Xmas traditions in your house....

justontime wrote: »

Every year I have bought a Christmas tree decoration for each child, nothing too expensive, just something pretty (and not too delicate). I use a coloured DVD marker to write a the year, the child's name and a little message on the base or the back of the decoration. The message usually comments on a milestone or achievement that year, e.g. starting school, able to read, learning an instrument, favourite pop group, etc. I always added 'love from mum and dad'. The children each have their own box for their own decorations and they read through all the old messages each year as they decorate the tree. My husband died a few years ago, so the memories and the messages have become even more special. My oldest daughter is 18 now and her decorations provide little 'snapshots' of her childhood.

That's lovely...

New pj's on xmas eve, have done this every year since kids were babies so they would at least look tidy on xmas morning photos.;)
Bath , new pj's then watching xmas movies and eating a selection box:D

Also reading "Night before Christmas".

Before xmas making xmas cake, cookies, gingerbread men and house, writing out cards- kids using glitter pens and stampss to do envelopes etc.

Advent calendar each day

Letter to santa

Filling a shoebox for one of charities

Following santa on the internet xmas eve.

Saving a couple of pressies to open on boxing day.

When kids were little we did a lot of stuff with elves too, letters from elves, little pressies before xmas, little tricks etc.

Probably lots more things too but only think of them as they come along.

My first thought was that the only thing we traditionally do every year is argue However, each year I put the decorations up on Dec 13th (this is enough for me - that way they'll be up for two weeks before the event, and two weeks after). If the kids' Christmas performances at school fall before this date, then I'll put them up sooner - there's nothing like the joy of watching a load of tinselled-up schoolkids singing and then coming home to a house decorated for Christmas, and it just wouldn't seem the same if the house wasn't done. While the kids are at school on the last afternoon of term, I'll put all the boxes of chocolates, nuts and other goodies out in the lounge somewhere so that it really feels like the holidays when they get in. I don't spend a fortune on this stuff, but by some miracle it usually lasts for the duration.

I try to have most of my Christmas stuff bought well before December (except for Advent Calendars, which I buy on the 1st as the prices are always instantly slashed in most places then - it's not as if the kids will be opening them until bedtime anyway). Usually though, I can almost guarantee that I'll spot an extra present on eBay or similar at the last minute that will be 'just perfect' for someone, so a lot of that week will traditionally be spent anxiously eyeing up the letter box lest my item dare to take on the 'last posting date' and lose.

I don't usually buy a specialist TV guide, but I will at this time of year. This is not so much to see what's on as to continue a tradition unwittingly started by my dad when I was a kid, in which the reader scans the aforementioned TV Guide, shakes head in disbelief and says 'Blummin' Dambusters again. And HOW many times have we seen The Amazing Mr Blunden?. They're really scraping the bottom of the barrel this year!' For some reason, those words say 'Happy Christmas!' to me more than any card could

My husband usually goes for a drink with a mate on the afternoon of Christmas Eve, and they'll return to our house afterwards for a while to wait until our local opens at seven before starting on round two. This is when I'll traditionally put the clocks forward a bit when they're not looking in order to get shot of them sooner With peace on earth having returned once more, I'll get the turkey in the oven (I've always cooked it the night before) and do the stuffing balls as well as everything else that can be done in advance. By this point the kids will have tidied their rooms ('for Santa' ), and we'll put a mince pie and a beer out for him downstairs. Once I'm sure they're asleep, I'll put the presents out and drink Santa's beer for him

If I'm honest, I've had too many really nasty Christmases as an adult to get very excited about them now (though I always make sure the kids enjoy them), but there does seem to be quite a lot of enthusiasm for Christmas here on MSE, and think I may have caught some of it for this year

ktflosspot wrote: »

ON Christmas Eve the pyjama elves
( NO IT IS NOT MADE UP THEY REALLY EXIST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
come to our house ........... usually whilst we are sprinkling reindeer food in the back garden.........................
once the pyjamas are delivered ( through the letter box)it is time for bath and bed !!!
Works a treat in our house to get the kids to bed at a reasonable (for Christmas Eve) time .
love KT xxx

Guess what we're going to be doing this year!!! (Do the adults get pj's from the elves aswell??)

Not really a Christmas tradition - more of a New Years Day tradition. I had never heard of this before I met my OH, but apparently loads of people do it. New Years Day is the day for 'tree presents', things such as deodrants, toothpastes, bubble baths, small toys - books, crayons etc. These are handed out after we have all had yet another traditional Xmas dinner, with all the trimmings... As much as I moan about it, the toletries usually see you through til' about March! Didn't think we'd be doing it this year, now we are over here, but my OH has suggested we bring the tradition to my families attention.... great!

lottee wrote: »

Guess what we're going to be doing this year!!! (Do the adults get pj's from the elves aswell??)

Yep !! DH and I get new pj's,:j the pyjama elves are very kind x