What are you doing for the holidays, if you're not with your family?
 

This Christmas will be the first one for my husband and I. Neither one of us are heading home for the holidays and we're just staying home, I guess to start our own traditions. Granted, we have no idea what traditions we will start.

Do you have traditions that you've started once you've been on your own? What are your plans for the holidays?

I think I've had traditions that I've carried on since being on my own. For example, I still put scratch-off lottery tickets under the plates at Christmas Eve/Christmas dinner. That's one that live-in's family has fully embraced.

I still do mimosas on Christmas morning.

I'm spending it with live-in's family (again) although last year my dad came out and went with us. This year, he's staying home. My brother and SIL are going to her family, and my dad is spending it with his girlfriend. I'm really glad she's so great because I'd hate to have him spend Christmas alone.

We're hosting Christmas this year, but when Andy and I got married, we looked at both family traditions to see which ones we'd like to make our own. His family made cookies every Christmas Eve for Santa-something my family never did-so we started doing that. We put his train around the tree. Santa never wrapped at my house, so once we have kids, he won't at our house. (Santa always wrapped all of Andy's gifts.)

Not sure if this counts, but the day after Christmas I'm helping run a dance at the LGBTIQQS youth center. With the decorating party, dance and cleanup, I'll be there from 1-11pm

Well, it's Christmas Eve and I'm here in my apartment alone with my dog. I'm alone by choice this year and I'm enjoying the quiet peacefulness.

I think I'll probably watch some shows on Fancast then turn in early.

Merry Christmas. :)

For the first time ever, I'm not with family at Christmas. It's a little strange. I did pretty much the exact same thing on December 24th and 25th for 24 years, and now in my 25th, I'm hundreds of miles away :(

But I spent the night with my boyfriend and his family. We went to church (which I haven't been to in years!) and hung out at his house afterward. We'll be eating Christmas dinner and opening presents at his house tomorrow night.

And tomorrow, I'm also calling my mom and opening the package she sent me.. while on the phone. She insisted. :)

I am working as usual :( I am sure someday I will regret working on Christmas every year instead of being with family but it is part of my job. I am definitely taking it off next year!

My old neighbors have adopted me for holidays when my kids are with their Dad and none of my family is in town. I will be going over there tomorrow for a bit, cookies in hand.

I've been alone by choice/employment circumstances quite a few Christmases as an adult and I've grown to really enjoy it. It is my tradition to the point I'm positively steamed my roommate didn't go home so I'm doing it in my boyfriend's apartment since he's out of town. I have about $30 of various imported gourmet cheeses with bread, crackers, meat, and so on; and I used to watch cable but I got rid of it so it is movies and eating/snoozing at my leisure.

People either hugely pity me, or are extremely jealous that nothing is hectic and I can enjoy the peace and quiet. I used to go to someone's house to eat but I always felt strange and I am a fan of lounging about and my own company. If I'm awake at midnight I'll open presents otherwise they'll be opened whenever.

Today I'm going to the boyfriend's aunt's house to be with his family (he came to my family for the Eve - which meant I didn't have to sit through the Feast of the 7 Fishes this year woohoo!!), which means that I finally get to witness the grab bag. I've heard the family stories about the grab bag for AGES, and apparently it's absolute madness ... yelling and screaming always ensues at some point while they're giving it out. The boyfriend doesn't participate and neither am I, so we'll be sitting back with a drink enjoying the craziness.