We have lots of traditions and I've really been working on introducing some more to the holiday season this year. We have some that are from my childhood, like getting new jammies to open on Christmas Eve. Some that are new, like the 25 days of Christmas with Elwood. Traditions are the best part of Christmas and I know that's what the girls will take away from the holidays as they grow older. They'll remember Elwood and decorating cookies and gingerbread houses. Papa reading the night before Christmas. And Christmas Eve service at church.
So what I wanna know is...
What's your favourite family tradition?
9 comments:
Some of my favourites as a kid were the Christmas Eve service at church, driving home through a nearby subdivision to see the lights there, opening our grandparents gifts on Christmas Eve, grapefruit with fancy sugar for breakfast followed by chelsea buns made by my mum.
Some of those continue in our little family now: the chelsea buns for sure. One of our new traditions is always walking around Parliament Hill on Christmas Day. I love that. It's so quiet, usually we're the only ones there, and they leave the Christmas lights on that day.
I'd have to say that my favourite Christmas tradition is probably Santa Claus photos! Okay, maybe not the ~taking of them~ part, but the lining of them up on the table every Christmas and seeing how the girls have grown part.
Both girls' birthdays are pretty close to Christmas time (Maddie's being only 5 days away) so it is a great yard-stick to measure their growth by.
Last year I just sat in the chair staring at them for the longest time. Dave said, "Why do you keep looking at the pictures of the kids?" And I said, "I don't know. It's just that...there's Maddie as a baby...and Maddie at one...oh...and there appears Jamie as a baby...and Jamie at one with Maddie...and Jamie and Maddie again...and...it just seems like there should be another baby popping up in the photos now". It was one of those weird, big, moments.
But, this time, this little kiddo won't be a baby when her first photo is done - she'll be almost 1! But, hey, that's okay. ;-)
(p.s. Maddie was 3 days old for her first photo. We went from the hospital, to see Santa, to home. He said that she was the youngest baby he had ever held...the former record was 6 days. She still had her hospital bands on!)
As a kid we would always drive way out to the country to this one "Clark Griswold" neighborhood - it was out of control with lights!
Christmas was also my grandaddy's birthday and we had an extra little party for him.
Now, our traditions are Christmas eve service, (which is new for me since the church I grew up in doesn't recognize Christmas as a religious holiday)and I make Russian Tea every year (NOT with TANG!)
My family has a big breakfast on Christmas morning that is a traditional meal from Trinidad (eggs, salt fish, ham, bake, chow chow). I've had this twice in the last 9 years as we spend every Christmas with my husband's family now.
For the last 5 years, we have hosted Christmas Eve at our home for my husband's family. Jason makes Godiva hot chocolate, cider, cookies and then we head to church. After church, everyone comes over and the kids open 1 gift. This year, our home is a 10 hr drive from everyone, so this tradition has ended. We'll see what new tradition forms.
I think mine is making a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas day. :)
for YEARS we used to go to my Aunt's house on Christmas Eve. They always threw a big party for family and friends. There was always a separate table of food in the bonus room where all us kids would hang out, and we'd stuff ourselves silly on junk and goodies (with real food mixed in here and there...LOL). When we got a bit older, we'd go caroling through the neighborhood.
Somewhat sadly, I've had to bag out of going anymore, as it just doesn't work well with three small children in tow. We did it through Jared's first or second Christmas, but it was just too much. Little kids who stayed up late Christmas Eve, then got up early Christmas day, and traveled to two sets of grandparent's houses for food and presents were just WAY too over-tired, over-stimulated, etc.
Now, we let the kids pick out a Christmas movie, and we let them stay up a LITTLE bit late, and eat Christmasy goodies at home instead. It seems to work, and when they're a bit older, we may see about starting back up with my aunt's house again...
My fovorite Christmas memory as a kid was that Santa would leave our stockings on the end of our bed after he had filled them. If we woke up early (which was enevitable) we got to open them up, sitting in bed. It was a little something to tide us over until my parents were willing to get up. I plan on doing the same for Max. I can't wait to start some Christmas traditions with my new family, but haven't quite figured out what they will be yet.
Shan, thank you so much for posting this! I thought about my family breakfast and this morning, I made it myself for the very first time ever!! And it tasted a). great, and b), just like how my parents make it!! I didn't do the salt fish (cod), b/c J didn't get to the store before the fish counter closed, but that's fine.
What's more, we wrapped all of the kids' gifts last night and let them open them after breakfast this morning. It felt like Christmas!! Now, the kids get to play with their toys before we leave for Tulsa, and our vehicle doesn't have to be overloaded with toys we bought in Chicago.
Karen - the walk around Parliament Hill sounds nice.
Normie - I kind of wish the girls would do the Santa thing, but having "thing" about it myself I don't force the issue. Wow, three days old. You're crazy lady.
Cristan - My Grandpa's birthday was on Boxing Day, so we'd always get together again on Boxing Day to celebrate. I think Christmas Eve service will be one of ours now too.
Widney - that's sounds nice. I'm looking forward to hearing about the new traditions too.
Betsey - I love that idea. I'm going to do that this year!
Leah - We used to do dinner at my Aunt's on Christmas Eve as well. But now that we have kids and three sets of Grandparents to spend time with we opt out. This year we're having lunch with Papa and Grandma Linda then going to church.
Julie - that's a great idea too. Finding your own traditions is a lot of fun as well.
Widney (again:) - I'm so glad to hear that. Great idea about the early Christmas.
Post a Comment