OT:Do you have traditions leading up to the Holidays?

I was just wondering if any of you have special traditions/things that you do just about every year between Thanksgiving and lets say Dec 25th. In my family there is only one, and that is the symbolic giving of a single gift to my son on Dec 6th, St. Nicholas day. It's usually something very small, just to celebrate and remember the customs of his Belgian and French ancestors. In fact, I have a picture of a not too happy me on the knee of St Nicholas taken when I was about 3.5 years old. I believe that it was taken when my grandfather took me to the Belgian consulate in Quebec City, but am not positive.

I'd really love to hear your traditions!

Reply to
M-C
Loading thread data ...

I make gingerbread houses with my kids. Sometimes we have other kids over. I make the houses from real gingerbread. I really enjoy watching them enjoy themselves with frosting, candy and being creative.

I also hold a cookie exchange with friends too. I was making tons of different cookies for years and then decided to give the exchange a try and it worked out well. Plus it's fun for us moms to get together have coffee sample cookies and chat about what still needs to be done for Christmas and Hanukah.

Reply to
King's Crown

Well, the day after Thanksgiving is when we put up the Christmas decorations. This year though, since we were going to be out of town that day, we put them up the Saturday before Thanksgiving. It was like two little ornament piranahas this year!!! LOL Both kiddos have their special ornaments and they can't wait to put them on the tree.

My family has a tradition that my parents started their first Christmas of taking goodie plates to family & friends on Christmas Eve. So far, DH & I haven't been able to continue that tradition, but I really want to. But, we do have our tradition of DH reading the Christmas story to the kids on Christmas Eve, us singing Happy Birthday to Jesus (so cute to hear a toddler do that!) and I sing an old song "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" in continueing a tradition from my family.

Reply to
Deb in AR

M-C asked:

Does panicking over everything I need to do count as a tradition if I do it every year?

OK, so how about shopping for something special? My mom passed on 2 days after Thanksgiving 4 years ago. The hardest part of the holidays (she'd been in assisted living for a couple of years, so not having her home with dad wasn't sudden that year) for me that year was seeing something when I was shopping that I normally would've liked to get for mom & realize she wasn't there to give it to. So, I started a tradition. Each year since I've shopped for an item of clothing (so far a sweater) that she would've liked. I try to choose something special but that would work for someone for at work or a little dressy. Then I buy it & donate it to a charity that gives gifts to women who are having a rough time. Also, mom taught me to love reading, so I buy a children's book & a toy to go with whatever the theme of the book is & donate those, too.

Two of the 3 years they've been "generic" donations. I don't know who ultimately received them. One year my cousin & her co-workers were collecting for a woman in town who was living out of her car with her two children. So I was able to buy with the 3 of them in mind.

Going out to do my shopping this weekend. Hope I find something great!

Alicia

- - - - - -

To be different is not necessarily to be ugly; to have a different idea is not necessarily to be wrong. The worst possible thing is for all of us to begin to look and act and think alike. -- Gene Roddenberry

Reply to
AMc in CA

That's really great Alicia. You are a wonderful person.

Reply to
scassady

Let's see... we have many... After Thanksgiving is done, we all go to my brother's... even my friends come and hang out for the "ring in the holidays party" At midnight, we consider it the "Holiday Season" and the guys give us a roaring rendition of "Do they know it's Chistmas" ... never pretty but always fun~

Every year we make gifts for everybody. My niece and nephew, and my dad's girlfriend's daughter and I do something different each year. This year we will be stamping mouse pads.

Then we all go to see Santa at a house in town that also has a live nativity. We always bring Santa a hot cocoa and straw for the animals. I have been going to this house since I was little. When the Dad of the family passed away a few years back, we all thought it was the end of the tradition but the family put a letter in the paper saying it would continue.

I am sure there are more. We are creatures of habit!

tara

Reply to
TaraJeanne117

my tradition for the past 3 years has been to take 4 names off the tree at the Dream Machine (a local woman started this years ago to provide some presents to needy children). I always pick 2 boys and 2 girls. Then DD and I go out and buy what's on their list. It's usually 3 things: an outfit and toys/cd's/etc. I try to stress the importance of helping out since there are children out there who may not get much. The Dream Machine has stipulations and tehy do this for families that are trying to help themselves. Can't be a lazy loafer and get free Christmas. I don't talk about that part with DD yet - she's too young yet. I just want her to know that some kids may not be as fortunate as others.

I am trying to think of something else special that DD and I can do for ourselves, too. I have a friend who gives her children a small gift each day leading up to Christmas. It might be lip gloss, a new pen, nail polish, etc. I think it's a cute idea.

Reply to
Patty H

That's a great tradition Alicia. The holidays are a great time to give to those in need.

Reply to
Deb in AR

M-C - What a great question!!!!

And, I love your tradition.

Well, let's see - I too am a panicker the closer it gets - I always come up with these elaborate ideas for gifts to make, and often end up awake all night the 23rd to finish. :)

I've lived on my own for several years, and I LOVE the holidays, so I've kinda created my own personal traditions. Every year I love watching a sappy Xmas movie while I decorate my tree, and I try to have a party for my friends every year.

The other tradition, that I remembered as I write this, is creating mini-trees for new childeren of friends and family. It started when a freind of my folks gave me a wonderfuly decorated cellophane 18" tree as a kid, and my parents would put it in my room every year, and I felt so special.

Several years later, when my cousin was born, my mom and I decided to make a small tree for him, and in the process replace my tree (move the ornaments) and create one for my grandmother.

