Christmas Eve traditions

Army Wife'79 · #1 12-24-2008, 09:41 AM

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.

carnation · #2 12-24-2008, 10:09 AM

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!

deepimpact2 · #3 12-24-2008, 10:48 AM

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.

Xylochick216 · #4 12-24-2008, 10:49 AM

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.