What are your Christmas traditions?

Well, the Christmas season is (finally) here again. To kick it off, my Literature teacher gave us an assignment to write an essay on our family's Christmas traditions. I thought this was interesting, and was eager to write about it, as well as listen to other responses.

I came up with a few traditions:

-Nerf gun fights (we find the bullets all around the house, even months after Christmas).
-NOT buying an artificial Christmas tree.. but going out in the freezing cold to get a real one.
-Sledding at midnight on Christmas Eve
-And lets not forget.. Watching National Lampoons Christmas Vacation multiple times throughout the season. That one might be my favorite :)

My question is: What are some of your Christmas/New Year's traditions?

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Permalink Reply by Teresa U - Twin Phoenix - TnT on December 2, 2009 at 4:45pm

I normally go with my mom to celebrate Christmas with her family sometime in the month of December before Christmas (obligations prevent me from doing so this year). My responsibility is making the "pink stuff" (a salad made of cottage cheese, pineapple, whipped cream, and strawberry jell-o). Then all the adults (without really young kids) sit around the table and play cards til really early in the morning.

At home, we normally go to a Christmas Eve service at church. Then we go across the street for our neighbor's Christmas party. Then we all get up early in the morning to listen to Christmas music on the tv (satellite station) and open presents. It's usually a pretty special time because my brother moved away a coupla years ago for a job, and I'm gone at school for the year, so the family is all together. Pretty soon my sister will be in college (though she may stay at home), so I would imagine that it will be even more special. We don't have any specific traditions, but Christmas morning has expanded to include spiced cider in the last few years. mmmmmmm.... so good!! :)

Basically, Christmas has become more special to me since I left home to go to school. I have grown to enjoy spending time with my family.

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Permalink Reply by Mel (Salerbatis) on December 2, 2009 at 6:27pm

I make ridiculously large amounts of cookies. I don't believe in reducing recipes, and I absolutely have (read: feel some sick compulsion) to make at least eight different kinds, so I end up with hundreds of cookies. Of course, by the time I'm done with the baking and decorating, I have no desire to even look at the cookies, let alone eat any, for days.

And on Christmas Eve I watch "It's a Wonderful Life". I love me some Jimmy Stuart! Then of course, Christmas day is spent with my dad & my sister's family.

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Permalink Reply by Teresa U - Twin Phoenix - TnT on December 2, 2009 at 8:19pm

You should send some to me! I like cookies!!! :)

Mel (Salerbatis) said:

I make ridiculously large amounts of cookies. I don't believe in reducing recipes, and I absolutely have (read: feel some sick compulsion) to make at least eight different kinds, so I end up with hundreds of cookies. Of course, by the time I'm done with the baking and decorating, I have no desire to even look at the cookies, let alone eat any, for days.

And on Christmas Eve I watch "It's a Wonderful Life". I love me some Jimmy Stuart! Then of course, Christmas day is spent with my dad & my sister's family.

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Permalink Reply by Mel (Salerbatis) on December 3, 2009 at 9:43pm

That's not a bad idea! I wonder how one safely packages cookies for shipping...popcorn (unsalted and unbuttered, of course) instead of styrofoam peanuts?

Teresa U - Twin Phoenix - TnT said: