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Post by smasonnc on Dec 13, 2023 14:18:57 GMT
I'm sitting here drinking my coffee, listening to Christmas music, and enjoying all the decorations. There are so many things we do to bring joy to the season like making Christmas punch, watching favorite movies, working on a big home tour for charity, and for the last few years, going to see "A Peter White Christmas" at our local performing arts venue. We saw it a few nights ago and it just puts us both in a festive mood.
What are your traditions and/or what brings joy to your holidays?
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Post by Linda on Dec 13, 2023 14:54:53 GMT
Our Advent traditions are special to us - every Sunday we gather to light the candle(s), say a prayer, read a portion of the Nativity story, read Christmas stories and/or poems, add ornaments to the Jesse tree, sing carols, drink hot cocoa/cider and enjoy holiday goodies. The specifics vary a bit year to year but in one form or another, we've been doing this since my childhood.
A newer tradition that we started in 2021 is our family book exchange - we draw names (online) in November and purchase a book for the person we drew. Then on book exchange night, we exchange books, enjoy a charcuterie board of cheeses, fruit, and candy, and sit and read together in companionable silence.
Our original intention had been to substitute a more grown up tradition for our Christmas Eve pyjamas (the kids and sometimes parents all unwrapped ONE gift on Christmas Eve - always new pyjamas) as we no longer had children outgrowing pyjamas yearly. And in 2021 -we did indeed do it on Christmas Eve. Last year, the older kids didn't arrive until shortly after Christmas, so we waited for them. This year, the older kids aren't coming home and Christmas Eve is also the 4th Sunday of Advent...so we've all decided to do it on Boxing Day (provided USPS cooperates -if not, we'll schedule it once all the books have arrived) - we'll video call during the actual exchange.
But we have quite a few traditions -we celebrate both St Nicholas day and St Lucia's Day, we always have takeaway/delivery pizza on Christmas Eve (started as frozen pizza years ago and once we could afford to splurge on real pizza we did - the idea is to have a special dinner for the kids that I don't have to cook - now they are all grown up (youngest is 17) I've asked if that's still what they want and so far, we're still having pizza on Christmas Eve (although I think the big kids (23/32) aren't continuing that particular tradition at their house -just when they are here)
We also celebrate the 12 days of Christmas - by playing board/card games, doing a puzzle, watching Christmas movies, and other stuff as a family during that time.
New Year's Eve - we do a family movie, a buffet of appetisers, and we'll countdown to Midnight together watching (online) the ball drop at Times Square.
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Post by peasapie on Dec 13, 2023 15:05:12 GMT
I remember doing the Advent candles as a kid, and it is a treasured memory. We also would do good deeds throughout December and put pieces of hay in the manger to prepare for Jesus' birth.
My kids are grown and they continue some of the traditions they had as kids, including a fabric calendar my mom made for them where a little bear looks for Christmas every day and leaves a little present.
I love to listen to holiday music, make handmade gifts, and watch all the movie that make Christmas special to me.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Dec 13, 2023 15:56:45 GMT
I always....
Decorate Thanksgiving night.
Take down decorations on Christmas night.
Watch:
Walton's Thanksgiving reunion (DVD) on Thanksgiving night.
Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.
Rudolph the Ted Nose Reindeer.
The Holiday (DVD) movie with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet.
Make "dough in a can" cinnamon rolls, on Thanksgiving morning, Christmas morning, Easter morning.
This was a childhood tradition, that I continued throughout my adult life.
On New Years eve, I have a fancier dessert and take out.....that I pick up earlier in the day.
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Post by christine58 on Dec 13, 2023 17:24:31 GMT
Going to my cousins on Christmas Eve for the feast of the seven fishes
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Post by smasonnc on Dec 13, 2023 17:48:31 GMT
every Sunday we gather to light the candle(s), say a prayer, read a portion of the Nativity story, read Christmas stories and/or poems, add ornaments to the Jesse tree, sing carols, drink hot cocoa/cider and enjoy holiday goodies. The specifics vary a bit year to year but in one form or another, we've been doing this since my childhood. A newer tradition that we started in 2021 is our family book exchange - we draw names (online) in November and purchase a book for the person we drew. Then on book exchange night, we exchange books, enjoy a charcuterie board of cheeses, fruit, and candy, and sit and read together in companionable silence. What a nice tradition. I love that you take time weekly for a celebration. My kids are grown and they continue some of the traditions they had as kids, including a fabric calendar my mom made for them where a little bear looks for Christmas every day and leaves a little present. Isn't it fun when you realize what your traditions mean to your kids? Make "dough in a can" cinnamon rolls, on Thanksgiving morning, Christmas morning, Easter morning. This was a childhood tradition, that I continued throughout my adult life. The BEST! |
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Post by femalebusiness on Dec 13, 2023 17:52:14 GMT
Baileys. Every morning during the holidays I drink Baileys in my coffee. For the last couple of years I've had to buy two bottles to get the discounted price. Works for me. It lasts twice as long as one bottle. 😂
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Post by scrappintoee on Dec 13, 2023 18:00:37 GMT
My kids are grown and they continue some of the traditions they had as kids, including a fabric calendar my mom made for them where a little bear looks for Christmas every day and leaves a little present. That is SO sweet! I wish I still had some of the cute homemade Christmas things we had as children! |
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scrappinmama
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,120
Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Dec 13, 2023 18:04:12 GMT
We make tamales for Christmas Eve. It's a ton of work, but so worth it! We also do a Lego Advent calendar. Even though the kids are grown, it's still fun to put the little pieces together.
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Post by scrapmaven on Dec 13, 2023 18:07:31 GMT
Baileys. Every morning during the holidays I drink Baileys in my coffee. For the last couple of years I've had to buy two bottles to get the discounted price. Works for me. It lasts twice as long as one bottle. 😂 I LOVE THIS! I never drank alcohol, because I hated the taste and I am also a control freak. However, I did enjoy Baileys and coffee on occasion. It was just like mint hot cocoa and it makes you feel so warm and cozy. Great tradition unless you're going to drive to work. Hehe.
On holidays my mother always made her Schneck and pecan rolls. That was always my favorite part of the holidays. They were so sweet and yummy. My mother would lay out the table w/particular china that she only used for those brunches. Then we'd have hot cocoa (sans Bailys) and breakfast w/Shneck and pecan rolls. Happy happy memories. I really should learn to make them now, but I don't have my mother's guidance.
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Post by femalebusiness on Dec 13, 2023 18:13:33 GMT
Baileys. Every morning during the holidays I drink Baileys in my coffee. For the last couple of years I've had to buy two bottles to get the discounted price. Works for me. It lasts twice as long as one bottle. 😂 I LOVE THIS! I never drank alcohol, because I hated the taste and I am also a control freak. However, I did enjoy Baileys and coffee on occasion. It was just like mint hot cocoa and it makes you feel so warm and cozy. Great tradition unless you're going to drive to work. Hehe.
On holidays my mother always made her Schneck and pecan rolls. That was always my favorite part of the holidays. They were so sweet and yummy. My mother would lay out the table w/particular china that she only used for those brunches. Then we'd have hot cocoa (sans Bailys) and breakfast w/Shneck and pecan rolls. Happy happy memories. I really should learn to make them now, but I don't have my mother's guidance.
I am not a big drinker. A couple of times a year, in the summer, the hubs and I will split a bottle of wine. Baileys must have very little alcohol because I've never felt anything from drinking it. I don't think I could get tipsy from drinking it but boy do I love the taste. I'd drink it in my coffee year round but I don't need those calories. |
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Post by peasapie on Dec 13, 2023 18:41:46 GMT
My kids are grown and they continue some of the traditions they had as kids, including a fabric calendar my mom made for them where a little bear looks for Christmas every day and leaves a little present. That is SO sweet! I wish I still had some of the cute homemade Christmas things we had as children! Thanks! Since we only had one of those fabric calendar,s when my kids grew up I looked all over vintage sites to find the same fabric panel and made a second one so each could have one in their own homes. I wish I had some of the things I had as a child, too. |
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Post by peasapie on Dec 13, 2023 18:43:49 GMT
On holidays my mother always made her Schneck and pecan rolls. That was always my favorite part of the holidays. They were so sweet and yummy. My mother would lay out the table w/particular china that she only used for those brunches. Then we'd have hot cocoa (sans Bailys) and breakfast w/Shneck and pecan rolls. Happy happy memories. I really should learn to make them now, but I don't have my mother's guidance.
