Traditions we avoided

[ImALargeAbsentMindedSpirit]

Can’t do anything about it now but just wondering how others view what we did as parents. Are we the only ones that didn’t do these things? Purely selfish reasons as they all seemed like more effort than was necessary at an already manic time. We never did elf on the shelf, Christmas Eve boxes, stockings, visiting Santa or leaving anything for him or his reindeer, footprints etc. Gifts are from the people that bought them, no gifts from Father Christmas he is just the delivery guy, Christmas Eve church service, buying teachers gifts.

We tend not to do the things that were born ouf of Instagram and definitely no Christmas PJs or Shelf Elf. We observe advent with an escalation as Christmas Eve approaches. So an Advent carol service yesterday at DCs school, we have decorated outdoor trees and put up a wreath. The school term will end with a huge carol service which marks the start of celebrations for our boys. Our Christmas traditions are unwavering because DSs love the continuity and resist any change. And the religious festival is the golden thread running through it.

2 trees- one grown up, one informal with the various baubles they have made or chosen over the years.
Carol singing in the village with mulled wine and a brazier in the square
Exeter Christmas market
A performance of Messiah if it's on anywhere within 30 miles
Presents wrapped under the tree are from family, friends, Godparents etc; stocking is from FC. Drink, mince pie, carrots etc for FC & reindeer. We put fires out early on Christmas Eve so the chimneys aren't too hot to navigate
Christingle, plus Carol service a week before Christmas
We have a village advent calendar where 24 houses each have a window tableau that opens on a specified date- we are the Christmas Eve window
Midnight mass
Two films we watch on 23 and 24th- Elves and Krampus- to scare ourselves
Hot chocolate and fires every night
Stocking early a.m. then morning church service. Then eggs benedict and present opening.
Goose for lunch
Tweedy outdoor fun on Boxing Day

I really love Christmas, probably the build up and anticipation even more than the actual day. They traditions I love most aren't the expensive ones. I would hate it to be a purely secular event-

We did once take the DSs to see FC but it wasn't a success and I think the FC stand-in was a bit traumatised.

Other than a visit to Father Christmas if he was appearing locally, we didn't do any of the listed things as nobody did. They are pretty recent additions to the stuff we do for children at Christmas. We set out a pillow case with a letter to Santa and left out a tot of whisky and a carrot.