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What’s your family Christmas tradition?
As you start your own family it’s nice to carry on some of your old family traditions as well as starting some of your own. We asked for your Christmas traditions.
Diana
My family has always been a little non-traditional in our celebration of Christmas, as my parents are nurses and one of them always had to work on Christmas day. Since the first years of my parent's marriage, we have always had breakfast for dinner on Christmas Eve and opened one present.
This tradition began when my dad was in the military and based in a remote location with his young wife. He realized that he was one of the only young men in the area who had any family around to celebrate the holiday. He invited his platoon back to his home for a meal on Christmas Eve. Not providing my mom with much warning (and limited access to a grocery store for typical holiday food), it was decided to host a pancake dinner. Each of the men contributed something to accompany pancakes. As a little kid, I loved eating pancakes, little sausages, and applesauce for our dinner on Christmas Eve. As my siblings and I have married, our simple pancakes have turned into a greater spread of french toast, breakfast sausage, fruit, and casseroles (or is it called a hot dish here like in Minnesota?).
As a child, it seemed like we were getting away with something by opening one gift. I now know it was intended to allow my parents to sleep in on Christmas morning.
Debs
My favourite Christmas tradition started when I was in my early twenties, my friends would have a mini Christmas where we would cook and swap presents. It's been going over ten years now and the gang is getting bigger almost every year as we are adding in husbands and new babies. These gatherings used to be really indulgent, we would eat & drink lots while watching films and now we are lucky if we get a chance to sit down as there are so many kids to chase after!
Mel
One tradition that I inherited from my husband’s family is “the snowman”, essentially a tall biscuit tin decorated to look like a snowman, and he has small presents inside with ribbons attached like a lucky dip. If children are well behaved during Christmas dinner they get to pull a gift out of the snowman.
Sarah S
We've started a new tradition over the last few years. The adults now do most of the adult to adult present opening Christmas Eve once the children are securely in bed, leaving more time to keep an eye on the children and not stress as much about cooking dinner the next day.