What are your Xmas traditions?

[Rosie's Mummy]

I always make smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast - I sit my turkey (boned and rolled) on a bed of onions and surround it with orange and garlic and water I usually put it in the oven the night before on a very low setting.

I do love Christmas, after being in Australia for two Christmases I felt as if we missed out. Seeing Santa roll down the road on Christmas morning throwing sweets onto everyone's front lawns from the back of a ute is one memory that will stay with me though! Christmas being 40 degrees and on the beach just isnt right, thats what we did in 2006 - we spent it on the beach haha, it didnt feel like Christmas at all.

I always decorate a Christmas 'twig' to put in our entrance hall, I hang snowflakes and angels and anything else festive from it including some robins. There is always a lovely Christmas fayre locally too, that gets me in the mood every time. I have always wanted to go to Germany for the Christmas markets, I will go one year for sure.
When we were growing up we used to have a pillowcase full of gifts at the end of the bed and then our main presents under the tree. There was always a note from Father Xmas left on the hearth thanking us for leaving out a glass of sherry,mince pie and carrots for the reindeers - mum could never fool us with her spidery writing! I have lovely memories of childhood Christmases on the farm, Dad would always get up late at around 9am and never open presents until he had had a cup of tea!

Now Im in the mood already! Am going to make my Christmas cake next week and also my sloe gin

 

[clairebear22]

I'm loving the traditions!!

Wilma i'm defo nicking the new PJ's idea when we have children!

Growing up we didn't really have any traditions and even though I loved christmas it wasn't really that much fun .......

...until 2 Christmas' ago when I met my fab OH and his fab Family!

We have 3 Christmas Eve birthdays so we're always out at the crack of dawn!! First we go and visit my Niece because she's the furthest away. She'll be 3 this year so will understand about birthdays/christmas which will be lovely. Next we go and see my Cousin who's going to be 8. Then lastly we go and see my OH's Dad and his Mum makes us dinner etc.

Then the fun begins......

We wake up at roughly 6am on Christmas morning and my OH gets soooo excited (it's the 1 day of the whole year he actually looks forward to getting out of bed! lol).
We exchange presents with eachother in bed and then get dressed and drive on the deserted A2 (it's very spooky) to the in-laws. We get there at about 7.30am!!

My Father-in-Law is already up and dressed and making a massive fry up for all of us!

After breakfast we usually open presents which are usually just little token gestures because we're sooo not about the presents

Then we play board games ALL day!! We only stop for Christmas dinner and then Tea a bit later on!!

Then Boxing day is the same as Christmas day. None of us work during the Christmas break either so every day right up until 2nd Jan we go to the in-laws and play board games & eat! lol

As you can probably tell I love love love Christmas even more since I met my OH!

I just can't wait until we have a bubba of our own to start our own little traditions as well as including them in my fabby (in-law) family christmas!!

xxx

 

[amy samantha]

I am always at my parents house with the two of them, my brother and my sister, and my great nan, we have done this since I can remember
oh, and our presents are always scattered across the living room floor rather than under the tree, it may not seem like a tradition but we have always done it and I couldn't imagine all the gifts being placed neatly under the tree!
not sure if we will stay at me and my boyfriend's this year as I will have only had bub a week or two before Xmas
X

 

[Princess81]

I'm sooooo loving this thread xx

 

[WILMAFLINSTONE]

Ah Rmummy I love the idea of decorating the twig now that idea I may steal once lo arrives and start that as a new tradtion ready for all the decorations he/she will make! Love it!!!

xxx

 

[WILMAFLINSTONE]

Wow Cbear your christmas with the inlaws sounds fab too....Ahhhhhh I love the idea of just chilling with loved ones and we also love board games and get stuck into them at christmas when we have a spare couple of hours lol!

