(ended)Countdown contest: 36 Days Till Christmas

[sunshinecindy]

Todays game will be another favorite and hopefully some ideas for the rest of us.

Most families have some type of tradition for Christmas Eve. What is your families tradition.You'll have till midnight tonight to tell us and a chance at winning a neat little prize.

Same Rules apply http://sunshinerewardsforum.com/showthread.php?t=17569

[linanglab]

Christmas Eve is our traditional day. We go downtown cincinnati and look at all the lights and shop (well...window shop). We have a nice sit down lunch and then grab hot chocolate and sit and people watch.

We get home and the kids open their first present - their Christmas eve PJ's. It is truly a wonderful day.

[PSL1013]

Christmas Eve is our big night with the whole family, only 10 of us left now but we carry on.....we have a traditional Italian feast with all the fish dishes like scrod, smelts and calamari and a variety of dishes made with above ingredients.....if you don't like fish, you are welcome to stop by McDonalds on the way to dinner! :rotfl: Then we open our presents. Christmas Day is left to immediate family celebrations and the last several years since my son moved out on his own, we have been getting together for breakfast Christmas morning with him and his soon to be fiance (hopefully she will have the ring on her finger by the time we arrive?) and exchanging of gifts, then the rest of the day is open for what ever happens, either relaxing or visiting friends.

[keishashadow]

we used to have a quiet evening with a special shrimp & lobster dinner, play board games, have a glass of wine & watch a video sitting in our new pj's while the kiddos played with 1 new present they got to open. we'd send them upstairs & assemble any toys when my DSs were young

now we go to oldest DSs house & celebrate (with my ex no less:p, i make nice for the kids, yet really miss the good old days;))

[kimbih]

We make cookies, then head to the in-laws for dinner. The kids keep track of Santa on the Norad site. When we get home, we hang our stockings, put out cookies, milk and carrots for Santa and his reindeer. The kids get their special new Christmas jammies on and then Daddy reads The Night Before Christmas before bed.

[faithhope]

After a wonderful big dinner, My husband reads the Christmas story, and then the presents from family are opened, in a slow manner allowing for everyone to enjoy one present before rushing to open the next.

[Pooh's Pal]

When my DD was little we would always travel to my Mom's on Christmas eve, upon our arrival, we'd head to my brother and sister-in-laws house for an open-house type dinner, with my family and hers. People would come in and out all night with a buffet set up. There was always some guy that would come around in a Santa Suit..giving candy canes to the kids. My brother and the other fathers there would always give him a few bucks. Once we noticed Bud's in his sack...we all laughed cause someone must of paid him with beers. When we arrive back at my Mom's, we'd get her to bed and my Mom and I would spend many hours wrapping and setting up all of her gifts...oh the memories of those laughs those evenings.

Little story...one year, DD was about 4, all the Unwrapped gifts were in black trash bags in our then Chevy Blazer. She was buckled in the back seat and about an hour into our drive she says; "Daddy, why are you bringing our trash to Grandmas?" We tried not to laugh and his reply was; "Grandma has a huge dumpster at her condo!" Well that was the laugh the next day and for years to come, every time we traveled to Moms on Christmas Eve!

[dparra]

we always have a christmas eve open house and celebrate with all of our family.. eating great mexican food with our loved ones (my dad is mexican, so we celebrate that on christmas eve and traditional foods on christmas day).. then head to midnight mass.. it is my favorite night of the year!

[dac921]

My parents drive in from NJ, we head over to afternoon mass and then enjoy a lite meal, watch christmas video, and the girls get to open one gift on Christmas eve... usually it's the brand new (washed) Christmas Jammies.

[JillyFish]

We have had this tradition since we bought our first home. On Christmas Eve we go to church. Afterwards we have a big party at our house. We invite family and friends. We have a buffet meal that everyone contributes to. After we eat and have visited for a while, we always sing Christmas carols before everyone goes home.

[mindyd2006]

Christmas Eve we always go to my Moms and exchange Gifts with her and my Step Dad and all my Sister and Nieces and Nephews. Then we come home and I bath the kids they always get new pj's and we watch a Movie and Play A game then we leave out the Reindeer Food and the Cookies and Milk for Santa.

[mia214jia]

We go to my DH aunts were all his family gets together for a big meal. After we spend the day there we head home about dusk and by the time we get in town its getting dark. So we cruise around looking at lights. A local nieghborhood makes it a event with the United Way accepting donations or wrapped toys. The kids get to set with Santa, free Pictures and Hot Chocolate. So we after we get home they unwind, make Santa's cookies, settle in and we play a game or two and then Dh reads the bible story.
After the kids are SOUND asleep ~ we elves here are up for a looooonnnggg night wrapping and setting up for the morning of SANTA CAMEschreeching through the house and busting into our room.

[bajam]

We find the earliest chuch service in town. After church we come home and have cheese and crackers and other little finger foods for dinner. This is the only time I let the kids eat in the living room. We watch The Polar Express and have hot, hot, hot, hot chocolate of course. Then we wrangle the kids to bed only to have them stay awake until the wee hours of the morning making everyone a little tired the next day.

[tarheelpat]

At bedtime, my husband reads the Christmas story from Luke followed by "The Night Before Christmas" while everyone enjoys a mug of either eggnog or hot chocolate.

[Magical JenK]

Sadly, I no longer have any of the same traditions I used to growing up. DH's schedule isn't condusive w/holidays & now just a matter of where I/we can/cannot be. But when I was growing up, Christmas Eve was my favorite. Just my immediate family & we went to mass, had the most wonderful dinner of appetizers when we returned & then opened gifts! I would really like that to be the same now, but it just isn't...buh humbug huh?

[Candi]

We go to my FIL's for Christmas Eve. We eat a fancy meal with several courses. Afterwards, we open presents. After presents, we have dessert. Then we drive home. It's about and hour and 15 minute drive so our kids fall asleep on the way home. After we put them in their beds, we get everything ready for Christmas morning.

[Hedy]

We do our dinner on Christmas eve-so we do our adult "secret santa" swap, and the boys generally get to open 1 toy from my mom.

[Alice28]

we usually have a ravioli dinner, let the kids open 1 gift (they can choose), watch A Christmas Story, and then send the kiddoes off to bed so we can get the rest of the gifts under the tree. I love christmas Eve- so peaceful and exciting at the same time!

[Soccer Princess]

We used to have a nice dinner and then go the candlelight service at church. When we got home, we could open our presents from family. We also tracked Sanata on the news lol. Then it was off to bed so Santa could come! :)

[sabrina90744]

Christmas Eve is our "Tamalada" Day. Everyone gets together at my mom's house, the women sit around with our beer and wine and make 10 dozens or so of tamales. The men and kids are usually hanging out in the backyard around the bonfire. We are usually finished preparing the tamales around 10 then we all gather around the bonfire and sing and laugh and just enjoy each other. We usually head home around midnight and wait for Santa. This will be my first year hosting as mom is fighting cancer right now. I hope I don't foul it up..

[sarah4770]

We usually have a buffet spread at my house on christmas eve...all those wonderful holiday foods, we watch christmas movies or play christmas music and sit in front of the tree, and just spend time togethere. the kids get to pick one present to open.

[PartiesByCatharine]

Every Christmas Eve we attend mass at church and then drive around to check out everyone's Christmas lights on the way home. Later in the evening we have a little get together with neighbors and family friends. It's a great excuse to eat cookies, fudge, and tons of other sweets! :)

[jendon1997]

We go to my mothers every Christmas Eve. She has a family and friend get together. Over the past few years more and more people show up at her house. It is so much fun and I look forward to it every year.

[arob414]

We go to my mom's for Christmas Eve, time depends upon which day I am off for Christmas. This year, I work the Eve :clap:, so we will all gather there after I get off work. "We" includes my mom, my girls and my sister's family, including the married daughters. We always eat way too much. Coca Cola cake is a favorite family dessert but we also ALWAYS have pecan tarts and wedding cookies. Actual food depends upon if we are in a finger food mood (my favorite) or a real food mood (my mom's favorite). We open presents, visit and go home. The girls always get to open one gift and they get a new pair of jammies.

A newer tradition (maybe) is opening the rest of their gifts. They now know who Santa is. If I have to work Christmas Day, it is easier and more enjoyable for them to open on the Eve. I am not crazy about that. :( This year, we will probably go to my aunt's for wkend and leave early on Christmas morning so I may let them open gifts, again, on the Eve.

[barbaraapple]

We all go back home to mama and daddy's house eat dinner and open gifts and just talk about childhood memories of growing up and I get to enjoy my niece and nephew..:love:

[emtntn]

Christmas Eve is kind of crazy at our house. First we start by going to my mothers to exchange gifts, we then head to my fathers and eat dinner, the kids open gifts and the adults play dirty santa. Once we get home the kids and I bake cookies for santa.

[MrsWonka]

My Christmas Eve traditions vary. My parents divorced before I can remember, so I have always celebrated Christmas with one parent on Christmas Eve and the other parent on Christmas day. Unfortunately, my daughter's father and I divorced before her 2nd Christmas, so the tradition continues. This year we will get up Christmas Eve morning and it will be just like Christmas day at our house. Santa comes Christmas Eve's Eve, then we will have a big family dinner at our house with my Mom, Step-Dad, Aunt and In-Laws. We always drive through town looking at the wonderful light displays (this year we even have blow up yard art of our own). Then my daughter will go with her dad and my mom and I will go to midnight candlelight services. The years that my daughter is with us for Christmas day, our Christmas consists of Chinese food dinner with my In-Laws (their tradition from at least 25 years ago).

[pbhall13]

Christmas Eve Day starts with me finishing up my baking and having friends and kids pop in so we can exchange some little presents and chit chat. then I get the girls ready for Christmas Eve Mass and both of my girls take part in the Christmas Pagent (Sydney may play Mary this year) After Mass we get home and bundle up all the present that we have bought for our cousins, aunts, uncles and head over to my cousin Christine's house (lucky for me she only lives 3 streets over)........this is were we have a huge party! I would say that there are at least 60 people that go (sometimes more)....we all make a side dish and dessert for all to enjoy. I really love this part.......we have been doing this since I was a little girl. All the kids get to open the presents from the other family members and it can get crazy, but good crazy! (we have recently started going 1 hour earlier than the non family members so that the kids can open their presents before too many people get there and can enjoy seeing what they got) Then all the kids change into their jammies and we take the obligatory pictures..........then home we go waiting for Santa. I tuck the girls in Bed and then that is when I set everything up under the tree..........Then I collapse!

[julie007]

We go to my parents for our traditional Shrimp and Steak dinner. Then walk around thier neighborhood looking at the lights. Their neighborhood also does the bags with the candles it is awesome.

Now that my DD will be 3 we are going to try and start some of our own traditions. Getting great ideas here!

[bbangel]

Christmas Eve is always quiet. I always try to watch White Christmas with only the tree lights on and have hot chocolate and shortbread.

[kimntrent]

Our Christmas Eve tradition is a wierd one. Growing up we always ended up in the restaurants that the power would go out in. After a few years we found it funny and now we find a restaurant and try out chances of the power going out in it. It has worked several times. People here get so stupid and someone is bound to take out a power pole around here and give us our xmas wish. My hubby and I put our stockings together on xmas eve as well and we love watching the crackle fire log even though we have our own fireplace. Now that we are in a new house I hope to have some more awesome xmas traditions.

