Christmas Traditions

[Palerider]

We are in the Christmas season....what do you and your family do for Christmas ? What traditions will you and your family do ? Acts of Service or baking or Caroling ?? can't leave out movies.

If you don't celebrate Christmas which holiday do you celebrate ??

[Palerider]

I don't have any family close by, but we do get with my Wife's family and have a meal together, this takes place close to Christmas so that everyone can do their own thing. All my kids are married and we have 4 grandchildren. My wife and I always buy gifts for our grandchildren and our family draws names and we will get together and exchange gifts and have a meal. I have to make a Carrot Cake. I also have several movies I like to watch that are Christmas movies. I love Christmas music and to listen to the Choir sing Christmas music.

[Vort]

We open all our gifts on the evening before Christmas Day. Stockings get filled that night.

[Palerider]

Now that my wife and I are the only ones in our home...we don't put a tree up.

[pam]

This year we're doing something slightly different.  My kids are all in their 20's but they still enjoy getting stockings.  This year we drew names and we are responsible to put together and fill a stocking for the person we drew.  That way I'm not responsible for doing it all and I get one too.  

 

We'll see how that goes.   :)

[Palerider]

Last year when my Grandaughters spent a weekend with us they told us our house didn't look very Christmasie. I explained that we don't put a tree up anymore. Then the oldest one asked us....don't you guys love Jesus ?? I turned to my wife as I left the room and said that one is all yours. Lol

[FunkyTown]

My wife and I have 2 Christmas Traditions:

Once a year, we go to Harrod's. Harrod's is the really posh, expensive place that the super-rich go to - £45000($70000) purses and the like. We get a single, really good Christmas Tree ornament. We figure that we have an eternity of marriage, right? After only 50 years, we should have a fantastic tree.(note the Christmas ornaments are not nearly as expensive as the purses. )

The second Christmas tradition is that we get a goose for Christmas instead of a Turkey. I get really excited by this: Goose is fatty and delicious and you put it in the oven and let the fat drip down to the level below, drizzling over the potatoes. Goose fat potatoes are fantastic.

[Palerider]

My wife and I have 2 Christmas Traditions:

Once a year, we go to Harrod's. Harrod's is the really posh, expensive place that the super-rich go to - £45000($70000) purses and the like. We get a single, really good Christmas Tree ornament. We figure that we have an eternity of marriage, right? After only 50 years, we should have a fantastic tree.(note the Christmas ornaments are not nearly as expensive as the purses. )

The second Christmas tradition is that we get a goose for Christmas instead of a Turkey. I get really excited by this: Goose is fatty and delicious and you put it in the oven and let the fat drip down to the level below, drizzling over the potatoes. Goose fat potatoes are fantastic.

I really miss those potatoes you are talking about. While there on mission I loved it when a member served those.

[Guest]

We have several Christmas Traditions:

 

1.)  Advant Wreath.  We light a candle every Sunday on the wreath starting the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

 

2.)  Elves.  We have 4 elves that a lady in the ward made for us.  My husband moves the elves around the house when the kids go to bed and they go and look for them in the morning.  It's been a fun thing for the kids to start their day with.

 

3.)  Carolling.  We bake cookies during Christmas Eve Eve and package them into boxes.  We go door to door on Christmas Eve caroling and handing out boxes.  We pick different houses every year.

 

4.)  Presents.  After caroling, we go have 2nd dinner and wait for midnight... we are too impatient to wait for the next morning... we open our presents right a the stroke of midnight.

 

5.)  Movie.  We watch a movie on Christmas Day.

 

6.)  Snow Hunt.  We drive up north between Christmas and New Year to look for snow.  This is our 6th year and we hope to FINALLY see snow.  Not the snow machine snow.  Not the slush left-over on the side of the road snow.... Real, honest-to-goodness, dropping out of the sky snow that we can build snowmen with...

[classylady]

We have several Christmas Traditions:

 

6.)  Snow Hunt.  We drive up north between Christmas and New Year to look for snow.  This is our 6th year and we hope to FINALLY see snow.  Not the snow machine snow.  Not the slush left-over on the side of the road snow.... Real, honest-to-goodness, dropping out of the sky snow that we can build snowmen with...

