Xmas traditions in your house....

ladsmadd

we decorate the the christmas tree in red and gold only 12 days before christmas every year,
Every year christmas eve, we always had to take mince pies and cakes to the neighbours [about 5 to 6 houses].After dinner we always go for a drive to see chrismas lights first with my grandad and then with my dad when he passed his test.Mum would always stay at home [for some reason].Once home it was bath then time to set the sweet table up, with choclate santas, tubes of sweets,choclate animal biscuits, friut and nutsthen it was always time to watch the snowman and father christmas video before bed time.as we grow up for my sister and i it would include clueless and my brother would always watch father christmas again.Every year we would make a plan on who would see if santa had been first, only one year santa took door handle off ,so spoon what to bed with brother after that.
Every christmas day my grandad would take gifts to us and go to one aunties for dinner then the others for tea and then come to us for boxing day for christmas day dinner.Then every new years day after another christmas day dinner there is always a few gifts that santa could not bring, shower gel, new underwear, ect.
My niece had her frist christmas last year and at 4 months she went to look at the lights and watched the snowman and father christmas before bed with her dad.For the past two christmas my sister has worked, and last year mum join her [ worked in same place], so dad had to make dinner and no gifts till about 3.This year they are both of and my brother is having dinner with us

Gettin_me_own_back

My mum always made sure we had new pjs to wear on christmas eve. My kids are 14 and 13 they have always have new pjs on christmas eve. Always put fresh bedding on as well.We save a major joint present for boys for boxing day. This year it will be a xbox36 (thanks quidco).
Hubby always goes to football on boxing day and has been taking both boys since they were 2/3. Gives me the afternoon free to chill out, and soak in the bath with my new smellies. Boxing day dinner is buffett and left overs.
WE ALWAYS WATCH THE SNOWMAN.

snowmaid

sophiesmum wrote: »

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.

Oh that is lovely. :T

snowmaid

We decorate the tree, leaving the angel at the top for the youngest child. Christmas eve we get ready for santa, cookies and milk placed out. We have a huge xmas lunch with normally approx 20 people, so early xmas eve I would have prepared deserts and food that can be prepared in advance. All the women bring a dish of some sort, so the table is laden :rolleyes:

As my sister and her group would be visiting (we alternate as to where xmas will be), the kids would be up at 5am to get their pressies from santa! :eek:

would then exchange gifts and go to Church.

We then get on with preparing lunch. Then friends and other family arrive and it is chaos until 6pm in the evening!! :eek: :rotfl:

For the rest of the week we munch on leftovers.

justontime

When I was a little girl my mum always helped me to make a new dress for the Christmas tree angel out of crepe paper, foil, tinsel and ribbon. I did the same with my children when they were younger and they still have a rota of whose angel will go on the top of the tree each year.

The children help to put up the crib and that takes pride of place on the mantelpiece. When they were younger the children were involved in school play's, concerts, and church activities. I captured as much as I could on video, but I also got them to sing their carols and tell the christmas story at home so that I could make a video to send to Grandma and Grandad. The results were lovely at the time and even more special to look back on now that they are much older. My favourite is when older daughter who was age 7 and bossy, tried to help little sister age 5 to sing the 12 Days of Christmas. Feisty little sister pauses several times to tell her big sister off, it always makes us laugh. Another favourite is my son age 4 being a shepherd in the church nativity, he had a knitted lamb to carry, but he walked on to the stage twirling his lamb by its tail.

I always encouraged the children to write to Santa and we put the letters on the mantelpiece to be transported by magic to Santa (as in Santa Claus the Movie). I always wrote replies from Santa with little pen and ink drawings around the edge. I have kept them all and they bring back lots of happy memories.

I always like to video the lounge and hall after Santa has been but before the family get up. it looks so lovely and it reminds me that the house started off looking neat tidy! The next shots are of the family opening their presents and the room looking increasingly chaotic, but I wouldn't miss a moment of it.

meerustar

We have Pyjama Elves as well :T

Our tree goes up on the 1st December (would be July if I left it to youngest, lol) and the house looks all snug and cosy.

Leading upto the day, we also watch all the xmas films and play the CD's whilst cooking the tea or just in the background.

Xmas eve we make a chocolate log for after the xmas dinner (no one likes xmas pud) and the jelly and custard for the trifle.

We go to xmas eve mass at 6pm in the local church and for some reason, every year, the hymns make me want to cry.

We get home around 7.30, kids have a shower and when they get out, they have a present on their beds from the PJ elf (it's a great way to get them to look nice on the photos). We always watch a film with mince pies and goodies before they go to bed (not sweets though, the sugar makes them hyper and we have sooooo much to do once they sleep, lol)

Xmas morning, the kids wake us (usually by bouncing on the bed) and I go down to check Santa has been (and switch xmas lights on, camcorder on, fire on and most importantly, kettle on, lol)

The rest of the day never goes to plan and we spend the days falling over toys or relatives, but wouldnt swap it for the world.

I can't wait now!!!:beer:

Quackers

meerustar wrote: »

.

I can't wait now!!!:beer:

ME thinks we are following each other today :beer:

We have pyjama elves.

Family get together & have a meal on Xmas Eve.

We watch a xmas film on Xmas Eve too.

When we put up the xmas tree we have christmas cd on and sing and dance our way through it. You are NOT allowed to particpate unless you are wearing a dodgy xmas head decoration & a scarf

My girls are 15 & 13 and we still leave a mince pie out for santa :rotfl:

Xmas day we open the bucks fizz early and just have a whale of a time.

After lunch we have secret santa for everyone who is here

I really cannot wait either :j :j :j

Although I would like to have some new ideas on how to make the day fun and a little different for 2 teenage girls. Am thinking of hiding some of their presents this year with some clues to make the present opening last a bit longer - its all done and dusted too quickly

Katyag

Im really looking forward to this Christmas as it is DS2's first, hes just 8 weeks old just now, and its the first one for a long time that DH doesnt work nights.

On christmas eve we drop off the last few gifts to people.

I tidy the house, need a clean house for Santa.

The boys will get bathed in the afternoon and put in pjs.

Then early evening both boys get a fleecy Santa suit on and we drive around town looking at all the Xmas lights people have decorated their houses with. One house in particular is done up big style and he has a collection box for charity and we put a donation in.

Once we are home DS1 follows Santa on the internet.

Then we put out a snack for Santa and Rudolph with a magic key for him to get in as we dont have a chimney!

Once the boys are in bed we put some fake snow at the top of the stairs by his stocking and beside the tree.

DH and i love Xmas too, he is just like a big kid and is telling people now what he wants!!! Im so excited, getting tears in my eyes thinking of it already!! :rolleyes: Christmas gets me so emotional!!!

Fill_7

ive seen 'followed santa on the internet' mentioned a couple of times. would someone care to explain how this works or what the web address is?

sounds ideal for our 3 year old daughter who loves messing about on the computer!


santa always leaves our daughter a letter to open on xmas morn that has sutty fingermarks round the edge to give that 'just come down the chimney' look!

earthmother

http://www.noradsanta.org/index.php is where you need to go.

Although obviously there's nothing much going on at the moment, you can still read all about him, send him an email, and watch parts of last years' journey