[joiev98]

On Christmas Eve, we go to my inlaws for a big dinner with his whole side of the family, and then we exchange gifts. After we are done, we pick my Mom up on the way home to come and sleep over. When we get home, the kids are allowed to open one gift, which is always new PJ's, they have a snack, and then they go to bed. My mom, my DH and myself each fill a stocking for one of us, and we have little trays of snacks, a couple of drinks, and open our stockings. After a little while, my DH gets dressed in his Santa suit and makes his way upstairs to the kids rooms to pay them each a little visit. Its such a magical night. And definitely my favourite of the whole year.

[Arky]

On Christmas Eve, we travel to my Grandma and Grandpa's house in West Virginia. There are 23 of us now who get together for Christmas Day. We travel from Ohio and Indiana to small town WVA. None of us can imagine Christmas any other way. My Grandparents are each 86 years old and we are treasuring every Christmas we will get to spend with them.

[askomsky]

We always get together with one side of our family (depends on schedules) and we open presents with the grandparents, read The Night Before Christmas as a family. Then when the kids get home they get to open one present (pj's) and put them on. We then lay out the cookies and milk for Santa and lettuce and carrots for the reindeer. Before each one goes to sleep and says their prayers they once again go back and think about the past year and everything we did. We talk about whether or not they did a lot of things that made Jesus happy or not. On Christmas morning with breakfast we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.

[fourfoxesinpa]

Since my parents split in the early 80s, we've always spent Christmas Eve with Dad and visit Mom on Christmas Eve. We all bring our special foods, exchange gifts and the kids love playing with their cousins.

Before we leave our house to visit, we sprinkle the shimmering reindeer food on the sidewalk, just so we can all get to bed right away when we get home.

We visit the Norad site to see when Santa is expected - that's our clue that it's time to head home. We drive past a big antenna that has a flashing red light on the top which miraculously becomes Rudolph every year (kids have never noticed it is there all year round! :rotfl:)

I enjoy the special time with DH playing Santa and sitting by the tree when all is done and enjoying a glass of wine and Christmas music.

[deana]

I am a nurse and work every 2 or 3 years on both Christmas and Christmas eve, so our family has no big set traditions for this night. Whether or not I am present or working, my family always goes to Christmas eve church service and tracks santa on NORAD...and late at night DH always makes tracks from Santa's boots through the house with "snow" (flour) that is stuck on his boots from the North pole. My kids think this is hysterical, although they have commented that maybe he should wipe his feet better....:D

[sselig2000]

We always have a very large group of exteneded family at our house for Christmas dinner, so Christmas Eve is always pizza ordered, food prep for the next day etc. Then we put out cookies and milk for Santa, set out the stockings to be filled and I read the Night Before Christmas. Most of the kids are grown now, and they still want me to read it to them. Then we all sing Christmas carols before sending the little one to bed. I love Christmas Eve.

[gpp2001]

The Christmas Eve Tradition that we started a few years ago - we didn't have any of my family nearby - DH's family was close but we would spend Christmas Day with them. So the three of us, DH, DD and me, get dressed up and go to a fancy restaurant for dinner. It has always been the same restaurant but now that we have moved to CA, we have to find a new place to eat. After dinner, we come home and Follow Santa on NORAD. DD gets new pj's, we put out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeers. Then DD goes to bed and I usually have to finish wrapping presents because I'm a big giant procrastinator!!


Karn

[lkturner]

We have dinner at 'Grandma and Grandpa's' house and open presents from them. We usually always eat a big Italian meal. I don't know why, since we're not Italian! We always leave early and get ready for the big day ahead!

[catnapfan]

We have xmas with my side of the family on Christmas eve. My parents, grandparents, brother and whatever girl he's dating that year, all come to our house for a buffet style dinner. After dinner we gather around the tree and open gifts. Now that DS14 knows about santa he opens all his gifts on xmas eve. When he was younger he just opened one gift at night then had to wait for santa to bring the rest while he slept. After everyone goes home DH, DS and I attend midnight mass.

