What Christmas traditions do you have in your family?

[ilikeyoursleeves]

Our DS's are only 2 years old and 3 months old but I'm hoping to start some Christmas traditions that they will remember for life. When I was a kid we always got to open one pressie on Xmas Eve for example but didn't do much else in the way of traditions.

Please share your stories with me!

we all watch as dh puts lights on the tree(it has to be real even though we had to put up a fake one about the 19th last year as it fell to bits) then we decorate it he puts Fairy on top we have Christmas music on while we do this we have to all watch Mickeys Christmas songs dvd .On Christmas morning we all open our presents individualy and everyone admires each others or laughs at it hmm dh makes dinner and we all swan about in our jammies

This is our fist christmas where we have had a bit of flexibility.the usual meal out has been cancelled and although we love it, the planned alternative just isn't suitable for us, so apart from an hour dropping gifts in we are freeeeeee. DH normally only gets the Eve off work (was in newstrade, papers were rpinted Boxing day) but now will be off Uni and just working from home from the 12th. So we should have everything allwrapped up and ready to go before they break up on the 22nd, leaving time to make a few traditions- dropping gifts in to people, tracking FC on the PC, hopefully Church if there is a servie suitable.The older two are a bit b eyong FC (ds2 clinging on) but the younger ones will appreciate it and the older ones will enjoy the general build up.

So far we have ordered the usual Chrostmas PJ's, and this year also a bath bomb each for christmas Eve baths (they enjoyed sniffing and choosing in Lush). Dh and ic an have a drink without having to wory about who is driving and the bioys can do the whole reindeer thing without arriving asleep back at home at 11 too exhausted.

Only possible is FIl trying to get out of driving up boxing day (its his turn). Happy to haul arese, life and 4 kids alternative yearas but its his turn.

I thought i did not have any traditions, but i guess we have, they have just happened without deliberately setting out to find them!

The Christmas CD's come out on 1st December, and that is the only music we listen to at home 'til Boxing Day (drives dh mad )

We spend an evening putting the tree up, whilst listening to Christmas music. dc's (age 8,6,4 and 2) get to stay up late to do this).

Christmas Eve daytime we watch 'A Muppet's Christmas Carol' and 'Home Alone', before going to church for the Nativity.

When we come home the dc's open one present (always pyjamas, dressing gown, toothbrush and socks!) get changes and we read ''Twas The Night Before Christmas'.

dh and I drink and wrap pressies once kids in bed.

We get up, and always have eggs and smoked salmon for breakfast.

No presents until dh and I have a cup of tea in our hands!

Also FC only brings stocking pressies - i do not like him taking credit for all the big, expensive, fun stuff!

Sadly i might have to work over Christmas this year and i will be heartbroken if i do not get it off

I love so many of these traditions def nicking a few. I cant wait until my DD is old enough to appreciate this(she is only 7 months).

Its got me all excited about christmas

I usually bake mince pies Christmas Eve, wrap the last presents while we have Christmas music on. All the usual leaving mince pie/carrot/drink etc. I will be getting out DS1's beautiful 'Night Before Christmas book (needs a little repair to one of the moving bits) and the Jolly Postman book. Then when DS in bed I will start on the alcohol

The rest is a haze

Each year my children each choose a new tree decoration. One day the tree will collapse, but it's fun and they love being able to choose the naffest in the shop the one they like.
On Christmas eve dh and I always have a glass of port and we all have pain au chocolat and warm crusty rolls and jam on Christmas morning.

Every Christmas Eve, Mum and I go to a candlelit Midnight Mass while Dad and my sisters prepare the veg for the following day.
DD and I put out a mince pie and glass of red wine for Father Christmas and a carrot and a glass of milk for Rudolph (something we used to do as children but have swapped Sherry for red wine!)

Christmas Day: I have spent every Christmas Day bar one with Mum and Dad. My brother and his family, my sisters and their partners and my DH and DD all congregate up there. We all take our presents to my parents house and after dinner we sit around the tree and one person hands out the presents one by one. It eeks out the anticipation .

Mum does all the cooking and makes far too much food! It is however, the best Christmas dinner ever!
After this year though this will all change. My mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer last week and this will be her last Christmas , so this Christmas will be extra special. Mum and I will cook the dinner together this year, I'm sure it's so she can make sure I know what I'm doing for next year. Not sure though, hers it a pretty hard act to follow.

it used to be tradition that we went to in laws on xmas eve.sadlt they both passed away so we decided it would be nice to host a 'making day' we thread popcorn for the tree,we make paper chains and cakes.we make glittery cardboard angels.anything and everything and everyones invited.everyone brings some food so we have a feast!

Picturethis wishing you and your family an extra special Christmas with your dear mum.

hahahah! this thread is a Mn regular
will have 20 by beg dec

I get hammered and wake up on Boxing Day still wearing my Xmas day clothes, with stained teeth from Red wine and port.

Picturethis - that is very .

I hope you get lots of photos and video for all those special memories.

x

We always have a takeaway on christmas eve so that we dont have to cook. We watch a film and have some nice nibbles. DH usually leaves his wrapping until last minute so disappears to do that.

