Starting traditions

Rachie_B

Edinburghlass wrote:

I'll see you here about 1.00 am Rachie

:rotfl: :beer:

russetred

every year I take my kids to the bethlehem childrens service on christmas eve.Its a small church and they get to carry a nativity figure up to the manger.There's not many children in the church so they are always asked to join the choir up at the front where they sing their little hearts out.Then they're rewarded with cakes and juice.I never go to church myself but I wouldn't miss this service as my kids love it.

Roz_V

Someone on the OS Xmas thread posted this link - you can watch NASA track Santa's progress across the world!!

Our Xmas traditions are
- Nana buys us all a chocolate advent calendar
- We have a "Nutcracker" calendar which we take turns to open. Each day you get the next bit of the story in the form of a miniature book Xmas tree decoration
- Food out for Santa & co on Xmas Eve
- Those who haven't been to the pub go to Midnight Mass
- Stockings as soon as we're all awake on Xmas morning
- Then get washed, dressed etc
- Family breakfast of orange juice, fresh coffee, croissants and pain au chocolat
- "proper" presents from under the tree
- Nana gets fetched
- Open Nana's presents (takes ages coz she buys us LOADS!!!)
- Xmas lunch at about 4
- Rest of the day spent playing with presents, watching tv and listening to new cd's

Btw, I'm 20, and my sisters are 18 and 13, and only the youngest still lives at home! :rotfl:

I love the idea of new PJ's the night before - think I'll do that when I have my own kids!

Oooooooh I feel all Christmassy now!!

Lillibet_2

Our biggest tradition : no TV over Xmas! It is a time for family, fun & games, not sitting wordlessley gawping at tv. Mean aren't I?:rotfl:

lessonlearned

Half-term - make Christmas Cake. All the family do it together. At the end we all stir the mix at the same time and make a wish.

No more talk of Christmas till Dec 1st.

Dec 1st Advent Calenders - one for everyone.
Children allowed to talk about Christmas, compile lists of "would-like gifts". Write to Santa. (That was when they were little).

Now they are away at uni but most of traditions still in place. I used to think they kept them going mainly to humour me but I now know they do it because it still means a lot to them.

Week before Christmas - decorate the house and tree, wearing hats and playing Christmas music. The kids do the tree and they remember where each decoration and ornament goes. We add one new "posh" bauble each year. Panto (with our niece - boys aren't interested any more). Watch lots of Christmas films on DVD. Carols, go for a walk to look at the outside decorations in our village. Christmas Markets if there are any.

Christmas Eve - Pick up the grandparents. Watch Miracle on 34th Street. Get food ready. Leave out Goodies for Santa. (Yes even now that kids are 20 and 22). Before bed I have to read out loud "Night Before Christmas". New PJ's & Slippers.

Then a full on week of Yule festivities - friends, family, fun and frolics, games, walks in the country weather permitting. Lol around watching new DVD's etc. This year it will be Series 5 of 24 - Go Jack!!

Now kids are older and no longer fancy the Panto we hit the sales so they can spend some of their Christmas money (girlfriends come too), followed by a nice meal out and the latest blockbuster at the Cinema.

New Year's Eve - a bit of a knees-up, a special New Years Day dinner.

Sounds a lot - but we don't go mad and spend a fortune. For us it's all about being together with friends and family and just enjoying the break from work etc.

Love the idea of the fake snow - I think I'll have to pinch that idea and add it our list of traditions.

karen51_2

Last year my Auntie gave my son aged 8, some "fake" snow in a tub, it was left at her house by Father Christmas.
Wot do you think he told everybody that he got for Christmas, his roboraptor, his ps2 games or his bowlercade - nope the bl***y snow. Everybody was told about the snow, guess wot hes getting this year - 2 Tonne of the stuff. Now theres a new tradition to be started

3KIDSNOMONEY

Definitely going to start the new pjs thing, my eldest is 10 now and I wish i had started traditions before. We always used to go to Mcdonalds on Christmas eve with the kids in the PJs but eldest is getting too big for that now. Think Christmas i great for families, not everyone is lucky enough to have families that get together though which is sad and they may not look forward to the festive season. Am going to fill a big advent calendar this year so if anyone has any ideas what to put in it, thanks. I always buy the kids a wooden toy for Christmas from santa's workshop but am struggling for ideas this year.

hpiper

A new tradition for us is watching Santa travel the world on the NORAD site on Christmas eve. Its brilliant! (If someone else has already mentioned this - apologies - haven't read all the posts as I should be doing housework!)

Also, for the last two years we have gone to Woburn to get our tree and look at the lovely Christmas tree decoration shop up at Woburn Abbey.

Daddy also does the tree with the boys which is lovely to watch.

A post christmas tradition is weighing ourselves on New Years Day! (urgh! -especially as I'd put on the most weight last year!)

lil'H

I buy a new decoration each year to go on the tree for my son. He had a little wooden aeroplane last year as he was really into planes, and it is nice to track what he's had each year, cheap and easy too!

We also go ice skaing on Xmas eve, thoguh this year will be skiing so won't be able to.

Lil'H

hpiper

Forgot to mention, always go to a Christmas carol service.

And school nativity play-everyone say aahhh...!