My German brother-in-law makes Schnecken every Christmas. They are sooooo good! |
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Anita
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,727 
Location: Kansas City -ish
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Post by Anita on Dec 13, 2023 21:31:53 GMT
DH always wants to watch the three Santa Clause movies. I watch Elf with my youngest DD, and I watch It's a Wonderful Life alone because no one wants to sit through it with me.
Other than that, we decorate the house Thanksgiving weekend, and usually add to it here and there for a bit after.
At some point in the season, I bake everyone's favorite cookies. We listen to holiday music. And I guess since we've done it two years in a row now, it has become tradition to go to a Pentatonix Christmas concert.
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hutchfan
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,597
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Post by hutchfan on Dec 13, 2023 22:40:03 GMT
First Saturday in December my whole family goes to a local town to shop, visit Santa, see the luminaries, carolers strolling, Frosty, Rudolph, The Grinch, Cindy Lou Who, a Penguin and a ballon artists on stilts walk the streets and we top it off with dinner at the local restaurant.
The second Saturday in December if the weather is good we go to Augusta Ky to see The town decorated for White Christmas movie theme, parade shop the Antique stores and we usually get our picture with Nick and Nina Clooney (George's mom and dad, Nick is Rosemary's brother) and dinner at The General Store we didn't make it this year the weather was thunder and lightning heavy rain.
Christmas Eve I make a homemade pot of vegetable soup and we watch It's A Wonderful Life.
Christmas Day is a big feast and family time with my side of the family. We stop at my mother's grave and my in laws grave to take them a present too. I got them snowman solar lights that we can leave through out Winter.
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Post by KiwiJo on Dec 13, 2023 22:53:01 GMT
I am not a big drinker. A couple of times a year, in the summer, the hubs and I will split a bottle of wine. Baileys must have very little alcohol because I've never felt anything from drinking it. I don't think I could get tipsy from drinking it but boy do I love the taste. I'd drink it in my coffee year round but I don't need those calories. hahahaha - love your sense of humor! (Alcohol content: beer: ~5%. Wine: ~12%. Baileys: 17%). But I love Baileys too, regardless of how much alcohol (or calories) it has. |
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Post by dewryce on Dec 13, 2023 23:03:38 GMT
When we were younger Santa always left our stockings at the end of the bed so we’d have something to keep us entertained until the adults were ready to get up. Now everyone buys something for everyone else’s stocking that we load before breakfast on Christmas morning.
Mom, sister and I, plus occasionally other female friends and family, love going to the afternoon productions of The Nutcracker. Moscow Ballet if they’re touring in our area, otherwise Ballet Austin. We prefer the afternoon shows because that’s when all the little girls dress up and watching them spin around in their dresses and just be on cloud 9 is such a lift!
DH and I really enjoy Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
And he and I are always the ones to travel because both of our families live 2-5 hours away, ever since we were in college in Lubbock. We love road tripping together and there is something special about our trip home to San Antonio on Christmas Eve from Dallas and then back to Austin the next morning. Empty roads, cool weather, just the two of us…it’s lovely.
And it’s been a while but we also like going to Fredericksburg for last minute Christmas shopping. It’s almost always done by then but sometimes we pick up an item or two. There is a great Christmas store we like going to, often picking out something for our Dickens’ Village. A sample heavy food shop where we have to get some fudge. Taco Soup for lunch from the same restaurant. And in general just walking around absorbing the atmosphere. Highly recommend if you live in the Hill Country.
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frankiegirl
Full Member
Posts: 184
Dec 22, 2020 12:42:01 GMT
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Post by frankiegirl on Dec 13, 2023 23:18:42 GMT
About a week or two before Christmas we watch a Christmas movie every night. Could be one of the animated shows or a movie.
We go to Wild Lights at our local zoo.
My DD and I go shopping at the last minute so she can buy gifts for her cousins (6). Every year we debate if she should get them something and every year we wait until the last minute. We have fun shopping and enjoying the bustle of the stores. We get Starbucks some time during the excursion.
We see Trans Siberian Orchestra every other year.
On Christmas Eve we go to dinner and a movie (complete with our blankets). It's just the three of us so it works.
