Christmas traditions
By vabeaty
@vabeaty (5)
United States
December 1, 2006 10:55pm CST
We have alot of Christmas traditions in my family. We put our tree up the day after Thanksgiving. We have Christmas eve gift exchanges at my parents house and have homemade candy, cookies, ham salad(that's the longest running tradition in my family, homemade ham salad), eggnog, etc. Then we all go to our separate homes and Christmas morning, after our children open their presents, we go back to my parents for Christmas dinner. This year, however, I am cooking dinner at my home. My daughter and her new family will be here, and most of my family is coming(I think). I know everyone's traditions are different, I just wondered what some of your traditions were, and what your favorite childhood traditions might be
16 responses
@patgalca (18188)
• Orangeville, Ontario
3 Dec 06
When I was a kid, we never really had any traditions. We went to midnight Mass, opened our stockings when we got up and opened presents after breakfast. Now that I am married with two children, we have developed our own tradition. We got to Mass at 6:30 Christmas Eve. Then we go for a walk through "Christmas in the Park" - a park that is decorated from end to end by different sponsors in our community. I got tired of the girls always asking to open a gift on Christmas Eve. I never allowed it figuring one gift would lead to another, and another, and another. So I heard of this idea of a Christmas Eve box. They get to open this box on Christmas Eve. It always contains PJ's and a movie, pop and chips. Sometimes there are books, socks or underwear. They love this! Last year I decided to hide the box and write clues (in poetic form) leading them from one clue to the next until they found the box. They had to read the clues in order. They had such a blast running all over the house. Their father did too. Now, how am I going to top that? I guess I should think about this years clues soon. Happy Holidays!
@Priceless (1277)
•
3 Dec 06
We exchange gifts when the last person has their tree up.
And we eat at my house,
My parents come.
@nascar8fan (742)
• United States
3 Dec 06
We don't really have any specific traditions that we always do rvery year. Except to spend time with family.. In the last few years we have gone over to my cousins house on Christmas Eve. Then we spend Christmas Day at our house with other family members..
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
3 Dec 06
Our traditions are very simple..when I was a child, my parents would let me open 1 small gift on Christmas Eve, just to hold me over! Now, my son and his family come over on Christmas Eve and we have a simple dinner and open gifts (one reason being that my grandaughters birthday is Dec. 24th), and she always gets an extra "birthday" gift. Then on Christmas Day, we all meet at my sisters where the rest of the family (about 25 of us) gather to eat, open gifts, watch tv, and just relax and enjoy the company.
@earthmama97 (597)
• United States
2 Dec 06
We have similar traditions in our home. We put up and decorate a tree, we listen to Christmas music. We drive around usually at Christmas Eve and look at Christmas lights. We have Christmas dinner with family and exhange gifts. It is fun to have traditions and special memories at holiday times.
@golden87 (95)
• United States
2 Dec 06
Our tradition is going to my parents on Christmas Eve. My sister, brother and I, along with our families all go to my parent's every Christmas Eve. Santa always drops a bag by the door at some point during the evening. It is so fun. My only fear is that my parents are getting older. I don't know how many more years they can have Christmas Eve.
@meghanus007 (622)
• India
2 Dec 06
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual Christian and secular holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus, along with themes such as family, goodwill, giving and compassion. It incorporates Christian religious ceremonies with the traditions of ancient winter festivals such as Yule and Saturnalia. Christmas traditions include Nativity scenes, the exchange of gifts, the arrival of Santa Claus, Christmas cards and decorations and the display of Christmas trees.
Christmas is traditionally celebrated on December 25. It is preceded by Christmas Eve and in some countries is followed by Boxing Day. Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas on January 7, which corresponds to December 25 of the Julian calendar. These dates are merely traditional and neither is thought to be the actual birthdate of Jesus.
Christmas is celebrated in most countries around the world, owing to the spread of Christianity and Western culture, mixed with the enduring popularity of exisiting winter celebrations. Various local and regional Christmas traditions are still practiced, despite the widespread influence of American and British Christmas motifs disseminated by film, popular literature, television, and other media
@johnderekvarela (49)
• Philippines
2 Dec 06
In many countries, businesses, schools, and communities have Christmas parties and dances in the weeks before Christmas. Christmas pageants may include a retelling of the story of the birth of Christ. Groups may visit neighborhood homes to sing Christmas carols. Others do volunteer work or hold fundraising drives for charities.
On Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, a special meal of Christmas dishes is usually served. In some regions, particularly in Eastern Europe, these family feasts are preceded by a period of fasting. Candy and treats are also part of Christmas celebration in many countries.
Another tradition is for people to send Christmas cards to their friends and family members. Cards are also produced with messages such as "season's greetings" or "happy holidays", so as to include senders and recipients who may not celebrate Christmas .
@Nimbus91 (576)
• United States
2 Dec 06
In my family, we don't celebrate chrismas. But it think we should because it is celebrated world wide. Althought having it use up alot of money to prepare food, decrorations etc, it would be fun to have one.. I hope next time we would have one too. Have a happy christmast holiday everyone.. good luck!!!!
@lucy02 (5016)
• United States
2 Dec 06
Oh, that sounds like so much fun. Unfortunately we didn't do much for Christmas. Our parents always got my brother and me presents and we had a tree but that was about it. After we opened the presents mom would take the tree down and it was over. I love Christmas....what it means, the decorations, the warm feeling.
@bsabers (668)
• United States
2 Dec 06
My family doesn't really have any Christmas traditions besides the usual christmas tree, lights, etc. Now for Thanksgiving my family has a field goal kicking contest at a local high school football field, and we even have a traveling trophy. It's quite a blast!
@bapi_da (760)
• India
2 Dec 06
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual Christian and secular holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus, along with themes such as family, goodwill, giving and compassion. It incorporates Christian religious ceremonies with the traditions of ancient winter festivals such as Yule and Saturnalia. Christmas traditions include Nativity scenes, the exchange of gifts, the arrival of Santa Claus, Christmas cards and decorations and the display of Christmas trees.
Christmas is traditionally celebrated on December 25. It is preceded by Christmas Eve and in some countries is followed by Boxing Day. Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas on January 7, which corresponds to December 25 of the Julian calendar. These dates are merely traditional and neither is thought to be the actual birthdate of Jesus.
Christmas is celebrated in most countries around the world, owing to the spread of Christianity and Western culture, mixed with the enduring popularity of exisiting winter celebrations. Various local and regional Christmas traditions are still practiced, despite the widespread influence of American and British Christmas motifs disseminated by film, popular literature, television, and other media.