[toystoryduo]

On Christmas Eve, we go to my MIL's house for dinner and gifts. We have shrimp cocktail and cheese and crackers as appetizers and we have prime rib and crab legs for dinner. We play games, read the Christmas story, and everyone heads home around midnight. :christmas:

[zoodoyle]

We try to be together with family on Christmas Eve - it's the anniversary of my Grandmother's death, so it's a bittersweet day for us. Usually we will have a nice dinner together, and the kids each get to open one present. Our big celebration is Christmas morning!! :love:

[amarazas]

On Christmas Eve, we keep it low key during the day because our evening is quite full. My Mom comes down and stays overnight with us. We have dinner at 5pm, and then we get ready to go to the 7pm Church Service. On our way home from church we take the *long* way home to look at all the Christmas lights. Then when we get home, the kids get into the PJs, and they go outside with Nana to 'call for Santa' with Reindeer Food and glitter. Then we get read "The Night before Christmas" and off to bed they go... and then a little magic under the tree. And the evening is complete.

[spring]

Christmas Eve, DH and I usually get together with my Sunshine Rewards DD and her family, have dinner together (frequently Chinese), then drive around to see all the Christmas lights after dark.

[JOLAROCHE]

We go to my best friends house who happens to be married to my husbands best friend and have the traditional Italian fish dinner. Our sons are 15 months apart in age and they always put on their pjs and then we sing happy birthday to Jesus. We all open gifts and then head home No pjs for the last several years as are boys are now both in high school.

[stacieps]

we get together with my parents, all my brothers and sisters (there are 6 of us) and all their children--this year we have a new addition, my first great-nephew, so there are quite a few of us. We sing Christmas carols, have some simple foods like finger sandwiches, veggies & dip, etc. Then we open some gifts.

[jo93]

We go to my Mom's for Christmas Eve. She and my brother make Pirogies and she always makes Poppy Seed and Nut Breads. The kids always read the Christmas Story before we open presents. Everyone takes turns reading a page. My mom always buys the kids pajamas and they change into them right away. Even the teenagers. She told them last year that she wasn't going to buy them pajamas anymore. She thought they were getting too old. They told her that she had to because it's tradition.

[mmm611]

My family has almost always exchyanged presents on Christmas Eve. When my brothers and I were younger, my parents told us they'd called Santa and asked him to come early because we would be travelling at Christmas and wouldn't be home. It was very cool, because at that time we never knew which day Santa would come. After we moved back to Ohio in 1997, I think all of us kids thought that tradition was over. Christmas Eve 1997 came and Santa came early again, even though we weren't travelling anymore at Christmas. We've continued that tradition ever since, with a few modifications in scheduling due to work committments or having a new puppy and trying not to overexcite her too much in one day. Apparently, this tradition was started before I was born just because my parents couldn't wait to open presents!

[memanana]

Christmas Eve we go to my brother's house Usually between 30--40 of us Depends who all come home. Some from Scranton,Pa. Hershey, Pa. St. Louis, Mo. Florida and Hawaii. We have a meal and then my parents pass out their gifts to grandchildren and greatgrandchildren and of course us (their kids) We remember about other Christmases and the ones we have lost and the fun things we did those years with them It is nice remembering those times. We then go back to our own homes and get ready for the big day. If I am lucky my girls come home ( Scranton and St. Louis) and stay with us and we get to watch our grandkids open what Santa left for them at Grammy's Of course they always ask How does he know we are here and not at our own house??

[TtownAnne]

After dinner we drive around the neighborhood with Christmas cookies and travel mugs of hot chocolate to look at Christmas lights. We put reindeer food on the lawn (glitter/oatmeal/etc. mixture) and DD gets new pajamas to look cute for pictures the next morning.

[tink1212]

We always have finger foods and open our gifts and then later get the stockings ready for the morning!

