Two DC ( 3 & 6 ) Christmas Eve is 'our day' as the rest of the following week is spent visiting family.

Slow morning then out for ice skating and a late lunch. On the drive home we stop at all the houses that do lights for charity ( quite a few in our area and always super busy with people looking on Xmas eve- there's always a lovely buzzy atmosphere )

Home for Xmas Eve boxes, bath, treats with a film and bed.

DH and I usually wrap until the early hours which is usually stressful and tiring so this year I am going to wrap as I go and enjoy a cheese board and Christmas film with him before we head off to bed.

Love the idea of DH having a sleepover in one room on Xmas eve and may implement this if I think they'll actually sleep! I just love the atmosphere and excitement that Xmas eve brings for my children! ♥️🎄⭐️

Meant to say DC having a sleepover! Whoops!

My DH is Danish which means Christmas Eve is his Christmas Day.although festivities don’t start in Ernest until the evening. We’ll take it somewhat easy and prepare the Danish Christmas dinner. Maybe go for a walk or to a Christmas market. The Julemand (Danish Santa) visits to give the kids a present. In the evening we put the presents under the tree, get dressed up and have the Danish Christmas dinner (pork and duck with caramelized potatoes and red cabbage) followed by singing and a procession around the Christmas tree. We open presents very late before putting a mince pie and whiskey out for the English Father Christmas and get the kids into bed. I’m usually also ready for bed by this point so we fill the stockings and hang them back by the fireplace.

My children are now 17 and 14 but we still do the same as we used to. Cinema during the day followed by the local Carol Service. Then friends round for early dinner and drinks. We’ve been doing it since the children were little and it’s a great start to the festivities.

We have an ‘Alpine’ supper. I lay the dining room table for Christmas Day for around 12 in advance, but on Christmas Eve we use the conservatory where the table also accommodates the same number.
We use the Pierrade - hot stone on which you cook bits of meat, Raclette - little shovels with potato, ham capers etc and cheese on top for which you use the grill under the pierrade, plus two small cauldrons of cheese fondue for the veggies. DH is in charge. The odd incidents involving accidental fires are fondly remembered.
It is festive and everyone loves it, and any of the family who can’t make it to Christmas dinner can enjoy this.

Morning is spent chilling, bit of housework and persuading kids to get dressed.

About 11am we meet my friend for a walk across the local common which leads into town. Then, whichever cafe we can find a space for the 6 of us in, we'll eat. Usually a fry up, but DS11 tends to have baked potato.

Walk back the shorter route and go home.

Previous years we would stop in to visit my sister as she was on the same street as my friend. She would give the kids a big bag of sweets and me a cuppa. Sadly she passed away suddenly in January so this will be our first time skipping that part 😥

Anyway, then home to prep dinner for xmas day. Quick and easy evening meal, kids usually choose cereal. DH and I will have a cheese board and champagne later in the evening. We watch an xmas film, shower the kids and off to bed. Oh, they also get new PJs.

Sneaking the gifts downstairs isnt as easy as it used to be now kids are older and stay awake later.

This year we have my mum staying over for the first time, so will be interesting. She wont arrive until evening.

Our 'tradition' is to enjoy the fact that wrapping is done, food is in, and family is home. Takeaway and a Christmas movie.

Christmas Eve is my favourite day of the year.
Morning is a nice breakfast then off to see The Snowman with the kids. Dh will tidy the house while we are out and bring the big tree in. (Our main tree doesn't go up til Christmas Eve)

After The Snowman, me and the kids go cut holly and ivy. I decorate the big tree with ds2 while drinking fizz or sherry and listening to Carols from Kings. The other 2 help DH make sausage rolls.

When it gets dark we put night lights in jam jars and use them to line the garden path to make a runway for Santa. While doing this we will discover the hamper from Patch the Elf which has new pjs, hot chocolate and a game.

New pjs go on and we'll play a game while the slow tv programme with the reindeer is on iplayer and tracking santa on norad. Each year dh creates a new cocktail and mocktail so we'll drink those.

Kids have sausage rolls and pizza for tea while me and dh have crispy duck pancakes. Die Hard is compulsory viewing, before the last minute wrapping panic.

The kids are aged 11 to nearly 16 now but still insist on the same routine that we did since they were little.

I can’t wait to read through this thread ! I love hearing others traditions!

I wake up bright and early on Christmas Eve and start baking . I love baking on Christmas Eve. It’s something my mom use to do and now it’s something I hope to pass down to my kids . We have Christmas music on obviously and it feels magical. I also have a traditional roasted nuts dish I only make once a year on Christmas Eve. It tastes like Christmas. There is nothing that tastes more Christmassy than this.

When the kids wake up we do our last day of our advent calendar which is always an exciting one and we find Elf on the Shelf one last time and say goodbye to him for another year .

Another huge tradition is tracking Santa . The kids don’t fully understand it yet but Santa is already on his way around the world . I like to use the NORAD Tracks Santa app! At this point it’s mostly just me who enjoys it but I’m hoping my 3 year old ( nearly 4 now) understands it more this year. Unfortunately when I was 6 the radio was tracking Santa and said he had just left the North Pole but I had all my moms side of the family in Australia who had already opened presents. This was the year , according to my mom, that I started to question Santa . Tracking has gotten much better now thankfully .

This is a new tradition ( only started last year) but we do a fun activity later in the day , something Christmassy and out of the house. When I was a kid Christmas Eve would drag on so I wanted to break up the day . This year we are going to a Christmas show at a theatre. By the time we get back it will be dark and then it’s onto our night celebrations . We do a huge food spread for dinner : Cheeseball (which was made on the 23rd and a 40+ year tradition in our family ), cookies, fruit , crackers , meats, olives , nuts , veggies and we watch a Christmas movie. Lots of wine too . I don’t have any family close by so it’s just my husband and I plus the kids . It’s still so special . This year is extra special because my parents will be staying with us for Christmas!

Then it’s bed time ! We put out the cookies and milk for Santa , the carrots for the reindeer and put the stockings by the Christmas tree. We put on a pair of Christmas pjs and we read extra Christmas books but ALWAYS the night before Christmas!

The kids go to bed and my husband and I play Santa , bringing out all the presents , wrapping any last minute gifts and filling the stockings. Christmas music is playing and we are enjoying the wine . When all the Santa work is done we sit by the tree taking it all in excited for the morning . This is my favourite part !!!

Christmas Eve is my favourite day of the whole year !