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We had a great tradition of cutting down our own tree. The kids loved it. Two years ago we moved to Georgia and went to a tree farm to cut down our tree. When we arrived we were informed that the good trees (douglas fir etc.) don't grow well in GA so all they had were these pretty sad looking Leland cypress trees. The kids were pretty adamant about cutting down a tree so we cut it down and put it up in our family room. On Christmas eve last year apparently a few cocoons of praying mantises that were hidden in the tree hatched from the warmth in our house. Imagine our surprise when after Mass on the 24th we came home and our house was overrun with THOUSANDS of praying mantises. It was so unbelieveably disgusting but we could not take it down until "Santa came". A few more cocoons hatched over night to my horror. We vacuumed up as many bugs as we could (crawling up the walls, on the ceiling, on the mantle...everywhere). The tree was on the curb at noon and I hit the Expo after Christmas artificial tree sale on the 26th.
Other than that now old tradition we get the chocolate advent calendars for the kids, new pajamas for all on Christmas Eve. One night of driving around and looking at lights, and singing in the choir on Christmas Eve.
My parents and siblings all live 2500 miles away... but since moving to NJ, my husband and I do Christmas on our own. We do Chanukah at my cousins. (My mom's Jewish, Dad's Christian)
Chanukah - we have a party at my cousins. Brisket, lots of wine, discussions of politics and the lighting of the Moose Menorah
Christmas - me and hubby open one gift Christmas evening. On Christmas day, I make a fancy breakfast complete with mimosas. We open presents in our jammies and then Hubby cooks a fantastic English Christmas dinner (pheasant, yorkshire pudding, etc).
We (me, my husband, and a few others of my grandmother's grandchildren) make homemade pierogies with g-ma the weekend before Christmas Eve and they are eaten on Christmas Eve with the family (dad's family). We used to go to my grandfather's brother's house after Christmas Eve dinner for a party with the extended family, but once my grandfather died everybody decided that it was too much to do in one night so now we go to my great-uncle's on the Saturday before Christmas for our big get-together (food and a grabbag).
I seem to be starting a tradition that my mother comes to my house (she lives in PA) while we are with my father's family on Christmas Eve, and sleeps over to have Christmas morning with us. Last year was the first year we did this and it was nice, so we're doing it again this year. I make a big breakfast, she gets to see her granddaughters for Christmas...nicey nice.
I want to start the new pj's on Christmas Eve with my girls. I like that.
Does stealing the skin off of the turkey while mom's back was turned count as a tradition? With 8 kids, we had a bald turkey on the table every year..lol : )
My tradition is watching "It happened One Christmas". It's a feminist's version of "It's a Wonderful Life" starring Marlo Thomas and Cloris Leachman (sp).
Does stealing the skin off of the turkey while mom's back was turned count as a tradition? With 8 kids, we had a bald turkey on the table every year..lol : )
My tradition is watching "It happened One Christmas". It's a feminist's version of "It's a Wonderful Life" starring Marlo Thomas and Cloris Leachman (sp).
Counts in my family, but at Thanksgiving not Christmas.
Who could forget the Yule Log on channel 11? My dad always had it on when we opened gifts. Here is a schedule of when it will be on, for those interested:
I remember about 20 years ago, the Yule Log went against the NY Rangers, and the Yule Log had higher ratings. It's a fact. More people tuned in to watch the Yule Log than the Rangers. This was before they were on cable TV exclusively.
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We vacuumed up as many bugs as we could (crawling up the walls, on the ceiling, on the mantle...everywhere). The tree was on the curb at noon and I hit the Expo after Christmas artificial tree sale on the 26th. 