Ahhh Im loving this thread xxx

 

[Me, My Girls & I]

oh god this thread has made me so excited for xmas!!

the xmas cds normally start about the start of nov, but i've got youtube running on full speed tonight already

we always have our xmas dinner on 24th too, just cos its too much faff doing it on xmas day, and my mum likes to think she's being continental doing it that way we then all get rather tipsy and sit around the piano singing xmas carols, i manage to get out of the singing cos i have to concentrate on playing then we open one present, which was always the oone off my aunty who always gives shit presents and we couldnt wait to see what that years shite was, but now we've grown out of presents from her, so mum usually gets us a small one! then we get our xmas hats on and all sit on the sofa and read twas the night before christmas! when we were younger, my sister and i sat on each side of my mum and took it in turns each year who would read then comes the embarassing bit! my mum gets baby jesus out of his hiding place and we have to sing happy birthday to him as we put him in the nativity scene i thought FOB was going to actually wee first time he saw it!! the the mince pie/sherry/carrot goes out for santa and rudolph!

last year was nice cos we were living at mums so we got to carry on traditions a bit more too! we've always had a little stocking which we could open whenever we woke up, and a big sack which we had to wait for! so me and my sister used to go in and open our stockings together, when i moved out, we actually opened them on the phone! tip from my mum btw, buy 2 stockings for eeryone, matching obvs, then you can fill them up and jus swap them for the empty ones in their rooms!

so yea, then when we woke up, we took our sacks into mum and dads room and sat and opened our presents in their bed! was carnage last year with me, mum, sister, dad, katie, ella and the dog in the bed

breakfasts always smoked salmon and scrambled egg and bucks fizz! then we get ready and open the family presents! someone always sits and dishes the presents out to everyone! the rest of the days a blur really, but we go for a walk, have a really nice joint of beef or soemthing for lunch, mum and dad HAVE to watch the queen, and the house has to be silent for it! we play boardgames too, infact, the whole xmas season we play them! and like jayne, we're not allowed our xmas chocolates til xmas eve! although last year dad didnt buy any cos we never eat them so i got all upset!

i'm not sure whats going to happen this year, but i'm starting to get all excited now! it'll be weird tho, like just me and them, i'm feeling a tad deflated now actually thinking about it i want us to wake up in our own home, and we'll probs visit everyone, but i just wish i didnt have to wake up on my own with them with noone to share the excitement with

 

[Princess81]

aaaw maybe go and stay with your parents on xmas eve no? Other wise, sit your girls on the couch and read to them twas the night before christmas
Now I've got more time (and had more time to think about it) here are our traditions (was at work before fighting crime and doing battle with evil )
Right - xmas eve was spent watching all the cartoons on tv. My sister and I loved all the xmas cartoons. Mum was usually baking mince pies and doing any last-minute bits and pieces.
Xmas morning was always carnage, we used to get up at about 4am (yes 4) and wake my parents up by running round the hallway. Then the poor parents would give in and get up and pressie time would begin. We both had a stocking and a sack, we'd take it in turns opening stuff from the stocking first and then the sack (posing for obligatory pics along the way). Then my dad and sister would fight over the remaining roses and me and mum would go and make the dinner (well she'd do it and I'd "help") as I got older I'd really treasure doing that with mum, it'd be us with xmas songs blasting out in the kitchen, dancing round and being daft, and as i got older yet, glasses of wine were introduced adding to the carnage.
Then we would eat said xmas dinner (my mouth is watering thinking about it) I LOVE XMAS DINNER!!!

 

[Princess81]

^^^^ ooosies not finished yet. After lunch was opening presents from rellies and mum and dad, then more tv watching, games, and choc eating. Queens speech was olbigatory (pft) and boxing day was always a big family day at my aunties. God I just love it. My job now dictates what I can do over xmas. I'm night shifting it this year. However we will be having xmas nibbles in the kitchen at work and no doubt still be quite festive. I'll be knackered for xmas day, will go round to the in-laws at about 4 prob for dinner (give me chance to sleep) but she does a gorgeous dinner too. Next xmas will be spent at my house (our lounge is getting done up for then) and I WILL HAVE A BABY TO START MY OWN TRADITIONS WITH - I MUST I MUST I MUST!!! X

 

[Me, My Girls & I]

Aw jayne your Xmas sounds lovely! I've always been banned from mums kitchen! I never realised what an essay I wrote before csn you tell I get slightly carried away?!

