Christmas Eve traditions

[christmasloves]

Do you all have any christmas eve traditions?? Sorry if this post has already been made by someone else

[MinnesotaMike]

Chances are very good that EVERYTHING you think of has already been posted. However, I think you'll find that most people here don't mind re-telling the things that make Christmas special for all of us.

[MinnesotaMike]

We are starting a new tradition this year of having a wonderfully prepared stuffed beef tenderloin for dinner. Early in the day, if weather permits, we go sledding down a nearby hill. We also go to church in the evening. Lastly, before bed, the boys get to pick a movie to watch, and open ONE present.

[christmasloves]

Sounds AMAZING!! We're not a church going family, but me personally do believe it for the reason it is meant to be for. We love meeting up with our families, spending time together and treating each other!!!

Since we was kids, Christmas Eve has usually consisted of a mini party(just the five of us who were living here at the time, mum, dad, bro and sister and myself.) This year's there's just my mum, myself and our foster twins who will then be 9 months old.

I will be making sure we still have a proper Christmas, even though it's just us two and the twins won't even understand.

Our Christmas Eve tradition includes watching christmas movies, snacking and getting new pajamas!!

[ornamentmaven]

Yes we also do the "open one gift" thing (even though my kids are 17 and 26). The one thing is always new pajamas! We have my husband's family over for good times and a big buffet dinner. We usually go to 4pm mass prior to dinner. I spend the entire day cooking, listing to Christmas music, and handling any last minute preps!

[christmasloves]

The year before last we opened one present, and last year, we started to open one present, then it was 2,3 and we ended up opening all our presents on christmas eve, well it was after 12am, and it worked out well since we had a 3 year old to focus on the next day:)

[ornamentmaven]

The year before last we opened one present, and last year, we started to open one present, then it was 2,3 and we ended up opening all our presents on christmas eve, well it was after 12am, and it worked out well since we had a 3 year old to focus on the next day:)

To keep that situation in check, the pj's are the only gifts placed under the tree at this point! We also put out gifts for the extended family that we wont see the next day!

[cujiine]

Our traditions have changed a bit over the years with my brother and I growing up. Christmas eve used to be filled with anticipation because it was when the last of the presents went under the tree. Then we had to sit through dinner and not rush through it or anything. There's never been any tradition as to what we ate. It's usually a clean-out-the-fridge night so we have room for stuff on Christmas. After dinner, we got to watch a Christmas movie of our choice then we moved furniture. This was always the part that had my friends looking at me weird because, who moves furniture around on Christmas Eve? Well my family always video taped the opening on the presents and we would make copies and send them to all of our family members so they could see my brother and I opening presents on Christmas. We pushed the dining room table and chairs against the farthest wall from our living room, pushed the large couch against that table and the coffee table went up in front of the couch. Then we got a roll of duct tape and my dad would position the camera so the whole living room was in view, and have us tape off the boundaries of the area we could be in and still be on camera. Then we picked our spots and put a piece of duct tape down for that. This was all on an old 70's shag carpet, in the 90's early 00's mind you. Then we could get one present to open. Most kids would have gone for the biggest one but we both knew that the small squishy one was our new pajamas from Nana (our dad's mom). Everything is still relatively similar except I'm the only one excited, we don't move furniture and the pajamas come from our mother now.

[leah]

Christmas Eve our only tradition really is going to 8 o'clock mass, and my mom and I typically sing for it.

[stephmcuk]

Christmas Eve our only tradition really is going to 8 o'clock mass, and my mom and I typically sing for it.

aww thats nice, we also go to church christmas eve ... we go to the childrens mass which is usually around 6:30pm ... its lovely...they do lots of carols and turn all to lights off so all we have is candle light around the altar.... they only to this on christmas eve and christmas day!!

Its one of my favourite parts of christmas :carols:

[omgitzdestineex]

My whole family has a small Christmas Eve get together at my aunt's house. Then when we get home, my brother & I watch A Christmas Story & we each exchange one present to eachother. :santa:

[qclove]

different countries,have different eve tradition.:presents1:

[MinnesotaMike]

We used to go to MY parents on Christmas Eve, but now that I have a family of my own, it's just too hard. My wife and I are developing our own family's traditions since we have our own church, and we want to have a special meal, etc... Now we plan to visit my parents on the weekend before Christmas. This works much better for us because now we can plan the whole day around family things, and we never feel rushed or anything. It's a great feeling!

[*Snowflake*]

yes when you have your own family it's different,you don't live with them anymore and you have to start new traditions in your house.It's nice that you visit your parents before and then you have more time to spend with your own family around Christmas:home:

[MinnesotaMike]

yes when you have your own family it's different,you don't live with them anymore and you have to start new traditions in your house.It's nice that you visit your parents before and then you have more time to spend with your own family around Christmas:home:

Do you still live at home?

[*Snowflake*]

Do you still live at home?

yes:elf3:

[MinnesotaMike]

You must be younger than I thought.

[*Snowflake*]

You must be younger than I thought.

I am twenty years old.What you thought how old I am?:elf1:

[MinnesotaMike]

older...like a mom.

[*Snowflake*]

older...like a mom.

no I am not a mum yet:dizzy:

[MinnesotaMike]

sorry.

