Family Traditions -- What are yours?

[Aint2nuts]

Quote:

Something a friend said on another post made me want to start this thread. She said: "Angela! Christmas will be special this year no matter what. I know you will make it so. {{{Angela}}}}" (Judy)

Yes it will! IF I ever get my voice back, I am taking the kids caroling at friends houses, with other kids we know.

We go looking at lights every year with hot cocoa in the car (a special treat -- usually NO food in the car). The CD plays Christmas carols and we sing along.

Usually the day after Thanksgiving we put up the tree. This year will be slightly different because we have no tree yet. Still looking on Freecycle and yard sales. (SIlly me gave away the tree thinking we were moving to LA and when we didn't move...we didn't have a tree!)

WE put beanie babies in the tree, because when the kids were little they had stuffed animaals (and so did I) but no ornaments! It has become a Tradition in our family to have beanie babies (bears mostly though we have others) perched in the tree on little clouds of white pillow fiber filling. We buy more at yard sales each year as people give up the ones they bought years ago. We pay a max of 50 cents each. We bought three this year for a total of 75 cents -- cheap for 'Christmas ornaments'!

The night before Christmas we read two books and a poem. Polar Express, The Night Before Christmas and the Littlest Angel. I know they are all little kids books, but I love reading them.

They are allowed to open a present the night before Christmas. I pick the present. LOL Usually I pick sweats (that they wear for PJ's) and they know it.

I always have 'Santa' bring a stocking for each of them, even though they no longer believe. It always has nuts, candy sticks (10 cents each at Cracker Barrel) or candy canes, and a tangerine in the toe of the stocking! Lip gloss, toothbrush and a fun toy or two (small toy animals that my girls LOVE still, chinese yo yo, silly putty, slinky -- those kinds of things).


Christmas morning is spent at our house. We open presents. I make us a nice breakfast, and then we go to Grandma's and Granpa's house for an early Dinner. My Mom makes us something for Christmas. (They are on retirement budget). Last year she made two of my kids quilts. Katy got her quilt on her birthday. They LOVE their quilts, and it will be a wonderful keepsake as the years go by.

What are your Christmas Traditions? When or how did they start?

[HSmom]

We always choose two children of the same age & genders as ours from a "Giving Tree." My kids help shop for, pay for (partially) and wrap presents for those "less fortunate" children. I'm just sitting on my hands waiting for the tree to go up this year. One year, there were left three adult women on the tree - all asking for bedding - I bought them their wishes. I have a feeling that this year, I'll be buying for more than those children that "match" ours.

 

I'm a nurse, so I sometimes have to work on December 25th. Or December 24th. But never both. And sometimes neither. We celebrate "Christmas" on either the 24th or 25th (depending on my work schedule). If we are together on the 24th, we go to a candlelight service. The day we "celebrate" starts with a big breakfast and THEN gifts. The stockings are from mom and dad, and so are most of the gifts. But "Santa" usually gets them some plastic junk that they really wanted. We have a special meal and try to sing or play some games.

 

We also have a tradition of driving around to look at lights - sometime during the season.

 

Each year, the kids each get a new ornament, with their name and the year on it. We also get a family ornament with all of our names and the year. Initially we used the ornament to commemorate significant events that year (first home, first baby, etc), but now that we're old-n-married each year is much like the previous. When the kids grow up, their personal ornaments are their own.

 

I have a blank, lined, journal - with Santa on the cover - in which I record the highlights of the season: where we live, decorations, special events, most memorable gifts, our new ornaments, etc.

[michelle]

Well we always set our Christmas tree up on Thanksgiving night but this year it will be postponed. We need to finish the last of the remodeling on the new living room this weekend, then we'll put it up.

 

We spend Christmas Eve at home just us. My mom, little brother and little sister come over and we all open presents from each other. The kids get to open one present from us that night too. Then its off to bed early.

 

We get up early on Christmas morning to open presents from Santa. Then we get dressed and go to my great grandma's house (1 hr away) to be with all the family, extended too. We eat a big lunch there and open presents with great grandma. Then we go to Mamaw's house (next door) to open presents from her and eat dinner there. Then its back to home to crash after a long day.

 

This has been the way it is in my family all my life. We always opened presents from mom and dad on Christmas Eve just us and then Santa presents Christmas morning before going to great-grandma's house.

 

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

 

 

[Juli]

We celebrate everything

 

We set up the Yule tree the weekend after Thanksgiving and decorate it a bit at a time over the next few weeks.

 

On Yule we sing and feast, my son gets a gift, we share food and sweets with neighbors and some people who live alone and don't have family. On the longest night of the year, we light the Yule log and tell stories and sing some more.

