christmas traditions

[debster]

what silly, strange or traditional traditions do you carry out at christmas? I cant think of any at the mo but feel sure i have loads
what do you do?

[debster]

[Doris_Pinks]

Drink n eat LOTS!! ;D ;D
The only ones I can think of are, Christmas Eve, whoever is coming to lunch the next day has to come over have a glass of vino and help peel the veg! Then we always have Fondue, which I started about 10 years ago as then I am not cooking! Then my OH reads "Twas the night before Christmas" to the girls before they go to bed, from the book he was read to as a child!  And yes they STILL insist, even tho they are 18 and 15!! Awwwwwwwww
Then footprints made by me in BIG boots, sprinkled with glitter around the fireplace up the stairs etc. And reindeer hooves (sponge cut to shape and dipped in mud!) on the door and a few windows. Think that one will be a no no now they are older, whatever they say!! Cookies n milk left by the fire........ditto above re age!

Christmas Day, nothing much, no telly allowed though, we play games and never open the pressies under the tree until all the men in the house have done the washing up from lunch..........we girls like this one ;D It means they not only wash but do it quickly, often singing carols out of tune, trouble is we are having a quiet Christmas this year, so my OH is the only bloke!!! 
Opening the pressies later gives you something else to look forward to in the afternoon/evening!

Boxing day is ALWAYS cold meat and homemade chips, prefer it to Christmas Lunch really!

Oh getting excited just thinking about it! ;D ;D ;D

[RosieMcPosie]

oh my god i am so excited!
nearly christmas!!!!!!!!

[manicscousers]

we always used to get our stocking left on the end of the bed, the wonderful feeling, when we were little, of pushing your foot down and feeling the weight with your toes, my mum stopped it when I was 10, I was devastated..then I did it for my kids, they still had it when they were grown up, now they've all left home, I miss it  :(
still, listening to my niece and grandson chatting about what father chrismas is bringing is wonderful  ;D

[RosieMcPosie]

manics, i'm 20 now, and keep asking my mum to do it for me over the last few years! i love getting a stocking on the end of my bed! yay! :D Rosie x

[manicscousers]

when the children were older, I used to make a black lace stocking with a garter top to fill, they liked that  ;D

[elvis2003]

we always have a glass (or 2/3/4)of baileys christmas eve,and always put our tree,up on my birthday,dec 15th,even though i will be 38 this year,all my family still observe this tradition in their own grown up homes. im starting a new tradition this year,as a surprise for my husband when he returns home from tour..im going to make a christmas scarecrow at the lottie for him,i was going to make an elvis one,but think it more likely to get trashed/stolen than a more trad one! happy decorating everyone!! x

[SamLouise]

Rosebud's home made sausage rolls for breakfast  ;D (even if I do get my fingers rapped for eating them before dinner)

[Jeannine]

I like hanging stockings on the mantle a week or so hefore Christmas and have a feel every day to see  if anything has been added, they get quite fat before Christmas Day.

I still remember the ones as a child though, we used my Mums old Lyle stockings, boy could they hold lots, then when you woke ,still dark of course, you fumbled for the filled stocking on the bed, there is nothing like that moment when you find it. It crackles  and has all shapes of bumps in it My paremts used to really stuff them, clever folks , it took me ages to get through it before I went downstairs, to get the big ones so they got a bit more time in bed!!!

Each week my  folks gave me a Saturday night bag for the same reason, not so full perhaps but enough for the Sunday lie in. A comic, sweets etc.

XX Jeannine

Traditions...........mm I only send cards with robins on.

[ACE]

Traditions...........mm I only send cards with robins on.

Because of my name I only get cards with robins on.

To tire the kids out,  we always went beachcombing on xmas eve, I still enjoy it even though they have all left now. I expect the grandchildren will be coming with me next year. But I will have to make do with a walk along the river Vltava this year.

[sarah]

i am glad i read this thread it has made me feel really christmassy. i love the christmas week but not so keen on the six week run in to it! my sons birthday is on the 17th so for me christmas always starts then.

our little family tradition is for DH and sons to go out on a christmas tree hunt and for me to say "dont get anything too big will you, lets have something a bit smaller than last year ok."
and they always come back with something huge that you have to chop the top off. i always end up loving it anyway.

DH is becoming greener in his old age though so this year i might try and get him to buy a potted tree so that we can use it year after year.  my friend has been using the same one for about six years and its a bit wonky but it survives and its almost part of their family!

[silverbirch]

Out traditions started today, being 1st of advent, and the wife being German, so out came the crown and the first candle was lit.  The Christmas plates are taken out and dusted off.  First mince pie and stollen.  The welcome light is up as well.

The first thing you eat on Christmas morning is chocolate.

Start thinking about Easter.

22nd December - remind everybody "It's only 6 months until the nights start drawing in again"

[manicscousers]

I start lighting my candles now  ;D

[ninnyscrops]

Smoked haddock and poached egg for Christmas morning breakfast :-)

[silverbirch]

Hey ninnyscrops, we do smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, and I cook fresh rolls to go with it.

Not forgetting the Bucks Fizz as well - just to get the day off to a good start.  I claim the rest of the champers to get me through cooking dinner. ;)

[ninnyscrops]

We save the smoked salmon and big prawns for starters usually!

[Emagggie]

we always used to get our stocking left on the end of the bed, the wonderful feeling, when we were little, of pushing your foot down and feeling the weight with your toes, my mum stopped it when I was 10, I was devastated..then I did it for my kids, they still had it when they were grown up, now they've all left home, I miss it  :(
still, listening to my niece and grandson chatting about what father chrismas is bringing is wonderful  ;D

I stopped tip toe-ing in with the stockings after I had sat up for ages waiting for the girls to go to sleep, and as I crept out SM said " thanks Mum"  ::)  She has now got a daughter of her own, and this is the first year without her here. Still going to do a little stocking for her though.
We always put chocolate money, an orange and a few nuts in first.

[scotch-mist]

I'm off work this year on Christmas eve, and intend to be every year for the next 15yrs at least, now I've got babies.
    So please keep the traditions ideas coming, as I don't have any yet.

I have been told that someone fairly local has started to decorate his garden with Christmas lights to raise money for charity, and I intend to take all the boys to see that on Christmas eve ;D

I love Christmas ;D
I get more excited than the kids ;D ;D ;D

[Deb P]

First person to hear Wizards 'I wish it could be Christmas' song that year gets a treat.. :-\

OH picks biggest Christmas tree he can find, and I moan if its too small...last year the Rotary Club blokes we usually buy from put my then 10 year old son through the Christmas Tree 'netter' for a laugh! ;D

Get woken up at a ridiculous hour by kids on Christmas day to open a few pressies in bed, then have a bit more sleep and open the rest around the tree before a nice big brekkie..oldest child hands all pressies out. Little tree presents for later in the evening to keep suspense going....

Compulsory slob out in front of telly post Christmas dinner and short sleep....cold buffet supper which no one eats enough of 'coz still stuffed from late lunch!

[Blue Bird]

Always put our decorations up on the 10th Dec (youngest son's birthday he is now 27!)

We have a buffet tea with all the family around and Santa calls to give out 1 present to each of the grandchildren (they know it is Popsy -their Grandad)

I do a Honey Roast Ham joint for us all (4 in all)

Just love Christmas  :D