Christmas Traditions

My husband and I usually go to my parents' house in the morning and then to his for the afternoon. Eventually I would like to combine the two but that will have to wait until we have a bigger home. Currently none of us has a house big enough really to host everyone.

My favourite yearly tradition is my husband and I watching Bad Santa while drinking about a week before Christmas to help get us in the spirit.

I've hated Christmas for a few years now because usually what happens is my bf and I wake up Christmas Day, have breakfast, and then travel to opposite ends of the state. I come home Christmas night because we have too many dogs to take with us and no money to pay for kenneling for 5 dogs at holiday rates (we have 6 but my oldest always goes with me to my mom's house). So, then I spend Christmas night and several nights after by myself while my bf visits with his family 200 miles away. Normally, my bf's brother is on his leave (in the Navy) and comes home so my bf goes to stay with his mom & brother. It bums me out not to be with one of the people I love the most during the holidays! But this year his brother isn't coming home because he wants to spend the holidays with his girlfriend 5,000 miles away instead. :laugh: So, that means his mom is coming up to our house for Christmas Eve and then we're all going to my mom's house for Christmas day (and of course I want her there anyway! The guilt-free business is just an added bonus :laugh:)! YAY! I'm so happy I get to spend the holiday with almost everyone I love AND not have the guilt of my bf's mom being alone during Christmas. I'm such a genius for coming up with this plan. :laugh:

When our boys were young, our Christmas Eve tradition after church was to come home and gather around the tree where I would read "The Night Before Christmas" to everyone. Then we would pass around tthe Santa cap and jingle bells to each person, starting with the youngest . That person would name a Christmas carol and everyone would sing it while they went to get the presents they were giving and put them under the tree, ringing the jingle bells to announce they were coming. After everyone's presents were under the tree, my wife would bring out a bundt cake (because no one liked angel food cakes) and we'd light a candle in the middle of it and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. Then we would cut the cake and as each person received their slice they would tell everyone one thing that made them happy during the year. After that, each child got to open one present before we put the Christmas cookies and the carrots for the reindeer by the fireplace. Then it was off to bed for the children.

Then it was Santa's turn to get busy assembling the big toys :laugh: :grumble: while Ms. Santa filled the stockings. :bigsmile: Each person has a homemade knitted stocking with their name on the top and the year of their birth on the toe. All were made by my mother until she passed away. Since then they have been knitted by my wife, starting with the one for our granddaughter. Next year my wife will have to do it again for her granddaughter's soon-to-be-born little brother.

Finally Santa and Mrs. Santa would get to relax and enjoy the tree by candlelight and have a cup of tea or cider and eat the cookies.and carrots (unless the dog got them first!) :laugh:

I'm Jewish so my Christmas tradition is going to a Chinese restaurant with my other Jewish friends (hey someone has to keep them in business on Christmas Day!) :laugh:


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Ahahahhaa!! Your right!

My Christmas tradition (newly started as I started my own family in 07) is to open one present the night before (always jammies, my momma did it for me...) and read a christmas story... Christmas morning we'll get up when the kids do (usually around 5 am) and open presents then make breakfast..yummy!!