DS gets a christmas gift bag with new pj's, a dvd, book, activity book etc in at some point during the day. Before bed he puts out reindeer food outside and a cookie and a bottle of coke for Santa plus carrot for rudolph.

Love retrieving his presents once he's sound asleep and arranging everything. We add some helium balloons etc to make it look lovely.

Christmas morning we open presents and make phonecalls to family etc. I cook lunch and we then spend the afternoon playing with gifts. DS sometimes saves some presents to open later in the day. Christmas night is spend watching tv, reading new books, playing games and eating far too much chocolate.

This is so lovely - what id like to know though is what happens on xmas morning re breakfast in your houses?

We always say "ooh it would be lovely to have a nice breakfast on xmas morning" but never do it!

We get up (DS is 3), go downstairs, (I get DS' breakfast while DH is still upstairs doing his normal "toilet business") then when he comes down, we help DS open his presents, then we open ours, by which time DH rushes to collect MIL and its all a bit of a mad rush, even though we prepare dinner on xmas eve!

Id love it to be a bit more relaxed and have time for a nice breakfast and just slow things down a bit - what do you do? Presents then breakfast or breakfast then presents?

Stockings are openned as soon as they wake up in the middle of the night morning. Father Chrstmas has usually chosen a few things to keep them occupied until everyone is up and had breakfast (just the usual cereal/toast to save ourselves for lunch!)

Main presents can not be touched, rattled, shaken or prodded until we are all (my parents and brother too) up and ready

In fact, the chidlren are not even allowed in the room until we are all ready. Keeps the anticipation up!

spend an afternoon putting the decs up either listening to xmas music (found on VH1) or watching an xmas film,
we watch lots of xmas films

On xmas day they must have a proper breakfast (no sweets) as they will eat sweets all day long so I like at least one good meal inside them)

only stockings opened before xmas dinner (I cook it for about 12ish so a] they can open pressies earlier and b] my day of work is done very early on lol)

First weekend of December we all go and buy a decoration for the tree.
Christmas eve the pyjama fairy comes to give everyone something lovely to wake up in.
We also read 'THe night before Christmas' on christmas eve and do the usual biscuits and milk for FC and Rudolf.

We all hang up the decorations, usually on the first weekend of December.
DH and I open our presents late on Christmas Eve, so it's all for the kids in the morning.
Kids open presents and I film it.
All have a nice breakfast together.
Go to SILs house for dinner with all of DH's family.
Ring my parents and gran.
Maybe watch a nice Christmas film.
Relax.

Instead of an advent calender we have xmas "promises", I write 24 promises on little xmas cards. Nothing major, just things like: Today we will make mince pies, Today when its dark we will go for a walk with torches and look at the neighbours xmas lights, Today we will play xmas cds and dance round the house like crazy and Today lets snuggle under the duvet and watch a xmas film etc ....
My Ds cant wait to open them each morning.

No one allowed to wake the parents before 6am and then tea anc coffee must be made by the kids for the parents.

Combine some Dutch and Australian traditions. We have chocolate letters etc

All the DC's have to stir the pudding mix and make a wish

Milk and a mince pie for Santa. Lettuce, carrots and water for the reindeers. There is always a little bit left to show they have been,

No hot food at all!

Homemade decorations still on the tree - some of mine are still up and they are 25 years old

Stockings hung on the end of the bed for everyone

What are chocolate letter?

We don't do advent calendars anymore. We write how many sleeps it is until Christmas on our chalkboard in the kitchen!

A few traditions I take from my Belgian background. We have marzipan (fruit shapes!), satsumas, iced gems and we put a shoe by the fire, not a stocking. My mum usually sends Sinterklaas chocolate figures at the beginning of December.

Chocolate letters are solid chocloate letters about 5 inches high in the first letter of your name. Very nice for breakfast when you are 9 (or 29). It is a Dutch tradition.

MrsBrandon.. we have a very relaxed Christmas Morining. Get up and start to open pressies with a alcohol laced coffee and maybe a mince pie. We then have a sit down breakfast, it use to be a big bowl of fresh fruit salad, cream, Bucks Fizz or similar fresh coffee. DS1 moans about the fruit so I also do croissants, pain au chocolate/pastries, but if somone wants something else thats ok as well (DS2 will usually stick to cereal)

I like the fruit salad as I feel it a good antidote to all the richness and the leftovers can be put int he fridge for grazing.

kys that's lovely
this thread is bringing a tear to my eye!

we used to have pot noodle on christmas eve which was a real treat!
christmas morning we all took our bulging stockings to my parents' bedroom & open the presents sat at the end of their bed whilst they had a cup of tea. 'big' santa present was opened at this time too.
we then had breakfast - cooked breakfast with liver sausage, then home made rolls with lime marmalade and milky coffee served from a coffee pot which only came out at christmas
after getting dressed we could then open presents under the tree, each taking turn (youngest first) to open a present whilst everybody watched to see what they got.