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I had a catholic step dad so we always went to midnight mass on Christmas eve. Afterwards Mom would make hot chocolate with peppermint candy canes and mini-marshmallows in them. Served on a tray with danish biscuits (my Mom's favorite) as we all sat around the tree to pick one present to open on Christmas eve. Santa presents were never put out until after we all went to bed, and Santa present were usually the best ones or very special ones like something we asked Santa for and really wanted or something of important value.
One Christmas I remember waking up to a bicycle with a huge red bow on it from Santa to me, and I covered my mouth as I screamed with excitement. Santa was the best! Though I'd known since I was six who Santa really was because I had older brothers who'd tell me everything. I still liked to make believe.
Then we'd go to bed and sleep in until we'd wake up whenever we'd wake up. We liked our sleep as we were all more night owls. We couldn't open presents until everyone was awake. If the majority was awake then one person would be sent to wake up the last person around 10 am.
First we'd open stockings together. Then we'd eat the fruit or nuts in them. Sometimes they had chocolate Christmas candy too but Mom grew up with a father who stuffed them with oranges and nuts so she kept the tradition. There was also always some little toys inside like dollar store toys or the kind you'd get out of machine you put quarters in. Just something cheap and fun like a concentration game were you have to get the little metal balls to stay in the holes as you tilt the plastic toy around between your thumbs. Also there would be our favorite candy. I think mine was chocolate and one of my brother's liked red hots.
Then we'd move to the Christmas tree with a garbage bag for the wrapping and ribbon. Mom always wrapped the presents in brown paper packages tied up with string that looked like dried corn stalk. IMG_5190.JPG She was really artsy so sometimes she'd paint our names on the packages and designs like angel wings or holly.
Usually someone wore the red santa hat and played the designated santa passing out the presents. There wasn't any order to it. Just grab the first present and pass it to the person who's name was on it. Sometimes if I was the designated Santa I'd try to get a different name each time so everyone could open them together. Sometimes we'd wait and open them one at a time.
Then everyone sort of hung around eating Christmas cookies and goodies while checking out their piles of opened gifts while we'd call family on the phone and wish them Merry Christmas and talk about what they got for Christmas. I usually had to help Mom in the kitchen during the day making Christmas dinner. Sometimes we'd have visitors during the day stop by, or have guests come over for Christmas dinner.
One Christmas I remember waking up to a bicycle with a huge red bow on it from Santa to me, and I covered my mouth as I screamed with excitement. Santa was the best! Though I'd known since I was six who Santa really was because I had older brothers who'd tell me everything. I still liked to make believe.
Then we'd go to bed and sleep in until we'd wake up whenever we'd wake up. We liked our sleep as we were all more night owls. We couldn't open presents until everyone was awake. If the majority was awake then one person would be sent to wake up the last person around 10 am.
First we'd open stockings together. Then we'd eat the fruit or nuts in them. Sometimes they had chocolate Christmas candy too but Mom grew up with a father who stuffed them with oranges and nuts so she kept the tradition. There was also always some little toys inside like dollar store toys or the kind you'd get out of machine you put quarters in. Just something cheap and fun like a concentration game were you have to get the little metal balls to stay in the holes as you tilt the plastic toy around between your thumbs. Also there would be our favorite candy. I think mine was chocolate and one of my brother's liked red hots.
Then we'd move to the Christmas tree with a garbage bag for the wrapping and ribbon. Mom always wrapped the presents in brown paper packages tied up with string that looked like dried corn stalk. IMG_5190.JPG She was really artsy so sometimes she'd paint our names on the packages and designs like angel wings or holly.
Usually someone wore the red santa hat and played the designated santa passing out the presents. There wasn't any order to it. Just grab the first present and pass it to the person who's name was on it. Sometimes if I was the designated Santa I'd try to get a different name each time so everyone could open them together. Sometimes we'd wait and open them one at a time.
Then everyone sort of hung around eating Christmas cookies and goodies while checking out their piles of opened gifts while we'd call family on the phone and wish them Merry Christmas and talk about what they got for Christmas. I usually had to help Mom in the kitchen during the day making Christmas dinner. Sometimes we'd have visitors during the day stop by, or have guests come over for Christmas dinner.
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