 

On Christmas eve I read The Night Before Christmas, my son gets a small gift.

 

On Christmas day, we get up early, my son gets a few more presents or one large one, we have some breakfast cookies (Oatmeal) and hot chocolate. Later we have Christmas feast and make sure all the neighbors and friends have plenty to eat. Then on Christmas night I read the Nativity story and we reflect on what it all means and how very blessed we are.

 

The outside lights get turned off every evening but on Christmas night we leave them on all night. A beacon in case someone finds themselves without a place to stay, they'll see our lights and know they will be welcomed here.

 

 

[Aint2nuts]

Originally Posted By: Juli

The outside lights get turned off every evening but on Christmas night we leave them on all night. A beacon in case someone finds themselves without a place to stay, they'll see our lights and know they will be welcomed here.

Wow, that is a really neat tradition.

[Aint2nuts]

Originally Posted By: HSmom

We always choose two children of the same age & genders as ours from a "Giving Tree."

That is really great. We don't use the giving tree, because I know I can buy my kids at least one small present. It won't be much, but that way it doesn't take from someone less fortunate than we are.

[Rezgirl]

My husband's family has a unique tradition that I never heard of before I became acquainted with his family.

 

On Christmas Eve, after the big dinner and the reading of Luke 2 and the opening of the gifts, we make things out of mud.

 

During the afternoon before, DH goes out with a shovel and gets a bucket of dirt from a place where the dirt is clay-like. He sifts it through a screen, like for rabbit cages.

 

 

When we are ready to start the mud activity, he mixes warm water with the dirt until it forms a ball. He gives each person a ball of mud. Each of us makes something that we wish for in the coming year.

 

We place all the mud objects on a piece of plywood. There are sheep, cows, horses, dogs, 4 wheelers, doublewide trailers, trucks, cars, bags of money, In-ground swimming pools.....the list is varied, funny and changes from year to year.

 

We leave the objects dry for a week, and on New Years Day, they are put in the sheep corral.

 

My brother in law says that my FIL started this when they were small, and it caught on in our community. I have asked other Navajo people in other places, but no one knows of this tradition. Some other families in our community still do this.

 

My guess would be that in an era where most people here had nothing, it cost nothing and entertained the children

[michelle]

Now that is interesting. I've never heard of anyone doing that. Very interesting way to prepare for your new year's resolutions early I guess. Hmm...

[Juli]

RezGirl, that sounds familiar to me. Anyway, I think it's a very cool thing to do

[Momo]

When I was a little kid we did not put our tree up until Christmas Eve after dinner. We couldn't wait to wolf down our dinner, clean up, and get to the tree!

[HSmom]

Originally Posted By: Aint2nuts

Originally Posted By: HSmom

We always choose two children of the same age & genders as ours from a "Giving Tree."

That is really great. We don't use the giving tree, because I know I can buy my kids at least one small present. It won't be much, but that way it doesn't take from someone less fortunate than we are.

Angela, you are a lovely person. Thank you for doing what you can, and allowing for those who cannot.

[Crazy4Canning]

In our house, we observe Channukah. I love that for eight nights we set time aside, at least an hour, to do NOTHING but stop and reflect. Sometimes I put up lights and greenery, most years, though, I don't. I just don't have the time or energy.

 

Our channukia is near the front window so everyone can see the light and be warmed by it. The first few nights the light barely seems enough. As the days pass, the light grows stronger and brighter, reminding me of Strength, Courage, and Hope.

 

There are various devotions and reflections that always parallel this holiday season and I always read from them, compose my own, but always reference a book of remembrances from the Shoah (Holocaust) and how people observed the Festival of Lights during a time of darkness and opressions. The sacrifices made and miracles of observance always bring me to a sharper focus of what is meaningful in my life. Sometimes we get together for a party with friends and play driedels for chocolate kisses, the 'prize' being a homemade goodie bag, candle, or other gift.

 

Often though, my sweetie and I sit and just watch the flames and have a nice together-time. I revel in the fact that if we wanted, there could be a gift for each night, but I'm perfectly content to spend time with my Sweetie and just *be*. Often, I do get him a special gift but in years past, we saved our money and hit after-holiday sales. This year though, we really don't NEED anything and with a potential job change coming, there will be time enough to buy what we want or need later.

 

We do get together with my family and have a Channukah dinner - usually something scrumptious and decadent. We do a small gift exchange, but nothing lavish, usually a prep gift or clothing item.