[Sahmy]

We go to my parents houe for a big turkey dinner with all of the trimmings. Then, the grandkids decorate the tree and then open the presents. Christmas vacation is usually running in the background.

[shmily1]

Christmas Eve was the day to have Christmas from Nana, my mom. We had done this every Christmas Eve since DS18 and DD17 have been born until my mom died five years ago. Now, we try to keep DS and DD very busy so they don't miss her so much. In the afternoon, DS18 and I bake Nana's pecan pies. He loved to help her on holidays so it seems that he and I have taken it on. Later that night, I get the turkey ready to go in the oven and prepare everything else I can a little early to have plenty of time to see what Santa brought!;)

[jenvance]

Our tradition is dinner at my dh's grandparents house, then church. Then we come home and the kids open one present each (their pjs) LOL! And then we set out cookies and their pictures and hang our stockings and off to bed we go.

[Belle]

We read the Christmas story before heading to bed.

[mseg16222]

Every year the kids pick one christmas movie they want to watch, and the kids open the gifts that they got for each other.

[luvmickey]

Having my own family we really don't have a christmas Eve tradition because it always changes due to my husbands on call at work. But when I was a little girl we always went to my aunts and had a big meal and opened presents. Then we would go home and get to open one present. Most of the time it was new pj's to wear that night. We would all have matching pj's christmas morning.

[ligrumpygirl]

Since we have moved into a house that can hold my family, we have hosted Christmas Eve - this is the 3rd year. We have the traditional Italian fish dinner - DH spends HOURS in the kitchen cooking (that's the way it should be right ladies?!).

[jd3921fl]

BOth sets of inlaws come over for a buffet style dinner. Either seafood or italian. After dinner, we each open up one gift.

[~Kathie]

Right Janet!!!! :rotfl:

When my kids were little we would go to early evening mass and then go home and have fish dinner.

Now that the kids are grown, we go to my son's house for dinner after mass and exchange presents with them. Then it's home to wait for Santa.

[bartleby1]

We go to my in-laws on Christmas eve. They always opened gifts at midnight in my DH's house and the tradition continues. We have a good time, but it makes for some pretty cranky kids come Christmas morning.:eek:

[luvhockey]

We rotate Christmas Eve between our house, my sister's and my Mom's home. This year is my turn. Everyone makes a few finger foods. We get together early afternoon eat, open presents, then play games.

[Sunni]

Our Christmas Eve tradition has certainly changed with no little ones at home. I cook and bake (whatever is left)all day getting ready for dinner and Christmas day. For supper I have homemade French Onion Soup, homemade bread, cheese and fruit with the drink of the night...plus all kinds of cookies to pick from. I have time to listen to music, watch the tree lights and/or watch Christmas movies with my furbabies. I never know what time my DH will be home ...he always work on Christmas Eve...so sometimes we eat early or very very late.
One thing I still do is have Christmas Pj's for us. I still give them to my DD and now will start with DGS. We see them every other year on CHristmas Eve and day.

[mirandag819]

We host mine and dh's family and extended family at our house on Christmas Eve, we have a big dinner and then exchange gifts with them. After DD finally goes to bed most of the family stays and helps as elfs to get all the toys set up and some extra decorations added. We play Christmas music and chat while we are setting up. It has been so nice to have the help making the living room look magical for dd, and is nice to spend extra time with everyone.

[MdCaterer]

We normally meet all of our local relatives for lunch ( sisters & husbands and their kids along with my Mom). Then we spend the rest of the day on last minute items. Usually finish with a light dinner and some Christmas Cookies. We read Twas The Night Before Christmas in front of the tree, put out a tray of cookies & milk for Santa and Reindeer food. Then we hang our stockings and pile into bed hoping to get to sleep quickly so Santa will come!

[sunshinecindy]

Hopefully some of you picked up some tips for new traditions, these were fun to read.


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