Christmas Traditions

hobbesy_2 · 9 November 2007 at 7:30PM

Sorry, if this has already been started this year but I loved reading the thread last year.

Can we all share Christmas traditions. The bits of christmas that cost nothing but mean everything

I'll start with one that now seems obvious, and I've heard loads here mention, but didn't start it myself til last year (the kids were 3 & 1 so a good time to start anyway).

New pajamas on Christmas eve, left wrapped by father christmas downstairs aft their bath.

And my favourite. An afternoon snuggled up together on the sofa watching the Muppet Christmas Carol! yay!

So tell me yours...

Keri -x-

haylibo · 9 November 2007 at 7:35PM

Raymond Briggs the Snowman whenever it shows or on DVD. Still hits the spot every year. 'New' (to my kids anyway) books on Christmas Eve with a message from Mummy written inside the front cover.

Hayles

hobbesy_2 · 9 November 2007 at 7:43PM

Oh yes, I forgot the Christmas books. Another one I got from here

Last year it was a pop-up version of the night before christmas. Might be a nice copy of the grinch this year to go with their Dr Seuss collection.

cazscoob · 9 November 2007 at 8:33PM

we watch all the christmas progs on the tv and all cuddle up on the couch, everyone helps to get the veg prepared for the following days tea along with the sausages in bacon and stuffing balls!!!! earlyish bath before getting santas snacks ready and then we all get to open 1 present from under the tree that have been left from friends/family. before we all colapse into bed so santa can come!!!!!!! :j

haylibo · 9 November 2007 at 8:36PM

Getting so excited already!!!

hobbesy_2 · 10 November 2007 at 8:52AM

We also have a tradition that is a little more sad, I guess, but not to me. I lost my grandad 11 years ago and still miss him all the time. Each year since he died we choose a new christmas tree decoration (the kids help me now) and take it to the memorial garden where his ashes are buried. It always saddens me that he never got to meet my husband and kids so this is my way of showing we all think of him. (making me cry even thinking about it)

Lillibet_2 · 10 November 2007 at 11:17AM

We always take flowers to my late FiL's memorial spot in November & take a photo which we then send off with Xmas cards to a few relatives who are too elderly/far away to visit in person. Sounds rather goulish but all of them always make a point of telling us how much they appreciate us remembering him on eveyone's behalf & making sure they can see his spot is tidy & nicely presented etc. I never met him as he died before I came along & my son will never know him obviously, but hubby makes a point of telling him all about his grandad hopefully this will help him when he is a bit older.

BrandNewDay · 10 November 2007 at 11:57AM

What a nice thread idea!:)

We're a new family, and so far we've only had one Christmas together. I'm from America, and I LOVE Christmas in the UK. But, we do do some things differently.

For one thing, we don't do the traditional Christmas dinner. Americans have their turkey feast for Thanksgiving, the last Thursday in November. That makes a good official beginning of "The Holiday Season." All the stores have huge sales on Friday and that's when Christmas is officially launched. At any rate, I think most people really only want to roast a turkey once a year and we celebrate Thanksgiving as a family.

My birthday is December 6th, which just happens to be the feast day of Saint Nicholas. So, we've decided that we'll celebrate my birthday by putting up the Christmas tree and decorations.

On Christmas day, I like to just nibble on nice treats and drink mimosas (buck's fizz.) Last year, we had nice pates and cheeses and cakes and such buffet style to munch on all day. This year, we're going to drive down to the inlaw's house in England at about noon, and I guess MIL will have a proper Christmas dinner, if that's what she wants to do. We'll drive back on Boxing Day, as my husband has to work on the 27th.

If our house were bigger, the grandparents would come up for the whole thing. I'm glad their house is also too small to go there, because I really want my kids to have a tree and do the whole thing at their own home.

Oh, yeah - I don't know if stockings are as big a deal, here. I see them in some shops. Stocking stuffers are an important part of the whole Christmas gift thing, so we'll have stockings on our mantel and that's where all the small gifts go, with some candy.

haylibo · 10 November 2007 at 3:13PM

Hobbesy
You must have had a very special Grandad to be remembered so strongly. We had a good friend lose her father very suddenly to lung cancer last year, in fact within two weeks of diagnosis. When she talks of missing him and feeling sad that her children will never know their grandad (she has no children yet) I think of how like her dad my friend is and I see that her kids *will* know their grandad. Maybe not directly but my friend wouldn't be the person she is without having her dad bring her up and so her children will get the mum they will get because of the father her dad was (if that makes sense).
Maybe a part of you is like your grandad? That's the part of your grandad your kids will know :-) How lucky he was to have been so loved.
BW
Hayles

Sallys_Savings · 10 November 2007 at 4:46PM

Collecting ivy from a nearby wood where we visit each year to hang above our photo and mirrors.

Have to have the snuggle on christmas eve afternoon watching a christmas movie...muppets are the fav in this house...and we still do (kids are 15 to 20 yrs old lol) Its a time to have a little drink and nibbles.

Going for a seaside walk along the beach the day after boxing day.

Santa always used to leave tickets for our local panto for after christmas.

Telling the christmas story in turns on christmas eve (my youngest 15 and oldest 20). Last year the youngest still wanted us to do this.

All collecting and making up shoeboxes for children abroad and having a gathering the Sunday before they are to be handed in. We have a mini shoebox competition for everyone to make up their shoeboxes for under £5 and who can make the best one is awarded the silver shoe box trophy (a shoebox wrapped in tin foil). We started this many years ago and the children all participate. We always include a preloved item, photo of whoever sent it, homemade christmas card, homemade gift too (these have been very inventive over the years).
Quite a warming sight seeing my strapping 20 year old coming through the door in his para uniform with it tucked under his arm

(really need a proud mummy smiley inserted in here lol)

Stockings!!!

We always have our christmas dinner on christmas eve about 4ish. We started this many years ago when my children were very young so I didnt miss out on the children opening and playing with pressies etc. (I had four children under 5 years old so pretty hectic). We were going to go back to having it on christmas day now they're older but it just wouldnt seem the same.

Boxing day tree pressies....normally little gifts that are hanging from the tree. Or I have pressies at the dinner table.

Family Christmas party in a hall the saturday before christmas every year. We have a large extended family and its the only time we can actually all meet up at the same time. Its lovely

We still see family over christmas, popping for a drink and mincepie etc but cant all fit in the same house together at the same time anymore as theres far too many of us.

The elves coming and leaving gold coins and a little elf dust

I do this with the toothfairy too...scattering a little glitter on the window sill. They never leave a bag of coins (how on earth would they carry them) but just the odd one coming up to christmas.

The must have brand new pjs for christmas eve arriving at bedtime.

Listening for sleigh bells (a tape recording from our bedroom window lol) They took years to figure this one out. Tesco have sleigh bells for 99p

Santas key hanging from the door....we have a huge old key that my father found in his shed. We hang that on the door on christmas eve with the santa key rhyme.
This is the poem we used to use, but I think theres others about too;

Santa this ole key is a magicalkind
And we're leaving it out for you to find
Cause for you tonight it willopen any door
So you wont have to slide down chimneys anymore.

Talc boot prints in the hallway ready for when they came down the stairs on christmas eve. . (see a use for those that are bulk buying Talc for Tesco points lol)

Obviously leaving santa and his reindeer some food

...and the last few years sprinkling reindeer food on the garden. You can make oats and glitter/cake balls and pop in a bag for the kids to put in the garden.
When Sants sleigh is full of toys
Ready for christmas day
use this special magic dust
to help him find his way
just sprinkle it outside your door
the glitterwill be their light
the smell of oats will draw the reindeer
and bring santa on christmas night.

Listening to christmas music while putting up the tree.

Oh I loveeeeeee Christmas !!!!!!:xmassign:

OOPS! SORRY I GOT A LITTLE CARRIED AWAY,I DIDNT REALISE HOW MUCH I'D WRITTEN

tinkerbellsmum_2 · 10 November 2007 at 10:20PM

i have a 6 year old daugther and for past 3 years we have hid her presents around the house and left her a bowl of clues to where they r in the living room. with a letter saying that santa thinks she has been very good and though it would be fun to hid her presents. she loves it and it drags the opening presents bit out.

Christmas Traditions

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