Christmas traditions - what are yours?

CH27

We always have bacon butties on xmas day while opening our presents & we all have new PJs for xmas eve.

Chris25

bossymoo wrote: »

This year we have a special key to let Santa in too as we have no chimney

ThenQUOTE]



I know someone who used to sprinkle glitter from the front door to the Christmas tree because they had no fireplace that was probably before we knew about 'special' keys

Chris25

Dimey, I loved two-balls and all the little songs & chants that used to go with them.

Also loved putting a ball into a pair of tights - you would stand up with your back against the wall & fling these tights around so the ball would bounce over or under an arm or between your legs I'm not explaining this particularly well for those that never played it, but I'm sure those who did, know what I'm on about .

Your dad's war-time experiences brought a tear to my eyes.

CH27

Chris25 wrote: »

Dimey, I loved two-balls and all the little songs & chants that used to go with them.

Also loved putting a ball into a pair of tights - you would stand up with your back against the wall & fling these tights around so the ball would bounce over or under an arm or between your legs I'm not explaining this particularly well for those that never played it, but I'm sure those who did, know what I'm on about .

Your dad's war-time experiences brought a tear to my eyes.

Wow! Blast from the past.
It hurt like hell if you hit yourself instead of the wall though

lynsayjane

We used to get to open one present from Mum on Christmas eve which was new jammies, dressing gown and slippers. We'd get this after we had a bath then off to bed.
Christmas day my sis and I were never allowed into the living room until mum and stepdad were there and I don't recall ever trying to. We have cousins who would be up, opened all their presents then back to bed again before their parents or remaining siblings would be there. Always thought that was a terrible shame. When we were older it then became my stepdad who would be waking us up shouting 'Santa's been'. We'd still have to wait while they made themselves coffee before going in then!

The rest of Christmas involved visits to family and dinner but often depended on dads shifts and when we were seeing him too. As grandparents passed and family ties shifted these changed too.

We did get stockings but these were with our presents, not in our beds and were a mix of sweeties and wee presents. We still get from mum now and we're both in out thirties! Santa presents were in a pile and presents from family etc were under the tree and opened seperately.

Since leaving home I've started my own traditions. 1st December the decorations go up while watching Muppets Xmas Carol and various other Christmas movies. I still like new jammies on Christmas eve and normally change the bedding (nothing like climbing into a fresh bed!) too.
Christmas day itself depends on how I feel normally. Last year being post breakup it was spent watching tv in my jammies with a few bottles of festive spirit.
This year is the first in my new house and is now looking like cooking dinner for 6/7 and entertaining all day.

One day I hope to have a family so I can have all these fab traditions, got a bit teary eyed reading them all!
LJ
x

Cake4brains

lynsayjane wrote: »

Christmas day my sis and I were never allowed into the living room until mum and stepdad were there and I don't recall ever trying to. We have cousins who would be up, opened all their presents then back to bed again before their parents or remaining siblings would be there. Always thought that was a terrible shame.
x

We always had to wait until everyone was ready before we went into the living room together. Like you said, I also knew of children who opened their presents while their parents slept. Even at a young age I would never have done this

Tiglath

To ignore it as much as possible.

Pennylane86

Christmas Eve has always been my favourite time of christmas - it always feels so magical!

I always take the Christmas Eve off work, and do last minute bits that I need to. Christmas music is a must around the house! I always put fresh linen on the beds - it's the same duvet cover every year! And do a tidy up around the house.

Late afternoon, we usually head to the festival of nine lessons and carols at the cathedral which is just lovely - the whole place is packed. By the time this finishes, all the shops are closed, and it really feels like christmas.

In the evening, we watch the snowman, etc, eat cheese, pate, breads and drink mulled wine. Relax in 'comfys' and just have a lovely evening in front of the christmas tree.

We haven't got children yet, but when we do, there will be new pjs, christmas DVD, carrot and a slice of the Christmas cake for Santa (this is what we used to do at home when I was younger)

On Christmas Day, it's unusual for my other half to have the day off, but we have been lucky the last couple of years. We start with out smoked salmon, Scrambled or poached eggs on muffins with a glass of fizz. See open our presents in front of the fire, and then head to my parents house to exchange gifts and have christmas dinner with them. We don't normally have our christmas dinner until gone 8pm-no idea why, it's just always been like this as long as I can remember!

We all have our own jobs in prepping christmas dinner - mine is Brussels sprouts! Prep is always accompanied by a glass of sherry.

Before dinner, watching the christmas episode of dr who has become a bit if a tradition of the last few years......

When I was younger, we didn't really watch tv on Christmas Day - it was a family day, where we all played with our new toys, munched on the obligatory tub of Pringles etc. we also weren't allowed in the living room (or even down stairs for that matter!) until mum and dad were up.

This year will be slightly different as it's our first christmas in our new home, so whilst we will still be going to my parents, it will be during the afternoon and then we will come back to ours for christmas dinner.

Can't wait to continue these traditions - and introduce some new ones - when we have children. I absolutely love christmas, and just can't wait! The whole of December is just magical ..........

tracey12_2

Our Christmas traditions start on 1 December when we put up our decorations and our Christmas elf arrives with my 2 daughters advent calendars. Our Christmas elf stays with our family until Christmas eve when he goes back to the North Pole with father Christmas. My 2 girls love our elf and are already asking if he is coming back again this year

On Christmas eve our elf leaves a hamper on his last day with new PJ's, hot choc, popcorn, Santa's magic key, the night before Christmas book and a family game.

On Christmas eve we make reindeer food with porridge oats and edible glitter and when it is dark we sprinkle it outside. My girls hang their stockings on their bedroom doors and they hang up father Christmas magic key and of course we check NORAD to see where father Christmas is.

We leave a mince pie and milk for father Christmas and the reindeers eat the reindeer food outside.

On Christmas morning the girls bring their stockings into my bed and open them and then we all go downstairs to eat a quick breakfast before opening our presents.

Tracey

Seany

Morning all,
Hope everyone is ok after last nights blow!

Thanks for sharing your traditions. It's certainly great to read, and I'm loving the elves and Christmas boxes!

Currently child free, so Christmas Eve is normally out with friends for a drink or two - it's become a social event because it's the one day a year you can guarantee no one (except me) has to work the next day!

That being said, I work shifts. So planning Christmas each year is always tricky. The OH and I take a December break every year for a couple of days and head out to a German Christmas market for some good food, Glüwein and decoration buying. It's a great usually snowy way to put us in the spirit!

After that it's a Christmas Eve ham, and round to one of our family's for Christmas Day.

Regarding presents, as a kid growing up. My parents used to allow us to open one present an hour (after the stockings had been enjoyed). It made sure that each gift was played with and not necessarily cast aside for the next box. It's something we carry on to this day, and something I hope to continue when we have little sprogs of our own!