 

When I got married, I found myself thrust back into the cycle of buying gifts because it was 'expected' for EVERYONE and it was 'Christmas'. This irritated me more than I realized because over the years I had freed myself of the 'obligatory gift buying'. So, the first year we were married, the bills were exorbitant, despite homemade cards.

 

Since then, I've said NO WAY! and we've done homemade baskets, goodie bags, etc. People complained that things weren't store bought, so now I just do immediate family - my husband's mom & husband, step-mom (sister and nephew) and our parents and both our grandmothers (even if it's just a bouquet - something to honor them with). Everyone gets a small homemade item and some sort of treat.

 

 

 

[Deerslayer]

I went Christmas crazy for several years and almost drove myself to the looney bin with all the stress of all our family traditions, so... since my kids are older , I sat them down back during the summer and asked them to write on paper their personal 3 favorite traditions.

All three listed the same thing as number 1...

we have a weiner roast outside on Christmas Eve--This is so funny to me, because several years ago, we were living in our RV (while building our house) and I didn't have the money for a big feast so I suggested a weiner roast. Now it is their most treasured memory. So that one stays.

 

There were a couple of number 2's...

driving around and looking at lights and my office Christmas party for developmentally delayed people--so those two stays ds will be Santa this year!!...

 

and the number 3's were just as heartwarming...

they like it when I cook extra pies and they all get up in the night and eat them while they talk to each other. I am supposed to be shocked that the pies are gone the next morning. So pies will be made.

they asked to keep our delivery of food boxes to several families, so that stayed too.

they also asked to keep the homemade gifts

 

It makes me feel so great as a mother to have raised great kids, that I would be happy if I never received a wrapped gift again. I felt like I had already received the best gift ever!!

I, as a mother of three who fought constantly, am instantly warmed by the fact that they like to talk to each other now!! They are not perfect children, but at least at Christmas, they really do think of others.

 

Those are pretty much what we have gotten down to around here--it is a lot easier than putting up 6 trees, and all the dinner parties, and all the buying of things that end up in garage sales next year, and me going crazy!!!

 

...this year the homemade gift is all my family recipes, put into a cookbook for each of them--that is what they wanted the most!!

 

[Crazy4Canning]

DS,

 

You must be so proud!

 

Mom always made extra cookies because they tended to 'disappear' when we had cousins over before and during the holiday vacation...she wasn't supposed to notice and turned the 'blind eye'.

 

Moms are great!

[Cat]

My newlywed DD asked little DD if Mom had the elves out yet.

 

When the kids were small, they were *so* excited about Christmas coming... and so I started an "elf hunt" along with an Avon pocket advent calendar.

 

The calender just has 24 pockets, one for each day before Christmas, and you put little things like coins or candy in each pocket. I soon learned to put each item in *just* the night before... Then there's a little cloth mouse that you move into the now-empty pocket. They STILL look for it. LOL

 

 

The elf hunt was something I probably got from a magazine. You hide an elf or two around the house, and every morning it's a new hunt! The rule is that if anyone *touches* the elf or takes it down to play, the elf can't move for 24 hours. So they learned to leave them alone.

 

The last night, Christmas Eve, the elves all go to the Christmas tree to stay until it's taken down. Sometimes after Christmas those elves mysteriously moved around the tree, too... The kids wanted to play the game, too!

 

In the beginning, the elves would stay more out in the open, but as the kids got older, they'd be found in a cupboard, or taped over a clock, or in other odd places. Some nights I'd be in bed before I'd remember I had to go hide elves... And more than once I rushed around the next morning hiding them.

 

I used three little felt "sitting" elves. I have a feeling I'm gonna have to get more so married DD can play...

 

I looked in several stores yesterday for something suitable, but no luck yet... You could use any small soft, unbreakable toy or ornament.

 

 

I sure miss those excited small-kid Christmases...

 

 

 

[twilap]

When my children were very small, I began putting the Christmas tree up the day after Thanksgiving. It has remained a tradition that four of my children continue to this day. The Children help to decorate it, and as we make new ornaments each year, they are lovingly added to the tree.

 

We try to keep the "commercialism" out of our celebrations, and only purchase a few things for the younger children that still believe in Santa. Everyone else gets gifts that will be of use for a very long time such as quilts, crocheted lace doileys, camping equiptment, ect. My DD's & DDIL's still expect something handmade from "mama".

 

DS#4 will pout if he doesn't get a pound of "Ma's" homemade potato candy for chrismas! (Had to make it and put it in the mail yesterday so he'd have it for Christmas this year. lol)

 

DD#2 digs out her Clown collection that we started buying for her when she was just a year old... she uses these porcelian and china Clowns to decorate around her Christmas greenery throughtout the house each year.. It is a tradition that her own children enjoy.