Another tradition we always had was going to tonnes if carol concerts! especially one at the Bridgwater hall that my sister sang in! Went thr other year with FOB but it just wasn't the same! Hoping to do the Xmas Market too cos i've not been in like about 6 years!!

 

[Me, My Girls & I]

Aw jayne your Xmas sounds lovely! I've always been banned from mums kitchen! I never realised what an essay I wrote before csn you tell I get slightly carried away?!

Another tradition we always had was going to tonnes if carol concerts! especially one at the Bridgwater hall that my sister sang in! Went thr other year with FOB but it just wasn't the same! Hoping to do the Xmas Market too cos i've not been in like about 6 years!!

 

[tinkerbell86]

We always got to open one present on xmas eve after going to the childrens carol concert at the local church!!!

Also i started doing a little tradition of table presents for everyone - only a small gift of up to £5 for all the family and usually something jokey...last year i got my bro who was starting college a chocolate smelling USB stick!!!

 

[Me, My Girls & I]

ooo chocolate usb stick! god that'd make me well hungry!!

 

[Lacey's Mummy]

I might start the pj's on xmas eve tradition! That sounds so cute!!

 

[jennilisanne]

We alternate between parents, and I'm so happy that this year is my year, as it got out of whack and the last two have been with hubby's, which isn't too bad, cos they're not too different, but there's something about being with your mummy and daddy

We go to one open house belonging to the kids I used to babysit, then over to friends whose children I went to playgroup with and the parents stayed in touch! Then we come home, put the fire on, eat nibbles and watch Muppets Christmas Carol.

I love it!

Then Christmas day once my mum is done faffing in the kitchen, my dad sits by the tree and gives everyone one present, then we open them, one at a time. Have a little break, dad dishes more out....

OMG I can't wait!!!!

 

[Princess81]

oooh I forgot to add, that my mum always makes a chocolate roulade which is absolutely gorgeous. Oh oh and either a strawberry or orange trifle!!! These were to take to my aunties on boxing day. I've printed off a recipe for the roulade (exactly the way mum makes it) and I'm gonna take one into work on xmas eve for those of us who still have to work (extra busy night too). For our own wee celebration in the kitchen. I was so excited about it all last night i couldn't flippin sleep lmao!! xx

 

[frankie247]

Not a lot of traditions, we always go to midnight mass, and afterwards we open one present each. In the morning we always have chocolate or Turkish delight for breakfast (the only day we of the year we do that!) then go to the morning service at church. Traditionally then myself, sister and mum would go and see to our horses or walk the dog whilst my dad prepared Christmas dinner.

This year will be different as I'm spending christmas with my husband. I'll do the cooking and we will go to midnight mass at the cathedral because we live in the city centre now but we won't go to the morning service, I probably won't eat chocolate for breakfast although I'm sure lots will be consumed and we will probably go for a walk in the afternoon after dinner.

 

[LouiseB]

Oh, i go to the christmas pantomine at my local theatre.

My mum drags me and my sister along - always has since we were about 2 and now we're 25 and 27

I was so glad when my sister had her son, so now we're taking him rather than being taken by our mum lol

 

[scaredmum2be]

we used to go up to the inlaws but i said this year with lil man i want it to be just the 3 of us i cant wait actually lol x

 

[Sera-tonin]

We alternate Christmas at our parent's houses. So last year was spent in Rome with my husband's family and this year will be spent in Key West Florida with my family.

When we have Xmas in Italy we celebrate with dinner and gifts on December 24th. When we have Xmas in Florida we have dinner and gifts on December 25th.

My husband and I do not buy each other gifts for Xmas, as my Bday is on the 21st of December. Plus we do not like to feel obligated to buy gifts. We buy small gifts for our family. We prefer to put the emphasis on the meal and spending time with family.

Also depending on which family we are with - we wait and buy the gifts for the half of the family that we did not spend Xmas with after the 25th when the sales are on.