I was wondering if anyone's family ever dances on Christmas Eve or Day. I was just reading about them doing it in 'merry olde England' and it sounds so festive...
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I was wondering if anyone's family ever dances on Christmas Eve or Day. I was just reading about them doing it in 'merry olde England' and it sounds so festive...
Are you going to have your buffet Christmas Eve this year?Quote:
Originally Posted by ornamentmaven
Yes - last year my sister-in-law wanted to have it, so I let her do something for a change!!!
Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year. It consists of me, my wife and my son eating shrimp gumbo, listening to great Christmas music and going for a drive to look at the Christmas lights around town. Right before we all turn in for the night, my son and I watch the first Futurama Christmas special. After my son goes to bed, my wife and I usually put out the presents (even though our son is almost 17, it's tradition) and then we relax in bed while watching either the Nutcracker or Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican.
It's just a fun, quiet evening for the three of us.
That sounds like a wonderful tradition! Thanks for sharing and welcome to the forum!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by E.S.
That sounds really nice. :santa-smiley:Quote:
Originally Posted by E.S.
That sounds really special. Thanks for sharing!Quote:
Originally Posted by E.S.
We have been spending it with my only sister for at least the past few years. We listen to some Christmas music, enjoy some homemade cookies and goodies, sometimes watch A Christmas Carol with George C Scott, but more often not, but we always sing Christmas carols together. My BIL can harmonize with anything. After everyone is in bed (which can be very late, since everyone is at least 18,) my sister and I fill stockings. And, of course, we sit and talk and stare at the tree, lol. Sometimes we play a game, like maybe charades or balderdash
Christmas time is associated with family and friends. I love to decorate Christmas tree, Christmas music and Christmas treats. There are many other things:
* Send Christmas cards and gifts to loved ones.
* Plan an outing that you can go to, and that is open on Christmas day.
* Go for a movie.
Christmas time is the perfect time to celebrate with us. Enter the best clubs in London and celebrate the perfect Christmas party with family and friends.
Christmas Eve spend the whole day with mum cooking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Later, we all sit together and enjoy our dinner, while all talking so much loud that we can not understand each other!!!!! hahaaha!!!!!
Spent Christmas Eve cooking with my daughter ...and waiting in line at the seafood store! Family and friends came over at 6:30. Had a great time. It's now 9am on Christmas Day and I'm the only one up! It's actually nice to have some quiet time!
Good times! :elf3:Quote:
Originally Posted by olga
Well, I've already been thinking about my Christmas Eve buffet menu. If I do end up hosting it this year, my menu will most likely be:
Lobster Crepes
Fried Scallops
Stuffed Clams
Shrimp Cocktail
Crab dip with veggies
Crackers and Cheese
Long Grain and Wild Rice
Chicken Marsala
Swedish Meatballs
Caesar Salad
Garlic Bread
Homemade Fruitcake and Cookies
If anyone is looking for me this Christmas eve, I'll be at ornamentmaven's house!:christmasdinner:Quote:
Originally Posted by ornamentmaven
I have a few close friends and some family and we have lots of food and confections there is so much and we enjoy christmas carols and just enjoy being together,for me to list foods it would take alot of reading lol.:christmastree:
You're welcome! I will probably update this menu several times before the actual meal is served. LOLQuote:
Originally Posted by JollyElfDC
For years we went to my wife's parents' house with several other family members. As all of the families have grown up, and some have moved away, we've had to alter our Christmas Eve celebration and have it when as many of us as possible are in town. As my in-laws are now in their upper-80s and the crowd has increased, we've moved the get-together to our house. We usually have eggs, cheese grits, country ham, baked apricots and homemade rolls. Dessert is typically something like cookies, fudge or truffles. We watch the kids in the family open their presents, then the adults do the annual Dirty Santa Gift Exchange.
If we get together on a night other than Christmas Eve, my wife, 2 daughters, son-in-law and I go to one of the Christmas Eve services at our church, then home for dinner and just hanging out watching Christmas movies for the evening.
I go to church,then back home and enjoy a nice get together with friends and family and lots of food,christmas carols being sung,it's so nice.:christmastree:Attachment 6731
Santa comes to daddy's house here on Xmas Eve morning, and to my son's mom's on Xmas morning.
We wake up really early on Xmas Eve, and my son opens all his presents. I then make chocolate chip pancakes, bacon or sausage, and hashbrowns for me, my boy and my wife.
Then at noon, we go to my parent's house for a family gathering that consist of a fantastic feast, followed by gifts. Then that evening, my son's mother comes to get him so that he can do it all over again at her house the next day.
Lucky boy!Quote:
Originally Posted by Shanniclause
Just like every year! We go to church, give wishes, gifts to each other, enjoy food with friends and family and lots of songs and fun.....
I usually host Christmas dinner at my house on the 25th,. Since I started doing that, my tradition for Christmas eve is to cook by rear end off, so I can have as much made ahead as possible for Christmas day. Then I finish cleaning the house.
