what's your christmas tradition?

My husband's family is Italian and they have a Christmas Eve tradition that we never miss. His mother used to host it but she's gone now and his younger brother took over. Every Christmas Eve we go to his house where he has a spread of food that is beyond wonderful. He make home-made pepperoni buns, sausage buns and cheese filled buns. He also has a variety of pasta and sauce along with lasagna, cold cuts and desserts. The whole family gets together to relax and enjoy each other's company before the hecticness of Christmas Day.

On Christmas Day our children and grandchildren (the ones who are down here with us) come over and we exchange gifts. I cook either a turkey or a ham, my daughter cooks pies in her oven. We hang out and eat in the early afternoon. In the evening everyone meets over at my husband's brother's house where we eat left overs from the night before (if anyone is hungry) and we exchange gifts with the other family members.

My husband and I start our Christmas Season the day after Thanksgiving. The day after Thanksgiving we put on Christmas music and decorate the house for the holidays. We watch Christmas Vacation, Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph. We end up ordering pizza for dinner so I do not have to cook. As soon as the toys for tots drive starts collecting toys we donate a toy. For the past two years we have donated to an angel tree.

On Christmas Eve we spend time with my husband's family. We go over to his cousin's house and open gifts. We sing Christmas Carols and talk about past Christmases. We also have sandwiches, cookies, chips and hot apple cider. We have a good time.

On Christmas Day we open up presents and visit with friends. It is great that we can keep the day to ourselves.

Last year, my husband and I got married in September - so all of my recent family traditions have changed for most holidays. After getting married, I moved to California from Pennsylvania, so the number one tradition is that every other Christmas we fly back to Pittsburgh to have Christmas with my family. Last year we spent Christmas with his family, so this year (weather permitting) we should be flying into Pittsburgh to spend the holiday with my mom and grandparents. We honestly don't have a true set of traditions yet for Christmas, but we are working on it.:)

My husband has the tradition of going over to his Grandmother's house on Christmas Eve and spending the evening with his Dad's side of the family since his parent's are divorced. Then, on Christmas Day we go over to his mom's and have dinner there with his mom, step-dad, and bothers. His mom also has also arranged a Secret Santa for the past few years, which turns out to be pretty fun!

Lots an lots of eggnog, an just plain eggnog nothing added, I would die if they had eggnog year round like they do in Australia...lol

We are a large family, so for christmas all of us women get together to cook, lots and lots of food. Everything from fish to pastry, and the men eat and watch television, kids play video games or if snow comes they play outside, older kids cook as well.