When I was little, I liked (in order of appearance)...
- school Christmas Play; I usually had a starring role
- the party before Midnight Mass then, when I was old enough to attend, Midnight Mass itself
- Waking up at 4am
- stocking presents being opened on Mum and Dad's bed after I woke the whole house up (would have happened even as an adult if Father Christmas hadn't started coming during Mass!)
- One of the stocking presents being a book that would occupy me until everyone else was ready to get up.
- more presents under the tree and at parties
- Sticky toffee puddings.
- Grandma's New Year's party.

I actually didn't like the parties other than the New Year's party because at family parties I was expected to play with cousins, whereas at Grandma's party I was able to spend time with Grandma's brothers and sisters and talk to them, waaaaaay more interesting. I was a strange child.

What I'm doing for DS now:
- Christmas songs start around September. I'm excited and there's no way Jesus was born in December so we may as well celebrate in other months too. Plus the traditional infant school nativity play covers the first, what, 2-3 years of Jesus' life (wise men arrived when he was a toddler) so therefore we should keep the spirit of Christmas all year round, as Scrooge discovers many times each December in various films.
- tree goes up Saturday before December. Every Advent Sunday a big star goes on after Church, every day in December we read a bit of the Nativity and we hang a small star on the tree after that. That's the only reason the tree goes up, just to do the stars!
- Twas the night before Christmas is going to be recited on Christmas Eves from now on (see point below).
- DH and I had a bit of an argument, but this year I agreed that DS could have St Nicholas visit if we didn't do ANYTHING about Hallowe'en. We are NOT having Santa anywhere near him: Santa is clearly some sort of modern god of snow and greed, to whom we sacrifice mince pies and sherry. I don't dedicate food to idols, nor do I let my son worship them. Yes, DH reckons that's too boring and hard-line, but I'd rather not bring false gods into DS's world right now.
- presents are for all year round, not just Christmas day. BUT gifts from other people are on Christmas Day, and DS gets 1-2 from us Christmas Day. That will have to stop if we do St Nick. Because DS is whisked off to PiL's house for the day, then my parents' for the week. So I don't want him to miss all his new gifts. So I don't go overboard on Christmas gifts. St Nick will be bringing a satsuma, some chocolate, a book, a hand-made toy and a new outfit.
- Spending a week living with his grandparents will, I hope, bring back the fun I had at my Grandma's party.

HTH - we have a LOT of traditions!