I usually give her Christmas PJs to wear on Christmas Day but I'm not sure if I'm doing it this year. Trying to think of something else to give her.
We look through our Christmas scrapbooks and while we shed a few tears missing those who are no longer here, it's fun to see the past Christmas pictures.
My DD comes home from Florida on Dec 19 and I can't wait to cram everything into the next two weeks. It doesn't feel like the holidays until she is home.
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Gennifer
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,238
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Post by Gennifer on Dec 13, 2023 23:18:58 GMT
Most of the traditions I do with my kids are also ones I grew up doing.
1: Gingerbread houses
2: Santa cookies
3: Dipping chocolates
Ones I started:
1: New pajamas and pillows on Christmas Eve
2: Presents are all wrapped in the same paper, but have different ornaments tied on them. My kids don’t find out until Christmas morning which ornaments (and therefore which presents) are theirs. This gives them a good collection of ornaments to decorate their own trees when they move out.
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Post by cmpeter on Dec 13, 2023 23:28:04 GMT
Decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving
Gift Exchange with Elfster for all the extended adults in the family
Open one gift on Christmas Eve
A new ornament representing the recipient each year
Decorating gingerbread houses after dinner on Christmas day
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Post by smasonnc on Dec 13, 2023 23:55:57 GMT
Baileys. Every morning during the holidays I drink Baileys in my coffee. That sounds like a tradition I can get behind. My mother would lay out the table w/particular china that she only used for those brunches. Then we'd have hot cocoa (sans Bailys) and breakfast w/Shneck and pecan rolls. Happy happy memories. I always loved how my mom and grandmothers set the table. I make a big deal out of my table even if I'm not eating there. hutchfan I love all your traditions! Mom, sister and I, plus occasionally other female friends and family, love going to the afternoon productions of The Nutcracker. Moscow Ballet if they’re touring in our area, otherwise Ballet Austin. We prefer the afternoon shows because that’s when all the little girls dress up and watching them spin around in their dresses and just be on cloud 9 is such a lift! I used to love to take my daughters out all dressed up for a special event. There's nothing as sweet as a dressed up little girl who looks "splendid" as one of my daughters called it. On Christmas Eve we go to dinner and a movie (complete with our blankets). Cool tradition! Decorating gingerbread houses after dinner on Christmas day I was always too wiped out and my kitchen too messy.  I love hearing all these! |
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Post by NanaKate on Dec 14, 2023 9:15:45 GMT
I always.... Decorate Thanksgiving night. Take down decorations on Christmas night. Watch: Walton's Thanksgiving reunion (DVD) on Thanksgiving night. Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Rudolph the Ted Nose Reindeer. The Holiday (DVD) movie with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet. Make "dough in a can" cinnamon rolls, on Thanksgiving morning, Christmas morning, Easter morning. This was a childhood tradition, that I continued throughout my adult life. On New Years eve, I have a fancier dessert and take out.....that I pick up earlier in the day. What are Dough in a Can cinnamon rolls? |
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Post by jeremysgirl on Dec 14, 2023 11:15:18 GMT
We have a big cookie day. My mom makes sugar cookies ahead of time and her and the children sit and decorate them while my sister and I bake a bunch of other cookies all day. Now that the kids are bigger they also help with all the baking when they are done decorating sugar cookies. We usually end up somewhere in the neighborhood of 300-400 cookies.
Chloe and I see the holiday pops concert the symphony puts on each year. It is this Sunday and we will go out to dinner afterwards to celebrate her one year of sobriety which falls on the same date. I want us to have dinner every year on December 17th to celebrate her sobriety.
Pop tarts are another tradition. When my kids were little they always wanted pop tarts from the grocery store. I never bought them because I always told the kids they were *not* a healthy breakfast. So one Christmas when they were like 3&4 I bought them each the big box of pop tarts and wrapped them up. We have continued the pop tart tradition for 20 years now. Bringing Jeremy's kids into it and now two almost son in laws. This year the kids will get cash with their big boxes of pop tarts.
