Christmas Traditions

[lynne]

We've discussed our fantasy Christmas now how do you celebrate Christmas ; what are your Christmas traditions?


No matter where in the world we were living or where we were in jobs or college, we have always gone to Grandma's house in Pennsylvania--almost always a guaranteed white Christmas! This year we are staying in Texas and keeping the B&B open. My newly married sister and her husband are coming out, but we will not be seeing the PA, Boston or VA folks--so we are beginning a new tradition of who knows what...It should be interesting.

Do you go someplace special? Make something reserved for just this occasion? Or do you celebrate in a special way?

[shroomgirl]

I'm worse than my children, every Christmas morning I get up at 4:30-5am usually before everyone else......still a child at heart.
We stay put. And it rarely snows at Christmas in Mo.....though the first winter we were here it got to -40* wind chill and my then 8 year old came home with a metal bat attached to his tongue.....southern boys don't do well in really cold weather.

[layjo]

Most of my family is from and lives in Texas. So we all get togehter at someones house, everyone bring something to nibble and munch on and some liquer and wine for the adults to drink and be "Merry". The night we get together is on Christmas Eve; we pick names and trade gifts and we open our presents at 12:00 AM. The Next day we get together again and have a Christmas Dinner....at a house of one of the other family members. We usually have a good time. But for some odd reason I usually have to work....bummer!...we'll see what happens this year!

we have many little traditions but I think my favorite is that each year one of us gets to pick a theme for the Christmas tree. Last year was my four year olds turn...we had a Blues Clues tree. This year is my husbands turn, he's picked a Nascar theme. I think the best part of this is the fact that we spend a few weeks before the tree goes up making most of the ornaments ourselves. Next year is my turn! already decided that im doing a 2001 space odyssey.
These are more of the unusual ones we've done but we've had more traditional types as well, victorian porceline dolls (my 10 yr old daughter) sea shells (my 11 yr old)

[Chef David Simpson]

Work......how sad..........money,money,money!!!!!!!

[Nick.Shu]

its probably a revolting concept for some, but once i spent the day at the beach by myself surfing on christmas day and for some reason, i really enjoyed it.

i'd rather do it every year - the fact that the lead up is generally spent pleasing so many others, solo downtime is very much appreciated - given that my week is such:

mon - post trade college course
tues - breakfast/lunch
weds - breakfast/lunch
thurs - breakfast/lunch or lunch/dinner
fri - breakfast/lunch
sat - breakfast/lunch
sun - breakfast/lunch

need i say more.

Christmas Eve is always at my parents house.Everyone in the family brings 2 appetizers to feed about 15 people. There is always too much food.
One thing that we do that is unique is,we all sing the 12 days of Christmas.Each year everyone gets a different "day" except for my brother,who always sings "5 golden rings" with as much gusto as any opera singer after a few snifters of cognac.
I have 2 great children now, and my favorite part of the season is watching them open.

Thanks for letting me smile Lynne

[lynne]

It sounds like a wonderful Christmas tradition. I believe that anything that gets family together to celebrate and have fun is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves.

Have a wonderful Christmas Eve this year!

It's been sorta odd for us the last seven years. We moved from Sacramento where all our family is (both his and mine), to Seattle..(no family here). So unless we travel or have folks up...it's usually just the two of us. It's kind of nice though since our anniversary is New Years. We always hope for snow (already looking ahead on the weather planner, fingers crossed), and still do an all out dinner Christmas Eve, and big tadoo...Christmas Day. All this of course changes if family arrives with six nieces and nephews in tow!

[UniChef]

Potataskorb on Christmas eve. (Dad's Swedish heritage) Paella on New Years eve (Mom's Spanish)

palmier.......love your celebration <seriously!>...