 

DS#4 puts up a small tree for his family each year, because they all go to Phoenix and often times Old Mexico to visit DDIL's family for the holidays. Somehow Santa always manages to get in the house while they're gone and leaves gailey wrapped packages for everyone, along with a homemade candies, cookies, and other wonderful tasting confections for them to enjoy when they get back home again.

 

Twenty-five years ago, we starting baking a "Happy Birthday Jesus" cake , to put Christ back into Christmas. That tradition continues to this very day in all of my children's homes and they say their own children have said they like that tradition best of all.

 

But the most important Christmas tradition that all of my children and myself continue each year is the gift of giving.

 

In 1981 my first husband was in an industrial accident that left him unable to work for nearly 3 years. The 8th grade class at St. Jeromes Catholic church adopted us. Not just for Christmas, but from Thanksgiving until the end of the school year in June. It was the most turbulant and poverty stricken year of my life and if it weren't for these wonderful children I probably would have ended my own life. It taught all of us the powerful joy of giving as we witnessed the glowing joy of happiness on those wonderful faces as they stopped by to visit or just to say hi.

 

Since that time, we have collected food for the food banks, cooked holiday meals for the homeless, "adopted " angels from the christmas tree at Walmart, or some other store and my own children continue that tradition with their kids. My grandchildren pick out the toys and gifts for their "special christmas angels" and they take them back to the store, wrapped and ready for santa's helpers to distribute. It's a sense of joy in the giving, but bitter-sweet as well because we'd like to buy for all the Angels on those trees.

[MomM]

We have several traditions.

We send out a Christmas newsletter (well, it started out a newsletter, then DH took over and it is now a Gazette). My goal was to mail it the day after Thanksgiving, now it sometimes doesn't get mailed till Jan (God Bless my sweet DH, he is so busy that he doesn't always get it out before Christmas). Many of our relatives and friends will comment in their cards that they are looking forward to the newsletter.

When all the kids were at home, we would put up the tree the day after Thanksgiving - while I had a lot of helperss. Currently, it is still in the basement (DH is working a lot of hours, so not sure when it will go up).

I usually set out the ceramic nativity scene (that I made back in 1978)but this year, I just bought the Fisher Price Nativity set on eBay, and will put it at the base of the tree. This way the little ones can play with it and I won't risk having a heart attack.lol

We make homemade cappalleti's (similar to ravoilis) for Christmas Eve dinner. DH and our two sons make the dough and the cappalleti's, and I make the meat and the cheese fillings, and the sauce. We usually make over 350 of them, and may only have a pie plate of leftovers. Christmas Day dinner is usually something easy, so we can all just visit and relax.

I also make French cookies (I even have my mother's old cast iron french cookie iron, and thankfully her old electric one too).

I bake poteca (sweet bread with nut filling), mini cheesecakes, melt away cookies, and fudge.

Last year, DH and I volunteered to help with the Empty Stocking Fund Project (both in filling the boxes and helping to distribute them).What a blessing! We will do it again this year.

DH's work is collecting items for Mission of Hope, and we participate and also do an Angel Tree from church.

I love this holy season!

[Becca_Anne]

We have several traditions that I just love

The best is our annual Gingerbread House decorating party. The kids invite all their friends, and they each bring a little something to decorate with. I provide christmas candy, cookies, plenty of icing and music and we create a masterpiece together

 

We also do a pyjama drive with cocoa to see the lights.

We always read the Night before Christmas

And I love to sit with the lights off except the tree and snuggle with my kids on my lap listning to christmas music.

Of course now that they are getting older they don't fit on my lap anymore LOL.

[Amishway Homesteaders]

I got one not many people do.................

 

My Family has done this since I was a little kid an dTHAT was a long time ago -

We have a Birthdau Cake on Christmas Day as part of the dessert.

 

When we were little we would all sign Happy Borthday Too Canles and all.

 

It is a bit funny and at the same time sad that lately when we tell people of our tradition some ask WHY we have a Birthday Cake on Christmas - is it someone's Birthday??????

 

By the Way this is a great tradition to start in your Church as we have done over the years - Nothing is better to get people talking then to sign Happy Birthday with all the other Christmas carols. Sometimes we even have candles lite on the cake as it is brought out up front, the Church lights are down, and we light candles for everyone and make a big circle around the pews and then sign silent night in the dark. Man that's Christmas to me.

(tell me after that happenes your kids will not know the REAL meaning of Christmas!)