 

 

 

 

Living here in Utah, I'm beginning to wonder if this year we will need to go on a snow hunt.  It's supposed to be around 60 degrees today.  Where is the snow?

Edited December 11, 2014 by classylady

[Guest]

 

We have several Christmas Traditions:

 

6.)  Snow Hunt.  We drive up north between Christmas and New Year to look for snow.  This is our 6th year and we hope to FINALLY see snow.  Not the snow machine snow.  Not the slush left-over on the side of the road snow.... Real, honest-to-goodness, dropping out of the sky snow that we can build snowmen with...

 

 

 

 

Living here in Utah, I'm beginning to wonder if this year we will need to go on a snow hunt.  It's supposed to be around 60 degrees today.  Where is the snow?

 

 

IN NEW HAMPSHIRE!!!

 

My cousin guaranteed that there is going to be snow on Christmas Day in New Hampshire.  She said she's been there over 20 years and there has not been a Christmas that did not snow... in all those years.  We've been to OH, PA, NJ, NY, KY, VA, TN, NC, SC, DC... no snow.  As a matter of fact, we were supposed to go to OH last year but at the last minute (3 days before Christmas) went to NJ because they had a snowstorm... we got there and NJ was 70 degrees - snowstorm snow melted by the time we got there.  In the meantime... OH got buried in feet of snow...

 

My son was like - we caused global warming!  Ha ha.

[PolarVortex]

Christmas in a microtown in Nevada.  On Christmas morning everyone opens gifts and feigns surprise and delight, even though all the gifts had been sitting out unwrapped for days on the kitchen table and had provoked many scornful comments from recipients who didn't think their gifts were lavish enough.  Then Christmas dinner at some hot and overcrowded casino buffet.  After the meal, all my relatives head to the blackjack tables or video poker, and I head home with treats for all the dogs and cats.  Is this what the Outer Darkness will be like?  I'd love to have Christmas at my place, but some of my relatives are in frail health and cannot travel, so my choices are either go to them or spend Christmas alone. 

[Palerider]

This Christmas my wife and I will be alone because all of our kids will be at their in-laws home.

[Guest]

I want to start an advent wreath or something similar. Maybe next year. 

 

We always get the kids those chocolate advent calendars at Trader Joe's or World Market. Not the same, but they love it. 

 

We try to get the tree right after Thanksgiving. Decorating is a big and fun event for everyone. We always make cut-out sugar cookies together at some point. I've frequently had the kids invite friends to join us, or I've had their cousins over. It's fun with a big group, but MESSY! 

 

Hubby and I seem to always put off most of our wrapping until Christmas Eve. It's become kind of a nice tradition, though, spending that night together locked up in our room, working on surprises, filling stockings, and listening to Pandora or watching White Christmas.

 

"Elf" is a must. We've already watched it 3 times since Thanksgiving.  

[Palerider]

I want to start an advent wreath or something similar. Maybe next year.

We always get the kids those chocolate advent calendars at Trader Joe's or World Market. Not the same, but they love it.

We try to get the tree right after Thanksgiving. Decorating is a big and fun event for everyone. We always make cut-out sugar cookies together at some point. I've frequently had the kids invite friends to join us, or I've had their cousins over. It's fun with a big group, but MESSY!

Hubby and I seem to always put off most of our wrapping until Christmas Eve. It's become kind of a nice tradition, though, spending that night together locked up in our room, working on surprises, filling stockings, and listening to Pandora or watching White Christmas.

"Elf" is a must. We've already watched it 3 times since Thanksgiving.

I love Christmas music and the movies I have to watch are....Home Alone 1 and 2. Miracle on 34th Street and Scrooge and Its a Wonderful Life.

Edited December 12, 2014 by Palerider

[Guest]

Muppet Christmas Carol, Scrooge, Scrooged. . . hubby loves them all. I've been wanting to show my kids Home Alone. I haven't seen It's a Wonderful Life for a few years! 