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Post by scrapmaven on Dec 14, 2023 16:05:09 GMT
jeremysgirl , I have to admit that the raspberry pop tarts w/icing are pretty darn great. I miss those! That's a great tradition. I can't wait to see your table full of cookies this year.
femalebusiness, Bailys had non-alcoholic coffee creamers in the refrigerated milk section. If they still have them you might be a very happy woman. |
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Dec 14, 2023 16:50:20 GMT
I always.... Decorate Thanksgiving night. Take down decorations on Christmas night. Watch: Walton's Thanksgiving reunion (DVD) on Thanksgiving night. Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Rudolph the Ted Nose Reindeer. The Holiday (DVD) movie with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet. Make "dough in a can" cinnamon rolls, on Thanksgiving morning, Christmas morning, Easter morning. This was a childhood tradition, that I continued throughout my adult life. On New Years eve, I have a fancier dessert and take out.....that I pick up earlier in the day. What are Dough in a Can cinnamon rolls? They are uncooked cinnamon rolls. They are pre-formed dough in a vacuumed packed paper can. Pop the can open , put them on a greased pan and bake in the oven, then frost with the icing (included in the can). I like the Pillsbury ones. They come in different flavors. There are also biscuits in a can. You can find them in the fridge section(near the butter area) of the grocery store. www.pillsbury.com/products/cinnamon-rolls |
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Post by smasonnc on Dec 14, 2023 19:56:19 GMT
What are Dough in a Can cinnamon rolls? Proof that God loves us. Freshly baked cinnamon rolls in 10 minutes. |
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Post by papersilly on Dec 14, 2023 21:00:01 GMT
DH and i open our gifts in bed on Christmas morning.
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,582
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Dec 14, 2023 21:18:35 GMT
Everyone gets a book on Christmas Eve evening, and there's chocolate. This will be year #3... It's supposed to be an Icelandic tradition. I'm not Icelandic, have never been to Iceland, and don't know anyone from there, but I love this tradition  |
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Tearisci
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Posts: 3,242
Member is Online
Nov 6, 2018 16:34:30 GMT
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Post by Tearisci on Dec 14, 2023 22:01:32 GMT
My traditions really changed after I got divorced and moved to a new state. I sometimes miss the traditions I had with my family before but DS is grown and on his own and we live in different states so I've been forced to start new traditions.
One of the first is putting up my tree early in November and decorating how I want to. it's Seahawks/Disney/Mickey Mouse themed and it makes me happy. I also have a Nightmare Before Christmas tree as I started collecting those ornaments.
My family makes homemade egg noodles at Thanksgiving and we enjoy them all through the holiday season.
I used to watch the same movies year after year but have stopped and watch "new" movies at this time of year.
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Post by wordyphotogbabe on Dec 15, 2023 4:19:31 GMT
We have sooooo many.  We try to visit Frankenmuth & Bronner's before Thanksgiving weekend & buy an ornament for us (hubby & me) to represent the year we've had + take photos downtown. We cut down & decorate our tree the day after Thanksgiving + visit Santa at the farm. Sometime that weekend, we help my parents put up & decorate their tree. Once December 1 hits, we do Advent calendars, reading Christmas books at bedtime, and daily gratitudes that go in the manger under the tree. We go out one night and split up to buy gifts for each other, bake cookies with my mom, drive through a local neighborhood to look at the lights, celebrate St. Nicholas Day, buy coordinating family pajamas, watch Christmas movies a few times a week, play Hallmark movie bingo (which is R-rated since it's just hubby & me participating), visit Trader Joe's a couple times for fun Christmas treats, & listen to Christmas music while we make dinner. On Christmas Eve, we go to church with my mom and then have dinner afterwards. We go home and put on our jammies, set out cookies for Santa, and go to bed. All of the kids' presents are wrapped once they're in bed and then put under the tree. When we wake up Christmas morning, we open stockings first while everyone wakes up and gets coffee. I order custom ornaments from my cousin each year for the kids that has to do with something they've accomplished or experienced this past year, and those are also in their stockings. Santa brings one unwrapped gift per kid + the kids' stocking goodies. After we do stockings & gifts, we read aloud all the gratitudes from the manger. We get dressed to go to my parents' house where we eat junk + cookies from the cookie buffet while we open more gifts & then have potluck lunch together. We take home leftovers for dinner, get into comfies or back into our jammies, & then let the kids go veg/do screens/rot their brains/eat crap for the rest of the day. |
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