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Everyone (I guess) has holiday traditions that are family specific (i.e. more than just putting up a tree).
Here are a few that my (extended) family engages:
My Side:
*The Christmas Tree must have red bows tied all over it by hand in addition to the regular ornaments. It must also have several tiny baskets filled with chocolate Andes mints hanging on it.
*One of the meals served on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day must be this weird pasta concoction we call "Tollerini." As far as I know, no self-respecting restaurant serves it. It's not that it's bad, it's just weird.
*On Christmas Eve, after dinner, we (usually) read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever out loud. It takes about an hour.
Wife's Side:
*Everyone, no matter how old, must have a stocking. That stocking must have an orange put in it with whatever else (presents, etc).
*The Christmas Tree must have Mickey Mouse on it somewhere (usually it ends up everywhere).
*Presents are distributed one at a time, from oldest to youngest, and then the process repeats. Everyone must watch each person open the gift and "ooo" and "aahh" accordingly. Present opening with my wife's family takes ALL FREAKIN' DAY!
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Well, ours is a more recent "tradition" but it happened one year, probably about six or seven years ago now, that nobody really felt like cooking dinner. We found what was probably the only open restaurant in Dallas, Texas on Christmas Day - a Japanese restaurant. It was fantastic. Now we go every year.
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Well, ours is a more recent "tradition" but it happened one year, probably about six or seven years ago now, that nobody really felt like cooking dinner. We found what was probably the only open restaurant in Dallas, Texas on Christmas Day - a Japanese restaurant. It was fantastic. Now we go every year.Which restaurant? I bet there is an Indian restaurant or two open as well.
I don't remember; it's been a while since I spent Christmas with my dad. Ooo, it would be great to get Indian food - it's some of my favorite. I'd mention it to them but I think they have their heart set on Japanese now. Maybe we'll do Indian on Christmas Eve instead.
Back home in NC there are parts of the Island where people still celebrate what they call "Old Christmas" on Jan. 6.
Also, Santa Claus rides through the villages on the back of the fire truck on the 23rd or thereabouts. When I was a kid we would all meet at the fire station after Santa's ride where we could all get presents. I don't think the gift-giving part of that tradition still survives, though.
On Christmas Eve after the church program each person is given and orange and candy in a paper bag as they leave.
On Christmas Eve we light every candle in the house. My husband always rolls his eyes, but it's what we always used to do when I was a kid.
Every year I make plum pudding for dessert after Christmas dinner.
One of my favorites I wasn't able to do this year. You know those whack-and-unwrap chocolate oranges? Well, I always put one in my husband's stocking, but I couldn't find them anywhere this year. And I looked like five different places. :(
Oh, and Julbrod. I'm making the obligatory loaf this weeked. Yummy, fruit-filled cardamom goodness.
I used to read 'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever' to my sisters on Christmas Eve. I'd like to do that for my son, but I can't seem to find what I did with the book.
Beer...bad movies...and the christmas pickle for the tree.
yepp, those are the stuff of memories...
We usually had an advent calendar or two around the house, usually the chocolate ones. These days, however, since my wife works at a toy store, we've gotten the kids Playmobil advent calendars. This year, it's a forest scene and a pirate island for the kids.
My wife does not allow the tree to get put up until after her birthday (Dec 8) but we're usually so busy with other stuff that we don't get it up until a week or so after anyway.
I trot out my DVD of A Christmas Story and watch it once each season.
My parents usually make date cookies and Scottish short bread.
Everybody gets a stocking and it must have some fruit in it.