Starting traditions

tinselfairy

We also have a big selection of Christmas books which are brought out for Dec 1st and we read one every night.
We have a fireplace, which we don't use for open fires, and Father Christmas 'delivers' a new pair of PJ's down the chimney on Christmas Eve on his way over the house accompanied by someone from next door outside the windows shaking jingle bells.
We have silly table presents after lunch. Fake moustaches, elf hats, chest hair and medallions etc and we all have to have a turn wearing them.
We didn't do this last year, due to family rifts (!), but I started a Christmas fun day a few weekend before Christmas. We played lots of games, sang Christmas songs, The 12 Takeaway days of Christmas is fab when you all get given a part each and we all had to prepare a turn with a Christmas theme. Tell a joke, sing a song. One year my sister learnt Jingle Bells on the recorder.

Queenie

Something I was introduced to from another forum was "Magic Elves" which can be a real hoot! Basically a fabric elf toy (or a group of them) who get up to all sorts of mischief while everyone is asleep. :rotfl:

Trying to find an elf was the hardest part because I wouldn't pay out for the 'commercialised' ones. Lots of ideas for elf mischief

Herbaholic

Christmas traditions... After growing up in a 'you have to eat a proper breakfast' every Xmas morning we had to have the full monty with black pudding, sausages etc. When I left home I rebelled and my first Xmas morning breakfast in my own home became a glass of sherry with malteser chasers (I think I was still drunk the morning after when this first happened). It was a lovely combination and my mum was aghast, so I've done it ever since :rotfl:

We had the new pj's on Xmas eve when I was a kid, and new jumpers etc for xmas day. My mum was sort of the lynch pin for Xmas and since she passed away it hasn't been the same. Hubby and I decided that we 'missed' the things we did as kids and with family (his Mum passed away to). So we've decided this year we'll begin some of our own traditions.

Kissing under the mistletoe (like we need an excuse lol), we're going to a Xmas themed play or panto, I loved going to these as a kid, and yes I will still be yelling 'he's behind you' :rotfl: (the local theatre to me is doing A Christmas Carol so that will be perfect), we're going for a walk on Xmas afternoon in a lovely little pine wood we know come rain, hail or snow (fingers crossed for snow). We're also going to go to a proper Xmas carol service and have a sing song. I'm also knitting little blankets and making some catnip mice to take round to the RSPCA on or before Xmas eve dependiing when they're open so the kitties have a proper chrimbo to, my way of showing goodwill to all men and animals.

One thing that you could do with the kids is make a snow house, my mum used to oversee this, in the run up to Xmas make a house shape from a cardboard box, we used to cover the box with old wallpaper (or the just paint the box white) and add the windows, doors etc with paint. We covered the cardboard roof with a cotton wool to look like snow. Inside the snow house was lots of small gifts wrapped like little pressies, Mum used to work it so there was something for everybody. We'd play games on Xmas night anything from pass the parcel to a quiz and 'statues' which my Nanna always won because she was asleep by then :rotfl: The winner of each game gets to pop their hand in the snow house and pull out a prize. Thinking about it, that idea could be adapted for a halloween party and the kids could make a spooky haunted house?!

Reading an Xmas story is compulsory or watching an Xmas film, you could get the kids to help with the santa baking like one of the other posters said, and get them to go help you pick a carrot for rudolph. Thanks to the OP for bringing back a lot of happy memories, I'd forgotten about the snow house and all mums efforts, I'd trade all my pressies to have those moments again

tru

Queenie, you've just reminded me of what happened a couple of years ago

We had a phone call - the number was withheld - all they said was "you've been elved" in a weird high-pitched voice. We had no idea what it meant til we went to get in the car (it was dark) and it had been decorated Silly string, tinsel, baubles, the lot :rotfl:

I think it was bro-in-law, but I'm still not sure :rotfl:

IvanOpinion

Princessa wrote:

I thought about getting a calender with drawers, and in each one put a decoration and a chocolate each, so that each morning they can open the drawer and get a chocolate and put a new decoration on the tree. So if anyone has seen any nice versions of a 'drawer type' calendar, please let me know.

M&S had one in th shape o a Chrstmas tree but the drawers were quite small .. it wan't overly expensive either.

Ivan

IvanOpinion

Our own Christmas tradition is that the entire family meets up at a local hotel for dinner on Boxing day. It is one of my favourite social gatherings ... lots of food, sensible amounts of alchohol and a lot of good chat without any of the cooking or washing up.

Ivan

aurora_borealis_2

I forgot Boxing Day!

This is a bit disgraceful ... children that are old enough to drink accompany us to meet friends (youngest go to Grandma). I don't drink much at all but I always do on Boxing day. Much merriment (SP?) and the kids get to see me let my hair down amongst friends.

... They have counselling afterwards.

piglet6

Princessa wrote:

I thought about getting a calender with drawers, and in each one put a decoration and a chocolate each, so that each morning they can open the drawer and get a chocolate and put a new decoration on the tree. So if anyone has seen any nice versions of a 'drawer type' calendar, please let me know.

I saw a couple in Lakeland at the weekend. Hopefully this link will work...

http://www.lakelandlimited.co.uk/SearchResults.aspx?kw=advent+calendar

The one is quite expensive, but I guess if you work out how many years you will use it for (my mum used to still send me mine when I was at university...:p In my final year, I lived in a shared house and only got to open 1 day in every 5!!!:rolleyes:), then its not so bad - more of an investment!;)

Piglet

choccyface2006

For that last few years I have gone to my parents house on Christmas eve, along with my daughters, brother, sis and niece and we have a broth night! My mum makes the most delicious broth and dumplings and I make a huge batch of fresh bread. It feels all cosy and exciting!

Sarah x

Princessa_2

Thanks for all the ideas! Am loving them. And thanks for all the suggestions of the drawer type calandars.

I like the idea of giving the girls new pyjamas on xmas eve, seems a few of you do this. I love the thought of cooking for santa, and readng a book or watching a film and hot chocolate on the eve. We're not religious, but I like to go to midnight mass with my family as they are religious, so may try and convince my other half to come with us all.

They're only little at the moment, but this year I can still put them in new pj's on xmas eve, and I think I'll buy them some books/dvds to start a collection for them.