Hit me with your family Christmas traditions.

[Santosha]

So as I've lamented in a previous thread, DH is the Grinch. He's just not into Christmas and I'm trying to find ways to inspire a bit of spirit in him over the coming years so that it might become a time that he actually enjoys with our beautiful DD.

Lovely helpful BBers were suggesting that I try and start some family traditions of our own that don't revolve around the things he seems so cynical about. (Think: Santa, tinsel, lights on houses, cheesy music)

So I'm looking for ideas. What does your family do at Christmas time that makes it special for you and your kids/partner? What did you do with your family when you were growing up that you really loved?

[briggsy's girl]

6am beer while lighting the oven to cook lunch!!

[Lulu]

Well around here the Fat Man doesn't get credit for the bestest presents. Mummy and daddy do. We are not religious and worshipping a fairy tale doesn't seem any better either, so Santa brings a few things but he isn't the be all and end all.
Also think that will help when they realise he isn't true...

Surely a bit of Bing Crosby and a nice ****tail after bubs is in bed Xmas eve and a chat about the past year would be nice?
I do Bing and ****tails in the entire week leading up to Xmas - no one can resist it!

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

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!

[didispunk]

Still write a letter to santa at the age of 28

[Lulu]

You KILL me Lady Zaidie!!!!

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Just excited, Lulu.

DS is going to have a rehersal for a nativity play this afternoon too so I'm getting a bit giddy.

[Lulu]

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.

This is my fave bit - I thought I was going to wet my pants.

Santosha - maybe think back to the things that you remember as your faves. Apart from the presents and the anticipation, I just loved seeing everyone so happy and pleased to see each other. Running amok with my cousins and the long hot lazy days of summer....fireworks at the local carols (yes, I know your dh would HATE that!) and the magic of the twinkling xmas lights. In fact I let my kids have the fairy lights in their rooms all year long

[Doodlebug]

These are really my parents traditions but we've kind of inherited them as well for our family!

First one is 'Ham Night'.
This takes place the Monday before Christmas, with the same people each year and has been for 32 years now (since I was born). It's not a hard tradition to start. Minimal people involved really, someone to bring the bread, someone to butter the bread, someone to provide the ham, someone to bring chocolates and all to bring a bottle or two of wine. The objective of the night is to make and eat ham sandwiches while drinking all wine that has been brought!

Second one is 'Letterbox'
This requires a little more effort and good neighbours. preferable the understanding kind that have kids and are up early.
Choose a house in your street with a decent size letterbox. Person who owns the house is responsible for providing glasses, strawberries and juice. Each other family attending is to bring a bottle of champagne.
Everyone to meet around 7:00am at the chosen letterbox. Bleary eyed, some dressed, some still in jammies. Kids bring their favourite toys and play on the lawn. Adults stand around, yawning, mumbling 'Merry Christmas' while they drink their first glass of champagne for the day. After the first one goes down it tends to perk up a bit. Come 8:30am everyone has left to do their own family thing for the day.

Hope these help! Neither of which are very 'Christmassy', involve tinsel, santa, lights or music so they should be a winner!!!

(Yes, these are REAL traditions that my family do!!!!)

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

This is my fave bit - I thought I was going to wet my pants.

You're posting to tell me you're laughing at me, Lulu? I'm hoping you're doing that in a nice way!

Sharon, I HATE ham, but might have to do that tonight and steal the tradition. You can get vegetarian ham and any excuse to have a drink is a good one for me.

[MrsFabuloso]

- 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.

BAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! That's so hilariously true!!

Sharon, I love your neighbourly traditions! Although not necessarily 'christmassy' as you put it, it's in the spirit of christmas, which is the most important thing!!

We have a few, mostly spending time with family members and eating wayyy too much! The most important thing I think is to enjoy yourselves, and to show a spirit of giving, generosity, love and appreciation. In my world, that's what christmas is, not the hyped up commersialism it seems to be becomeing to alot of people!

[Lulu]

Yep and I'm using it next year when I am met with howls of indignation about why I am not doing the big stupid xmas lunch shenanigans....

[~Hestia~]

Allowed to open one little gift on christmas eve, but you don't to pick which gift you open.
Croissants for breakfast christmas day.
Watch the carols christmas eve on tv.
We were allowed to open the santa sack that was on the ends of our beds before waking parents in the morning.
Drink & snack for santa.
Tree went up early december, carols on while decorating.
These are things my family did which I'm doing/going to start now we're a family too.

[Queen]

We have a couple nothing huge though....
Christmas Eve we all put out Santas snacks, and carrots for reindeer. Then we all sit down and open ONE present. (I chose the present, usually a book or clothes, something quiet lol )
Xmas morning champs with breaky, while kids rip into presents under the tree.....