I love cheesy Hallmark and ABC Family movies made for Christmas. Some of my favorites are Snow and Snow 2. But I usually watch those alone. :) 

 

I have to have MoTab Christmas music, but I love lots of different Christmas music of all kinds. This year my favorite Pandora station is Ingrid Michaelson holiday. 

[pam]

IN NEW HAMPSHIRE!!!

 

My cousin guaranteed that there is going to be snow on Christmas Day in New Hampshire.  She said she's been there over 20 years and there has not been a Christmas that did not snow... in all those years.  We've been to OH, PA, NJ, NY, KY, VA, TN, NC, SC, DC... no snow.  As a matter of fact, we were supposed to go to OH last year but at the last minute (3 days before Christmas) went to NJ because they had a snowstorm... we got there and NJ was 70 degrees - snowstorm snow melted by the time we got there.  In the meantime... OH got buried in feet of snow...

 

My son was like - we caused global warming!  Ha ha.

 

My daughter lives in New Hampshire and they were getting snow a couple of days ago.  She's coming home to Utah for Christmas this year.

[Palerider]

Muppet Christmas Carol, Scrooge, Scrooged. . . hubby loves them all. I've been wanting to show my kids Home Alone. I haven't seen It's a Wonderful Life for a few years! 

I love cheesy Hallmark and ABC Family movies made for Christmas. Some of my favorites are Snow and Snow 2. But I usually watch those alone. :) 

 

I have to have MoTab Christmas music, but I love lots of different Christmas music of all kinds. This year my favorite Pandora station is Ingrid Michaelson holiday.

My wife likes a few of the movies on Hallmark as well. One is called....The Christmas Card. Can't remember what the other is called.

[Bini]

We are doing Christmas with the grandparents at our house. We'll all be together a full week. It'll be busy, maybe stressful (probably at some point), but my daughter adores having them around. Our tradition is to do a family activity everyday. One evening we might see lights, another we might bake goodies, another we'll decorate gingerbread men, another we'll go sledding (if applicable), and we always end up seeing a movie at the cinema. I'd like to finish up the Hobbit but there's a couple others that look worthy to see, as well, I'm thinking namely that Unbroken (not sure if that's the title).

[Palerider]

We are doing Christmas with the grandparents at our house. We'll all be together a full week. It'll be busy, maybe stressful (probably at some point), but my daughter adores having them around. Our tradition is to do a family activity everyday. One evening we might see lights, another we might bake goodies, another we'll decorate gingerbread men, another we'll go sledding (if applicable), and we always end up seeing a movie at the cinema. I'd like to finish up the Hobbit but there's a couple others that look worthy to see, as well, I'm thinking namely that Unbroken (not sure if that's the title).

The Chrisrmas holidays are fun and sometimes with family around it can be on the stressful side.

When our kids were at home we use to have our family Christmas play we did on Christmas Eve. It was lots of fun.

[Misshalfway]

We all wear matching PJ's on Christmas eve.  

 

My 14 year old daughter wants to get jammies that match our Christmas decor.  But I decorate in gold and silver.  Like, who sells gold pajamma's?   

 

So...she's going to have to be disappointed.  I've selected a lovely coordination between black, white, and red.  (Hee hee hee.  I've bought everybody a beanie.  I'm so excited!)

[Palerider]

We all wear matching PJ's on Christmas eve.  

 

My 14 year old daughter wants to get jammies that match our Christmas decor.  But I decorate in gold and silver.  Like, who sells gold pajamma's?   

 

So...she's going to have to be disappointed.  I've selected a lovely coordination between black, white, and red.  (Hee hee hee.  I've bought everybody a beanie.  I'm so excited!)

That sounds exciting and fun.

[Bini]

Just thought of another "tradition" we've done for a long time now. So, every year we find these local artisan expos where creators rent booths and sell their creations. I love going to these, seeing the talents of those in the community, and supporting the Ma& Pa businesses. My husband and I love talking to the artists, and hearing what inspires them. Sometimes they'll have demo booths and will show children their creative process. If you haven't been to one of these, check out local listings in your area, and go! You seriously will find one of a kind trinkets there, which make fun gifts if you're looking for something unique and not sold in stores.

[mdfxdb]

This year..... Smithmas!!

[Guest]

What?