Traditions or Keeping Peace at Christmas

[Nemo14]

As I finish all the last minute baking for Christmas this year, I was thinking about the little things we do at the holidays just because it's our tradition or sometimes just to keep peace in the family. For instance, every year I have to make shortbread because MIL always did, and English Matrimonial cookies because FIL always liked them for Christmas (neither one of them are with us anymore, but the tradition continues). I insist that we always have Christmas Eve with just our immediate family because I always had it that way as a kid, and I love that time together before the chaos of being with the extended family ensues.

We have an ornament on our tree that's a little bear with one eye missing. I've had him since I put up my first tree back when I was in a very abusive relationship. I always put him in a prominent place on our tree to remind me of how blessed I am to have gotten out of that one alive.

We always got an orange in our stockings, and DH always got a new shiny penny, so we have continued both traditions with our kids and their spouses.

On New Year's Eve, MIL would always open the door to let the old year's troubles go away and let the new year in. DH's brother continues that tradition.

So, anyone else have any unusual traditions at Christmas?

 

[epcotisbest]

As I finish all the last minute baking for Christmas this year, I was thinking about the little things we do at the holidays just because it's our tradition or sometimes just to keep peace in the family. For instance, every year I have to make shortbread because MIL always did, and English Matrimonial cookies because FIL always liked them for Christmas (neither one of them are with us anymore, but the tradition continues). I insist that we always have Christmas Eve with just our immediate family because I always had it that way as a kid, and I love that time together before the chaos of being with the extended family ensues.

We have an ornament on our tree that's a little bear with one eye missing. I've had him since I put up my first tree back when I was in a very abusive relationship. I always put him in a prominent place on our tree to remind me of how blessed I am to have gotten out of that one alive.

We always got an orange in our stockings, and DH always got a new shiny penny, so we have continued both traditions with our kids and their spouses.

On New Year's Eve, MIL would always open the door to let the old year's troubles go away and let the new year in. DH's brother continues that tradition.

So, anyone else have any unusual traditions at Christmas?

We have a little, dinky plastic ornament shaped like a bell that was my grandmother's. She died in 1989. That little plastic bell is always the first ornament on the tree. "Every time a bell rings"...you know the rest.

 

[trr1]

we try to visit the cemetery every Christmas

 

[rsoxguy]

I like to call everyone without my wife's knowledge and tell them that she forgot to shop. I then return all of the gifts that she got them and buy myself something nice with the money. You know, this really is the most wonderful time of the year.

 

[Nemo14]

I like to call everyone without my wife's knowledge and tell them that she forgot to shop. I then return all of the gifts that she got them and buy myself something nice with the money. You know, this really is the most wonderful time of the year.

You're such a giver!

 

[MinnieM123]

I really had to give this some thought, as so many things have changed over the years. Then I remembered one thing that has been constant, (my father started this tradition) ever since my childhood. On Christmas Eve, I read the Bible story of the birth of Jesus.

 

[Nemo14]

I really had to give this some thought, as so many things have changed over the years. Then I remembered one thing that has been constant, (my father started this tradition) ever since my childhood. On Christmas Eve, I read the Bible story of the birth of Jesus.

We do too. When my kids were young we always bought them advent calendars that told a verse or 2 of the story every day, then on Christmas Eve they would read it together (I have it on home video somewhere). Now we (I) just read it before we eat our Christmas eve dinner.

 

[Arthur Wellesley]

My little sister always has to be the one to set out the milk and cookies for Santa.

Of course, considering the fact she's almost 24 and has no kids, the whole thing is really awkward. The rest of us just sort of look the other way.

 

[Nemo14]

I assume you eat the cookies and drink the milk so she doesn't catch on?

 

[Sans Souci]

We moved to London at the beginning of the month, so we're really not settled yet. I didn't realize all of the little traditions we did back home and what their significance was to me.

I left our Christmas decorations behind. So many if the ornaments were made by me in primary school, I kind of miss those. I also had a little ceramic village, complete with skating pond I would set up, this was passed down to me from my mom. I'm regretting leaving those things behind right now.

 

[Nemo14]

We moved to London at the beginning of the month, so we're really not settled yet. I didn't realize all of the little traditions we did back home and what their significance was to me.

I left our Christmas decorations behind. So many if the ornaments were made by me in primary school, I kind of miss those. I also had a little ceramic village, complete with skating pond I would set up, this was passed down to me from my mom. I'm regretting leaving those things behind right now.

At least now you'll know for next year!

 

[Goofyernmost]

My mother always gave me a box of store bought Chocolate Covered Cherries for Christmas. She passed away in 2005, but, I still get a box of them every Christmas. I think my sister has a hand in this, but, I like to think that she's still sending them on her own. The weird thing is that I really love Dark Chocolate, but, they still come in as Milk Chocolate. You'd think she would know wouldn't you? Even though it seems like it's brushing really close to a little morbid, I guess I still like getting them.

My daughter started a tradition of giving me a big box of homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries which are absolutely awesome and I have kind of hinted that this is a very good tradition to maintain. So far she has agreed.

 

[PUSH]

After all gifts are opened up, I ask where the rest of my presents are. Then I holler and scream until I get more.

 

[Maria Reise]

We have a tradition of decoration of our house with hand-made toys, like deers, little elves, santa. We also add candies on Christmas Tree. My favourite holidays

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

For some reason I always watch the movie Pillow Talk on Christmas Eve after lunch. I think it started one year because my mom was sick of Christmas movies and now about 20 years later I still watch it.