traditions

Today my SO suggested that we begin some of our own traditions (which I thought was super sweet... ) since we're beginning a new life together.

Two holidays we celebrate are Thanksgiving and Christmas.
For Thanksgiving I want to make sure to set aside some time to share what we're grateful for. Then I want to go to a Christmas tree farm for a small tree every year, and pick out a new ornament with the date on it. He wants to pick a funny ornament and write the year on it with a sharpie...

I'm sure most of you have traditions. They really make everything more special around the holidays (not just Christmas for those who don't celebrate it or Thanksgiving). What are some of yours?

[locumtenenswife]

Re: traditions

DH and I spent last Christmas on our own in Hawaii, where DH worked on temporary assignment. We got a real Christmas tree (a real luxury when its 85 degrees out and high humidity and you're spending Christmas out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean) and we made Hawaiian-themed ornaments by hand out of seashells and dried starfish. We sent out holiday cards, decorated our apartment with Christmas lights, and made a huge holiday feast fit for two. Then we celebrated New Year's on Waikiki Beach and drank champagne on the sand as we watched everyone set off fireworks (It's a Waikiki tradition). We're planning on doing the same this year, and carrying on same holiday traditions when we move back to L.A.

[migirl]

Re: traditions

The only "family" tradition we've come up with is that every year we go out and buy a new Christmas ornament together. It's nice to be able to spend that time together, even with all of the crazy shoppers.

Oh, and Christmas morning we have hot-from-the-oven cinnamon rolls for breakfast and then we watch Jim Henson's Emmitt Otter's Jug Band Christmas.

[easternghost]

Re: traditions

We like to go to the same church every year to buy our tree. The church is nowhere near where we live, but they are so kind there and the trees they bring in are so nice that we make the drive there every year. We also like to get an ornament every year with the date on it.

[DCJenn]

Re: traditions

Every Christmas Eve we make steak fondue w/ salad, bread, wine, etc. and at midnight we listen to Dylan Thomas' read "A Child's Christmas in Wales". We do this whether we're at my parent's house or just our group of three.

Jenn

[SuzySunshine]

Re: traditions

I love reading all of these, we look forward to starting our own next year.

Re: traditions

We watch National Lampoons Christmas Vacation too! Usually we watch that the night of Thanksgiving to start things off on the right foot.

We always spend Christmas morning at home. I love opening presents together while we are all still in pjs. We usually have crab for Christmas Eve dinner. I'm not sure how that started but I think it was along the lines of -- let's start some traditions. There are others I am going to have to think about.

Re: traditions

This is more of a rule than a tradition, but we have stopped traveling on Christmas day. We spend all of Christmas day at home, playing. This came about after the first Christmas when the kids opened all of their presents and then had to leave them to drive 6 hours to see the ILs.

We have a nice dinner on Christmas eve, then the kids get to open one present. They will have "the one" they get to open picked out well before Christmas eve.

On Christmas morning, the kids know they have to come to our room before going downstairs so mom and dad can make sure Santa is gone. Otherwise, they'd be up at 3am and we'd miss the whole thing.

We always have a big Christmas dinner, and this year DH is making a prime rib roast.

Not really a tradition, but a good thing: this year my BFF of ~23 years (yes I'm that old- we met in infancy ) and her DH and 3 kids are driving up from Mobile the day after Christmas! :wee:

[Phoebe]

Re: traditions

-We stay home on Christmas
-The kids put Christmas cookies and milk out for Santa the night before and write a note
-We drive around a lot and look at the lights (my favorite)
-We open our stockings first, eat breakfast (usually something gooey and high calorie) and then open gifts in our pjs
-We used to try to take turns opening gifts, but the kids put a kaboosh on that one
-We listen to xmas music regularly and read "Twas the Night Before Christmas"

Thanks for this post. I haven't been in the holiday spirit yet, but this thread is warming me up to it.

[planet]

Re: traditions

We actually don't have our own "traditions."

We do both holidays, but neither are a big deal. I'm going to have to come up with something special soon before the kids are too old.

[rainbabies]

Re: traditions

have i posted this thread yet? it sounds familiar. maybe i did but never clicked submit.

we hang white lights above the mantle. we make large stars of david and decorate them however we want..then hang them on the lights. this year i also cut out large snowmen to decorate. they look cute. our menorah sits off to the side..we have a nice baked chicken dinner on the first night, light the candles and open a small gift. very simple

(im trying to get dh to commit to visiting the synagogue this year...we shall see)

Re: traditions

I love this all! For some reason, I'm extra excited about Christmas this year. I'm in the right mindset- I think that's what it is. I'm excited about the music, the decorations, cooking, spending time with my SO and family, opening up a few gifts, the traditions...

In the years past, it was all about the shopping frenzy. I dreaded it and it stressed me out. It was probably because I was away at school and only had a few days after finals to shop and get ready for the holidays. I just hate how sometimes our society can get out of control with the shopping and places so much importance on the "stuff." Growing up, we didn't have that and we still don't... so I always hated hearing about all the toys that all of my friends got, so that planted the seed in my mind.

[Ladybug122]

Re: traditions

So far, we have been spending X-Mas Eve with my family, then traveling to NY on X-Mas day to see DH's family. People ask why I would want to travel on Christmas Day, but I think 1. It's special to open gifts in your pj's in your own house on Christmas Morning and 2. NO TRAFFIC on Christmas Day (woohoo).
I don't know if we'll always travel on Christmas Day, I'm sure once DS (and future children ) are older, it's possible we'll want to stick around home for the Holiday.
As a Christmas Tradition, I make ridiculous amounts of Christmas Cookies and give platters out to friends, family, work, etc.
I also go to see the Boston Pops Holiday Show every year. Very fun, and puts everyone in the Holiday Spirit!

[MDPhDWife]

Re: traditions

Our traditions are very similar to what others have posted here. Some include:

~Watching National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, it's my absolute favorite!

~We decorate the house and tree the day after Thanksgiving. This year we waited until the Monday after since DD1 spent Friday-Sunday at her dads house. The timesharing schedule is tricky sometimes and we have to be flexible about when things get done so DD1 can fully participate and isn't left out.

~For Christmas dinner we'll usually eat brown sugared ham and green bean casserole. Sometimes we'll have turkey too.

~There's this area of town that has very large ranch houses that I love to drive around during Christmas time since the lights and decorations tend to be very elaborate. We also tend to go so we can daydream about living there someday.

~The city has a "River of Lights" show that it puts on annually, that we go to. It's at the botanical gardens and since it's outdoors, we drink lots of hot cocoa.

~On Christmas Eve we let our daughters pick out one present to open and then the rest are opened on Christmas morning in our pjs. This is also getting trickier with the timesharing schedule. DD1's dad and I each get either Xmas Eve or Xmas day with DD1 and it switches every year, so it makes it tough maintain any sort of tradition. It was easier when she was younger because Xmas could really be anyday we said it was, now that she's older, that just isn't going to fly. We tell her Santa knows she has 2 homes and brings her things at both.

[poky]

Re: traditions

-
-We've been doing the Jesse tree since our oldest was in preschool and we all really enjoy that time together. The prayers and scripture stories are wonderful.

What's the Jesse tree? Tell me more, tell me more.

This looks like a pretty good explanation:

http://www.cresourcei.org/jesse.html