I wouldn't mind a new tradition! :elf3:
That's how I spend Christmas Eve day, so on Christmas Day - I am so exhausted, all I want to do is sleep!Quote:
Originally Posted by JollyElfDC
I remember you posting your Christmas eve menu. It sounded delicious, but a lot of work. I know you said Christmas dinner is just you immediate family. Do you assign that one to your daughters or do you feast on left overs from Christmas eve? I always tell people I am not cooking two big meals. If I have overnight guests, we eat out Christmas eve, and Christmas morning is store bought muffins, cheese and fruit.Quote:
Originally Posted by ornamentmaven
I know some people who have a big Christmas eve dinner, then a big Christmas morning brunch, and then a big Christmas dinner. I love to eat, and I'm no light weight, but I wonder how those folks pack away so much food in such a short period of time.
Last year I didn't cook at all for Christmas! We sold our house on Dec 17th and didn't move into our new one until Jan 8! It was a surreal Christmas celebration! We actually spent 3 days at a dude ranch and had a lot of fun! I actually am looking forward to all the cooking this year! We all help out with the cooking on Christmas Day and usually make a nice, but simple menu (Roast beef, baked potatoes, salad, veggies and leftover cookies and cake). For breakfast, we have either a store-bought quiche and fruit salad or my daughter will make a bread pudding - eaten while we open gifts!Quote:
Originally Posted by JollyElfDC
I would love to do a beef roast for Christmas (particularly prime rib) unfortunately with beef, Murphy's law always dictates that one guest likes their beef rare and another likes it well done. I'm not going to spend the money on prime rib and have disappointed guests.I suppose I could make it the way I like it (medium), and then make a turkey breast or something too.:confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by ornamentmaven
I hear you! Not a problem fo me since we all pretty much like it the same - medium - and it's only the immediate family!Quote:
Originally Posted by JollyElfDC
Well, since my son's mom and I aren't together, Santa comes to my house Christmas Eve morning :)
On the night of the 23rd, we watch Christmas movies. At bedtime, I read my son "Twas the Night Before Christmas".
Christmas Eve morning is when the magic takes place :) Such a great moment watching the twinkle in my boy's eye knowing that Santa has rewarded him for being so good!
After that, we assemble and play with toys. At about 2 pm, we go to my parent's house where my sisters and their families all gather for a feast, gift exchange, and some good hearted family time. At about 8 pm, my son's mom picks him up so that the magic can happen Christmas morning at her house. After my son leaves from my house, I have a few friends over for drinks and food and we all revel in the beauty of the season!
On Christmas Eve we bake cookies for Santa (and us of course). Peel some carrots for the reindeer. Sneak into our stockings. Watch a lot more holiday movies and then end the night packing up in the car with cocoa and cruising to look at the Christmas lights..
This has changed through the years before we would go to my grandmas and have a buffet and watch a movie or just sit and chat.
Then my mum used to do a mini buffet for just my immediate family and we would watch a movie. This is how it currently is but when my mum had to work Christmas eve so I did the buffet with my dad. We get to open a gift that my mum chooses, this is usually a bag or stocking full of sweets(candy) and chocolate.
I spend Christmas eve in an eggnog stupor
We're starting a new tradition this year for Christmas Eve. Our family is going to afternoon brunch (didn't know there was such a thing) with our oldest daughter's in-laws before going to the Christmas Eve service at church. We're eating at a place called The Mockingbird Restaurant, and it looks really neat. It's in an old farmhouse just south of Franklin in Spring Hill.
http://themockingbirdrestaurant.com/index.html
Christmas Eve will be quiet this year. My Mom is going to visit my sister and her family out west (Seattle). My husband's family is now too far away to just drop in for our Christmas Eve buffet. So, I guess it will just be the 4 of us and maybe one of the boyfriends! I still plan to make a (scaled down) version of our Christmas Eve seafood buffet - it wouldn't be the Eve without it!
That sounds cozy! I'm glad you don't forget the reindeer! But, how do you sneak into the stockings before Santa comes?Quote:
Originally Posted by chocolatechip1979
I really wish I liked to cook. It sounds like it could be a creative, satisfying thing.Quote:
Originally Posted by JollyElfDC
And if the food is anything chocolate, I can fit about 5 times as much into me.
We spend it baking for all of our neighbors on the block, having a family dinner then we drive around looking at decorated homes while sipping on cocoa and consuming McDonalds fries. Hasn't changed in years.
I usually spend it with my ex wife and our parents in one place. Even though we're divorced, we're still on good terms and like to keep it that way for the sake of our child.
An early dinner, then over for Christmas Eve services at the church and finally a Christmas themed movie or special on TV. At the end of the evening when everyone else has gone to bed, I sleep right by the trees (yes, several) until the morning.
Just stay home and watch 24 hours of A Christmas Story on TBS
I have noticed that they do run that each year. I like the idea that it comes on enough so many people will have the chance to view it completely. Me, I have a really tough time watching the same movie even in the same month, but my wife can watch the same film over and over again...