Christmas Traditions

Looking for ideas for Christmas traditions. Of course we'll do the cookies and milk for Santa. One idea a friend gave me was for us to get new PJs for Christmas Eve every year. I thought that was super cute. That way everyone has something new to sleep in and look good in the next day.

What are your traditions?

Shannon

 

Thanks for starting this Shannon, I'm interested in the responses too.

We have a milk and cookie plate for Santa that we will put out (starting next year, we're traveling this year). My bro and SIL also do jammies Christmas eve, and I wanted to adopt the same tradition. I already bought them from Carter's.

When the girls get older, I was also thinking maybe we could bake Santa's cookies together Christmas Eve morning.

And of course, we do church. I love midnight mass but I'm sure we're several years away from taking the girls to that one. I just thought of something else. My friend and her kids bake a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas day.

 

Hey Shannon!

Something to add to the Christmas Pj's idea- we usually have some family gathering to go to on Christmas Eve so we are going to leave the pj's out when we leave. So when we get home we will tell them that Rudolph was there and left them. It will be easy this year but I'm sure we will have to get creative in years to come where he leaves them

 

We do new pjs and a new book for everyone to open Christmas eve. We make the same kind of cookies that I always had growing up. We also do a bday cake for Jesus after lunch since our "big meal" is dinner (around 4:30 or 5) and we do pies and stuff then. Actually, last year we only had cake and cookies, no pies! I'm not fond of that since I LOVE pumpkin pie and only eat it twice a year! We have so many little ones that the present opening is just a big free for all right now. As they get older we'll change to how I did it...everyone opens one at a time so we know who gave who what and each person gets to see the recipient open what was specifically chosen for them.

 

QUOTE(ktfan @ Oct 29 2007, 11:08 AM) [snapback]471716[/snapback]
We do new pjs and a new book for everyone to open Christmas eve. We make the same kind of cookies that I always had growing up. We also do a bday cake for Jesus after lunch since our "big meal" is dinner (around 4:30 or 5) and we do pies and stuff then. Actually, last year we only had cake and cookies, no pies! I'm not fond of that since I LOVE pumpkin pie and only eat it twice a year! We have so many little ones that the present opening is just a big free for all right now. As they get older we'll change to how I did it...everyone opens one at a time so we know who gave who what and each person gets to see the recipient open what was specifically chosen for them.

I am looking forward starting a new traditional since both side of our families are all gone except for my father-in-law. It is hard transition from what we were growing up with families still alive and around. Now, it is just the 5 of us (Me, Hubby, Twins and Father-in-Law). My hubby has no brother/sisters as he is the only child. I have one older brother hardly ever see him. He has been that way for years.

Anyway, we had our twins born last year Sept. 30, 2006. With this year, it is going to be more exciting as a "first" real Christmas to them. We will be doing the birthday cake for Jesus and buy new pj's every year for them for our family photo. I do like the idea of getting a new book and read to them.

I can't believe the holiday is just around the corner after the first year!
Diana w/Rianna and Justin

 

We bake and decorate gingerbread men (and ladies) on Christmas Eve day and I make a couple of extra batches of whatever cookies we're running low on. I generally bake cookies {the same ones I had growing up} and pumpkin breads the same weekend we trim the tree and then rebake as necessary when we run out leading up till Christmas.

We got to the early vigil mass {in my church it's also the children's mass} on Christmas Eve. We come home to a pasta and seafood dinner {I'm Italian and that's what my family always did}. After we eat, we all open a gift of new pjs and the kids can open one "fun" gift from Nana and Gramps or Aunt and Uncles. We watch one of the cartoon Christmas specials. Then we set out a glass of egg nog and a plate of cookies for Santa and a bowl of water and tray of carrots for the reindeer. DS {6yo} and I go out and sprinkle "reindeer dust" on the front lawn so the reindeer can find their way {just a mixture of different color glitters}. And it's off to bed...

Christmas morning we have pumpkin bread while we open gifts and I make a big brunch afterwards. We bake a birthday cake for Jesus and have an early dinner {turkey and fixins!}!!

 

Christmas Eve we go to my parents house to exchange presents....come home the kids have new Christmas PJ's My SD puts out the cookies and milk for Santa and the kiddies go to bed. Then DH and I fill stockings put out all the presents label them etc. maybe have a glass of wine. In the morning we play Christmas music while opening presents and after we have a big breakfast. My SD then goes with her mom for the day and we go to my MIL/FIL's house where they have a big ham dinner.

 

We also bake certain growing up special things -lefse, rosettes, flat bread, cookies. We do the 3 gifts (like the wise men gifts), 1-a book, 2-something to wear (clothes, jewelry, shoes, whatever), 3-something special they really wanted. We also do a birthday cake for Jesus. And Santa comes and puts things in our stockings (all little things-lip gloss, candy, fruit, tiny toys kind of things).

My main thing is that I always want my kids to wake up in their beds on Christmas day. Except one special Christmas with my entire family in a cabin, we've been able to make that happen.

 

We do the cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer and a note for Santa and he leaves a thank you note back to them.

Every Christmas I buy each of the kids an ornament (if we have gone some place that year I get it from there) on the back I write their name on it and the year and hang it on the tree. When they get older and leave the house they will take all of their ornaments with them for their own tree.

Christmas Eve Santa fills the stockings and leaves them on the foot of each of their beds so they are right there when they wake up on Christmas morning.

Christmas morning breakfast is egg casserole (this is from DH's family) and rolls in the shape of a Christmas tree (from my family). DH and I have had this breakfast every Christmas morning since we got married.

 

QUOTE(HRE @ Oct 29 2007, 12:28 PM) [snapback]471866[/snapback]
My main thing is that I always want my kids to wake up in their beds on Christmas day.



ME TOO!!! I'm so glad to read this !!!!!!!! Our family treats me like I'm looney, but that's my thing too! I want my children to always wake up in their beds on Christmas morning.

 

These are Great to read!! I am Jewish so the only thing we usually do is go to the movies on Christmas. However, in my family we always do the same thing for Thanksgiving, we go to my Aunt's house. She used to live by my family she now lives about 2 hours away. Her brother/SIL are there and depending on the year their children. (They live in Caifornia, we are NJ) This year for the first time since I can remember we are not going to see them on Thanksgiving. My aunt is going away for two weeks and does not want to have Thanksgiving but she will be having it the Saturday after. I have to say even though as much as I kind of dread, Thanksgiving every year I also look forward to it because I know if nothing else goes well for me in a year Thanksgiving will always be the same, and this year it will not.

ETA: What I find amazing about myself is that I have no problem, if any other Holiday is changed (ie Rosh Hashanah or Passover) but for some reason if Thanksgiving changes I just seem to have a problem

 

I get them a Xmas tree ornament each year from the Met and like my mother did for us when we were children I read them the night before xmas.
I think it's so important to have family traditions. I have such warm memories of my mother during xmas time which I treasure.

 

QUOTE(i4get @ Oct 29 2007, 10:18 AM) [snapback]471631[/snapback]
One idea a friend gave me was for us to get new PJs for Christmas Eve every year. I thought that was super cute. That way everyone has something new to sleep in and look good in the next day.

What are your traditions?

Shannon


I started this with my daughter and dh last year. We also bought her a robe, which she loved, because she felt so grown up!

 

QUOTE(Sullyirishtwins @ Oct 29 2007, 12:05 PM) [snapback]471810[/snapback]
I am looking forward starting a new traditional since both side of our families are all gone except for my father-in-law. It is hard transition from what we were growing up with families still alive and around. Now, it is just the 5 of us (Me, Hubby, Twins and Father-in-Law). My hubby has no brother/sisters as he is the only child. I have one older brother hardly ever see him. He has been that way for years.


i am one of 7 kids, my dh is essentially an only child. and our families live 1000 miles away. so it's just us on christmas, which can sometimes feel a little empty, considering how full of activity my home growing up was. on christmas eve, we cook the foods we love and put in fire and do things together. (as the kids get older, i think we'll turn it into a family game night.) then, when our dd was 1 year old, we started a tradition of going to a super fancy brunch on christmas day at a local hotel. santa claus makes an appearance there, so it's fun for our dd. we let her eat anything she wants, even if it's just desserts. last year, we tried to recruit other friends without family close to join us, but no dice. i think they might this year, though.

 

MIL bakes traditional German sweets, and my mom bakes the kind of cookies you cut out. She puts red hots on them. I decorate the tree Thanksgiving weekend, and that's when we start listening to Christmas music (I LOVE Christmas music!). Christmas Eve is just for our nuclear family. We eat a special meal (the kids get a modified one) while we drink cocoa and watch "A Christmas Story." We open presents Christmas morning (one person at a time so I can keep track for thank-you notes), and then we spend Christmas Day either with my family or his (alternate years; we spend Thanksgiving with whichever family isn't Christmas that year). We drive around and see the Christmas lights (this was more fun back when people used colored lights, I have to say). We go to the Riverwalk Christmas Parade of Lights, and we eat a Patti's Old Time Settlement and see their lights. We go to see Santa (but Lucinda will have nothing to do with him up close). MIL usually gives the girls an Advent Calendar that they share (just like my sister and I shared one). Every year the children pick an ornament to represent themselves. I have plastic candy canes and icicles for them to hang low on the tree.

It's just a lot of little things that add up to the whole experience.

ETA: The ornaments get passed down to them when they move out to be their start of their tree, just like my mother passed all the ornaments I had chosen to me.

 

We always get everyone a christmas ornament and new PJ's for christmas eve. We don't have any family around so usually go to the movies Christmas eve or day before to see a christmas Movie (actually just started that one last year as they were scared of the movies before that haha)

amanda

 

We are still working ours out, but here is what we did last year.

MIL & BIL come for Xmas dinner (FIL & SMIL the night before because MIL can't be in the same room with them). Xmas morning is just for us and then we go over to my best friend since 4th grades house for xmas dinner.

Traditions that I will carry on from my childhood are;
1. You get to open 1 gift on Xmas eve
2. Santa leaves a coloring book or magazine at the end of your bed (my dad's parents gave them their stocking to keep them in bed longer and my parents modified that. But it still got them another 1/2 hour of sleep on Xmas morning!!)
3. Stockings before pancake breakfast but gifts after. My dad used to DRAG out breakfast just to watch us squirm!
4. Church on Xmas eve
5. Wrap all gifts (my DH's family didn't wrap gifts from Santa but I think that takes the fun out of opening gifts).

It think the most important will be having just the 4 of us on xmas morning. I never want to make my kids wait to enjoy xmas till everyone gets to the house or have to pack them up and drive all over Colorado to see family.

 

I am really enjoying reading this everyone!! It is great to see what even does and what they will continue to do.

 

-- Family trip to a Christmas tree farm to pickout the tree.
-- Baking day with all the women in the family. We divide and conquer and have a variety of goodies to take home!
-- We go walk around this neighborhood that is decked out in lights every year about 4 days before Christmas.
-- Church service and dinner on Christmas eve.
-- Open 1 present on Christmas eve.
-- Milk and cookies out for Santa.
-- We get a new ornament every year. (The neat thing was the year I got married my mom gave me a box full of a lot of my ornanments over the years that we decorated out first tree with. I plan to do the same for my kids.)
-- Christmas pajamas for all.

 

This thread is getting me in the mood! I lov the cake for Jesus! Someone at my work wraps Christmas books for a week or two before Christmas. Each night, one of her children picks a book to unwrap and she read it. They are books she owns.

 

This is so fun to read. I am excited because this year my kids really understand more and it will be fun to start new things this year that we can carry on in the future.

A few things that DH and I have done, that we will continue:

1) We bake a Christmas casserole and eat that after opening presents together Christmas Day (we've done this for over 10 years now).
2) We give the kids jammies.
3) We do stockings. We open them first on Christmas morning.
4) We go to church on Christmas Eve.
5) We celebrate Christmas Eve with my family and do a whole traditional Mexican food spread (tamales)...even though we are not Mexican! But heh, margaritas on Christmas Eve? Admit it sounds good.
6) We visit Santa in November at my mom's work. They do a HUGE production and video tape it!

I would like to bake cookies this year with the kids. And I would like to focus on the religious aspects of the holiday without overdoing the whole Santa bit. Not sure how we will do that yet.

 

I love all of your ideas and traditions.

Here is what we like to do:

1. Christmas Eve mass, followed by dinner here with inlaws
2. New pj's on Christmas eve for the entire family
3. Cookies and milk out for Santa and Reindeer food too!
4. Stockings on Christmas morning are left outside bedroom door.
5. Yummy breakfast casserole on Christmas morning and we stay home all day, no running around to various homes, just stay home and enjoy our family.
6. We celebrate the day after Christmas with my family. My family is British so we celebrate "Boxing Day" and have another "Christmas" celebration

Some traditions I would like to start this year are:

1. an Advent calendar and an advent candle lighting.
2. baking cookies and sharing with friends
3. get a real Christmas tree (I have never had one, neither has DH)
4. donating to a needy family/children

 

QUOTE(summerfun @ Oct 29 2007, 08:31 AM) [snapback]471871[/snapback]
Every Christmas I buy each of the kids an ornament (if we have gone some place that year I get it from there) on the back I write their name on it and the year and hang it on the tree. When they get older and leave the house they will take all of their ornaments with them for their own tree.


Amy, I LOVE this idea (totally stealing it). I bought special 'two peas in a pod" ornaments last year and had the foresight to buy 3 so the boys would each have one when they got older. Now I'm going to snowball it into a formal tradition.

Thanks for the great tip!

When I was growing up our tradition was a Xmas morning photo lined up on the stairs. All 4 of us kids would line up, youngest to oldest sitting on the stairs in our Xmas jammies and Mom would take a picture while Dad went into the family room to 'make sure' Santa remembered to come. Xmas Eve we would all lay our our stockings on an arm of one of the couches and whatever Santa brought would be laid out for us all over the couch like a store display. Santa never wrapped any of our gifts. DH thinks that's weird....I thought it was great (and now, totally appreciate the amount of time it saves the adults)!

 

I love, love, love the carrots for the reindeer and the thank you note from Santa. I would have flipped about that as a child. Keep 'em coming. I'm getting in the Christmas spirit! Shannon