[*Snowflake*]

don't worry,it's ok:elf3:

[TheWire]

No tradition. BUT, 24th of December is my Grandma's birthday -- so we usually go over there, get a pizza, and celebrate. I love the feeling of coming home on New Years Eve, though, watching the Carols or a film.

[michelmas]

As a child, Christmas Eve was a simple, candlelit dinner, church, one gift (always new pajamas) and clean bedsheets. Now sure why the clean sheets other than it just felt good and smelled good. As an adult, we still do the candlelight dinner and church.

[MinnesotaMike]

Seems to be a lot of folks who get new pajamas on Christmas Eve. So far, every year we have gotten the boys "Christmas PJs", we have not wrapped them. Rather, we just start using them after Thanksgiving. That way they get to use them all through the holiday season. Also, I'm not talking about simply ANY new pair of jammies. I'm talking about ones that have Santa or Reindeer, or something specifically "Christmas" on them.

[ornamentmaven]

When my kids were young I would also get them new PJ's with a Christmas theme - often matching. I would save them for Christmas Eve so that they would look extra special in photos we took on Christmas morning.

[TresReyes]

Christmas Eve is my favorite part of the season. Growing up it was the center piece in a Spanish household.

Family gathering, a large feast, children's mass, driving and looking at lights, family time around the tree and one present before bed.There was always something special about the atmosphere that night.

This year we are starting our own Christmas Eve traditions at our home. My parents are coming up on Christmas Day. I want to add in reading to my daughter a Christmas book and some Christmas specials and movies. My wife is cooking a pork shoulder with all the sides (macaroni, sweet potatoes and whatever else she decides to make). One day I would love for both of our families to visit. I hope we can bring as much joy to our family's Christmas Eve as I felt growing up.

[thoughtsinlittleboxes]

My boyfriend and I go to my parents house and have pizza (no meat) and we prep the Turkey, watch films and wrap presents. It's simple but it's nice.

[mina553]

CHRISTMAS EVE is church & food prep
then we have a candle lit dinner
we always have new PJs & the kids get 2 open a gift of their choice . of cause when they were younger i would wait until they were aasleep 2 put the sants gifts.
i still try 2 stick with it its harder as they get older,

[Stacey.]

Just all of the preparation for Christmas Day takes place then really.

[SgtTimBob]

Leave a mince pie, a carrot and a glass of whisky by the chimney for Father Christmas! That's all, really, as far as traditions go for me.

[Elf_Erv]

Go to church and listen to people sing badly

[MinnesotaMike]

Leave a mince pie, a carrot and a glass of whisky by the chimney for Father Christmas! That's all, really, as far as traditions go for me.

Whiskey? That's a new one to me! :santasmile:

[JollyElfDC]

Whiskey? That's a new one to me! :santasmile:

Now we know why Santa is so Jolly!:elf1:

[CoasterDynamix]

Christmas Eve Jenga is the family tradition here!

[Classic Christmas]

We had a game tradition for a while as part of our Christmas Eve tradition. We played Trivial Pursuit. Then one year, when we all were younger and, well ,dumber, we decided we should play Trivial Pursuit with alcohol.

Yes, that's right: if you missed a question you had to do a shot of beer. If you missed a question for a piece of 'pie', you had to do a shot of whiskey.

Luckily, that tradition has tailored off. :)

[CATZILLA]

We always watch the 'A Christmas Carol' Alistair Sim's version and open a gift or 2 from each other before we go to bed :presents1:

[MarshC]

When I was in German I was surprised that they prepare them selves to Christmas with big importance and even keep all traditions.

[Mazzy]

Leave a mince pie, a carrot and a glass of whisky by the chimney for Father Christmas! That's all, really, as far as traditions go for me.

We leave Cherry Brandy instead of Whiskey, gotta keep the Jolly man rosy cheeked! :santa2:

[Noelle]

We always have Muddle (Brunswick Stew is it's proper name) for dinner around 5 and then go to church. And after church we read from that year's Advent Booklet. And after that is when we did the whole cookies & milk for Santa, and a carrot for Rudolph before going to bed. During the day we attempt to catch an airing of A Christmas Story. If we don't, we watch it before bed.

I can never remember what time the service is because we've always been there extremely early for final set up. We're the ones who turn on the heat, lights, make sure the bulletins and candles and something to light the candles are there, etc. Dad would run through his sermon one last time. I think one year, my brother and I even took people's' coats and hung them up.

But what makes it feel the most like Christmas Eve is smelling the Muddle cooking.

[MinnesotaMike]

We always have Muddle (Brunswick Stew is it's proper name) for dinner around 5 and then go to church. And after church we read from that year's Advent Booklet. And after that is when we did the whole cookies & milk for Santa, and a carrot for Rudolph before going to bed. During the day we attempt to catch an airing of A Christmas Story. If we don't, we watch it before bed.

I can never remember what time the service is because we've always been there extremely early for final set up. We're the ones who turn on the heat, lights, make sure the bulletins and candles and something to light the candles are there, etc. Dad would run through his sermon one last time. I think one year, my brother and I even took people's' coats and hung them up.

But what makes it feel the most like Christmas Eve is smelling the Muddle cooking.



I wonder if you are "the first Noelle" to join the board??? :gelf:

[Noelle]

I wonder if you are "the first Noelle" to join the board??? :gelf:

No idea.

Also, clever. :elf1: