Christmas Eve traditions
 

o.k. greekchatters it's Christmas Eve. Happy holidays btw.:)

I'm sure most of us if not all of us have some kind of Christmas tradition(s) we practice, but how many of you have some kind of Christmas Eve tradition(s)? Are there certain people you visit, is it certain gifts you open, etc..etc..?

The tradition my family has always had and still has is we are allowed to open one gift on Christmas Eve. We also have a Christmas Eve dinner every year.

My husband's family always get together on Christmas eve to have dinner and open presents (only the ones we bring to exchange to the nieces and nephews). We also go to Midnight Mass together and then go back to our respective homes to celebrate Christmas and invite friends and other family over.

Nice dinner then Christmas Eve service at Lutheran church. Holding candles singing Silent Night. Going home to have eggnog and cookies and open one present.

What happens during the day varies, although we're always on the run with all these kids. This year we need to deliver some presents to the Hispanic church. Then at 6, we go to the church candlelight services. We come back for a dinner of clam chowder and garlic bread.

Then we have the stocking-hanging ritual! We turn on the camcorder and our 2 youngest stand on the hearth and hold up a sign that says "Christmas 2008". Then from oldest to youngest and one by one, each child or child-in-law goes up to the mantel with his/her stocking and hangs it. At the end, the kids sing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and sometimes other songs. This year, one of our exchange students plays the violin so she and 3 of ours who play brass will perform some carols.

Can't wait!

Our (my mom, dad, and myself) tradition used to be that I could open one present on Christmas Eve. Now my tradition is to watch Christmas movies most of the day, always making sure to include The Christmas Story in that list of movies.

For as long as I can remember, we've celebrated with our neighbors. All of our neighbors have no family in town, so we were pretty much each others' surrogate families. We have fondue for dinner and exchange gifts with each other. All of us "kids" are around the same age (youngest is a freshman at college, oldest is 29), but now most of us are married some have kids. It gets bigger every year, but we play cheesy games like picture telephone and just hang out. One year my neighbor sat on the porch playing Christmas carols on his trombone for the whole neighborhood. Everyone got a kick out of that.

My husband and I have started exchanging ornaments on Christmas Eve. He only owned about 5 ornaments when we got married (as opposed to my 200+) so we give those to each other before we go to the neighborhood party.

Usually we spend Christmas Eve at my parents. We have a soup supper and rice pudding before Christmas Eve service at church (Lutheran - with the Silent Night by candlelight, like Army Wife '79). Then, after we get home, we open all our big presents. When my sisters and I were younger, we would put on our Christmas pajamas and either watch whatever movie Santa brought one of us or play games as a family.

This is the first year we're staying home with the kiddos, so we'll have to start building our own new traditions.

When I was at my parents', we'd open one present and go to Midnight Mass...now that my MIL wants to alternate Christmas mornings, we can't do the Midnight Mass thing, and I don't know what it's going to be like at her house...this will be my first Christmas Eve not spent at my parents'.

I'll say it...

We do the typical 'Jewish' Christmas Eve. (aka a movie and Chinese Food). Usually we go out, look at the Christmas lights in this one neighborhood (that are fantastic!), hit up our favorite Chinese restaurant (that's in the area) and then go see a movie.

This year though, my Dad just recently had heart surgery so he can't really go outside (it's too snowy here and cold). So I'm seeing the lights early (it gets dark in the Midwest quick!), picking up carry-out from the Chinese Restaurant, and bringing some DVDs to the folks.

Nothing like being a Jew. A lonely Jew. On Christmas :)

We do a nice dinner, Candlelight service, then usually have a party for family members after church. Then we put beer and cookies out for Santa.

This year, though, my dad came to our house (9 hours away from home). So we're doing Christmas Eve dinner and Church with my boyfriend's Dad, then going to a party at the parsonage. When we get home, we'll leave beer out for Santa.

I'm making Spinach dip right now. :D

ETA: We also ALWAYS have scratch off lottery tickets underneath the plates for Christmas Eve and Christmas dinners. I've got a stack sitting on my desk right now.

One present, Candlelight Service, IHOP :)

I love reading about everyone's traditions!

During the day, we prepare and deliver care baskets for runaway teens staying at a Milwaukee shelter. I'm off to go do that pretty soon actually! In the evening, my family buys gifts and dinner for a family at a local homeless shelter. We then go to my aunt and uncle's house and celebrate with some of our extended family...dinner, presents, etc.

I hope you all have a very happy holiday!

With my family, we don't usually have a big dinner on Christmas Eve. It'll be close to a normal meal, because we do our big dinner on Christmas Day.

On Christmas Eve, my family and I will go out and drive around town looking at Christmas lights. We might try and scope out who has some of the best displays around here and go see those.

My b/f is with his family, about 4 hours away, for Christmas. Today, Christmas Eve, is when they decorate their Christmas tree.

Our new tradition is getting PF Chang's carryout for dinner! Yummy! I have a tradition of never sleeping on Christmas Eve, must be the little kid still in me! We aren't traveling to DH's family this year since we have to be in KY on Sunday. It will be a nice and quiet Christmas at home this year.

We've adopted most of DH's family traditions through the years, which includes Chinese food on Christmas Eve (not because any of us are Jewish, but because these are usually the only restaurants open!) Also they were raised that ALL gifts must be wrapped, even if they're from Santa or stocking stuffers! Nothing can be opened on Christmas Eve and stockings cannot be filled until after all children go to bed. So later tonight I'll finish wrapping and wait for our 12, 16 & 18 year olds go to bed. :D

Have a wonderful holiday everyone!

We go to the Christmas Eve service at church as a family. Only this year, half the family will go to the Catholic church and the other half will go with me to the Baptist church.