stephmodo: Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions

• 22 December 2008




Despite being married for 9 years, I still feel like we are figuring out our own Christmas traditions. I guess we've spent so many Christmas holidays with our parents (which, is super fun mind you!) that we haven't really figured out what we want to do for our own little family, on our own. Some years we do one thing, and others we do another. I'd like to be more consistent and really figure out what is most important to implement.

So my question is, what are your favorite Christmas traditions? Do share :)

photo from "bredgur's" flickr stream

12 comments:

  1. We have so many, blending the traditions of our two families and adding our own special holiday rituals...

    Recently we picked up a holiday tradition that I treasured as a child, decorating clothespin ornaments to sit on the branches of our Christmas tree. Nothing too detailed or fancy, but a wonderful way to spend the day with my 3 1/2 year old daughter. Here's the picture of our clothespin dolls: http://virginiawildberry.blogspot.com/2008/12/traditions.html

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  2. One tradition we have is every year our kids get a new Christmas ornament. When we pack up all our ornaments, we cut up the Christmas cards we've been given and write a Christmas memory for each child to go with their ornaments. The memories range from something special that we've done throughout the year to what they got for Christmas or who came to visit. Whatever the kids want to remember I write down. Every year as we put the tree up we take turns reading our memories. It is a fun way to remember things we might have forgotten.

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  3. Every year we have a picnic around the tree in the dark. Just the light of tree and some candles. We usually pick up our favorite takeout and just hang out as a family. This is so easy and we have loved this simple tradition especially with my little ones 1 and 3.

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  4. I love Christmas traditions! A new one this year: listening to "A Christmas Carol" on CD -- we picked up Jim Dale's rendition. We also buy an ornament for our kiddo each year so that she will have her own collection when she leaves home. Then there's potato soup on Christmas Eve, blasting the Hallelujah Chorus on Christmas morning, and as far as presents under the tree go, each kid gets three gifts: something to keep you warm, something to read, and something for fun. We always watch "A Christmas Story" at some point. A friend has a neat tradition: she and her husband want to have a Christmas tree full of bells when they're old, so each year they give each other a bell for the tree.

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  5. Our family has a shepherd's meal every Christmas eve - we sit on the floor, dress up in robes and towels, and eat soup in breadbowls with sparkling cider. It's an easy, quick meal, which is great on a busy day, and just a fun lovely quiet evening activity.

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  6. Fondue on Christmas eve as well as our brother/sister gift exchange. My parents always had us exchange sibling gifts on Christmas eve so they would fully get appreciated and not lost in the shuffle Christmas day, then we went to our rooms and got new Christmas PJ's and my dad would read the Christmas story then off to bed. I am passing all of these traditions on to my kids. As well as a fabulous breakfast spread on Christmas morning.

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  7. Here's some we do: We "try" and ready Christmas stories each night by the christmas tree. We also give our kids new pjs to wear (not so sure my boys love that or not but I do it each year), all the kids sleep together in one bed (they think that is super super fun) on Christmas Eve, on Christmas Eve, we deliver our secret santa gifts to a needy family, we also make gingerbread house each year..they each get their own to decorate. Have a great Christmas!

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  8. This is our first year to do it all on our own, and we are thrilled. New PJs for Christmas Eve, a wonderful breakfast Christmas morning (combining elements from hubby's family and mine), choosing tags from the Angel Tree & shopping together for those gifts. We make fudge, coconut treats, and plenty of cocoa. We also started a collection of Christmas children's books to enjoy until Christmas. We are forging our way into our own family traditions, too.

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  9. I guess Christmas PJ's are quite common! It is indeed a wonderful tradition that many of us grew up with. This year I was wondering what to do with all the old PJ's of Christmas' past. (My oldest is now 13) Although I am not a quilter or crafty by any means, I decided I would keep them all as they outgrow them and get new ones so I can someday make a "Christmas Quilt" full of memories. My grandmother used to make patchwork quilts out of old clothes, and I think a Christmas quilt would be so fun to snuggle with every December!


    One other tradition we have is a visit from an elf every year. Our elf "watches" to make sure the children are being good, and then reports to Santa. He moves around the house and has been known to leave a trinket or charm or tiny treat if they have been extra good. The children love this tradition and get so excited for December 1st! (Our elf is a Mark Robert's collectable available online or at specialty stores like Basket Loft)

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  10. we have a lot of small traditions (some of Joe's UK ones) but our biggest is one Christmas eve we choose someone in our life that has had a hard year in some way (large or small) and pile in the car, listen to music and drive them over a secret little gift and love note...It makes us feel good to know that on Christmas morning these folks get a big smile. I think it will teach our sons to give and be thoughtful at Christmas and beyond.

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  11. We're like you and most years we're with others on Christmas. This year is our first year at home just us and I'm very excited about that. Hurray! Anyway, because we're away for the holiday our traditions generally happen before the day - a santa train ride together, baking for teachers and neighbors, gingerbread house, decorating the Christmas tree together.

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