Since then, I've created new trees for several friends when they have kids, and I still put mine in my bedroom every year.

I look forward to having my own children, so I can continue, and creat new traditions.

Jessica

Reply to
Jessica F

Christmas is our favorite holiday and we have TONS of traditions. There are so many things to do and see around the holidays. It's a very busy time at the Tomseth house.

The weekend after Thanksgiving we decorate the tree and house for Chirstmas. My kids love hanging their ornaments. We have a vacation tradition where we buy a Christmas ornament that represents each of our vacations. Hanging those ornaments always brings out the good memories of our trips that we were on when we bought the ornament. For example we have a cowboy hat ornament that we got at the Alamo. We have a double decker bus ornament that we got in Victoria, B.C. We have a guy loaded down with camping gear that we got last summer on our camping trip to Lake Chelan. You get the idea. It's a fun tradition that helps keep the memories alive.

We go into the city (Portland, Oregon) to visit Santa at Pioneer Place and I get a photo of my daughter and son on Santa's lap. My daugther is 14 and my son is 5 and she is such a good sport about the Santa thing and keeping the magic alive for her little brother. I'll be so sad when he figures out the Santa thing. :-(

After we see Santa we head over to Meier & Frank, a landmark department store in downtown Portland, which has fabuolous holiday displays. (The wait to see the Meier & Frank Santa is hours. That's why we see Santa at Pioneer Place THEN go the Meier & Frank). Meier & Frank has a mono-rail train on the ceiling that the kids can ride in that circles above all of the holiday displays. This is an annual favorite for our children.

We see the current Holiday movie. This year it was the Polar Express and we all loved it!

My husband usually bakes cookies with the kids. I don't know if he'll do that this year since we are on Weight Watchers.

The Christmas CD's come out and we play them all month and we watch all of the holiday movies that we have on video and DVD.

One of my favorite traditions is making Christmas cards. I went to a Stampin' Up class a couple of weeks ago and got a jump start on my card making. The class was a "15 for $15" (make fifteen cards for fifteen dollars) and THE BEST PART is I managed to talk the demonstrator and the other ladies there into starting a stamp club in the New Year!!! There are six women and the club will run for six months. Everyone agrees to spend $25.00 for the month so that each member gets a turn to receive the hostess benefits and each month we learn a new technique from the demonstrator. It's a lot of fun. I was in a similar club last year with a group of ladies in a small town in Oregon (about 50 miles one way from my home. The drive was very long). I'm glad we are starting a club here in Vancouver, Washington

Last night we went to the Festival of Lights at the Grotto. If any of you ever find yourself in Portland, Oregon go visit the Grotto.

formatting link
An annual walk down Peacock Lane for the Christmas Lights display is one of our traditions. Peacock Lane is in S.E. Portland and all of the houses on both sides of the street are decorated. It's a really cool display. Some people ride in horse drawn carriages or on wagons filled with hay, or stay in their cars and drive. We always walk it and buy hot chocolate along the way. I think it's more enjoyable when we are out walking. We always view the annual parade of Christmas ships. Boats with lights creating images of a fire engine, Santa's sleigh, angels, and other designs parade on the Columbia and the Willamette Rivers.

And we throw in different events each year. Like seeing the Singing Christmas Tree or the Nutcracker. This next weekend we are going to the Festival of Trees public show

formatting link
Also on Dec. 12th I'm joining my girl friends for a tour of Pittock Mansion holiday display followed by lunch and lemon drops. (we will have designanted drivers!)
formatting link
This year we will be in Bend, Oregon for several days including Christams eve and Christmas, spending the holidays with my inlaws. We have tons of traditions there too. On Christmas eve my father in-law makes roast lamb, we have a wonderful meal and then go to church service.

On Christmas morning we have Cinnabon cinnamon rolls!! This is another Tomseth family favorite (and now you understand why we needed Weight Watchers :-) ) and then we open gifts.

In the early afternoon we go to my brother in-laws home for the Christmas feast.

This year my husbands entire family will be together for the holiday. We are really looking forward to all being together.

On Sunday, after Christmas we will go to Mt. Bachelor to play in the snow.

formatting link
And then I always feel a little sad when it's all over. I don't know why, but I do.

Reply to
Marcia Tomseth

That does sound like a whole lot of fun, especially the cookie sampling part!

Reply to
M-C

St. Nicholas is coming! St. Nicholas is coming!

Growing up, every year St. Nicholas comes to visit all the good boys and girls....LITERALLY!

On the eve of St Nick (Dec 6) or whatever weekend evening was free, the Slovenian people of our area would get together for dinner (usually potluck) and then a short program put on by the Slovenian school children (now, I just organize the kids into a short program because the school merged with a bigger one in Chicago) and then... The devils come. Then St. Nick makes a grand entrance. St. Nick always makes his visits accompanied by both devils and angels who bear gifts. The devils bring coal and punishments for those children who were *bad*...lazy, disobedient, etc... and the angels brings toys and gifts for the *good* children. Each child's name is called and s/he goes to see St Nick to get their gift. Usually, before he gives the gift he'll ask a question or two, or ask the child to recite a prayer or sing a verse....(to see if they'd done their lessons....) and he gives them their gift and as long as they were good throughout the year, the devils won't touch them.

Now...the details of how this works is. Each parent brings a gift for their child(ren) and they'll put a tag or a post-it on it as to what the child should be asked so that it's appropriate and something they've studied. St. Nick is an older gentleman who has played the role for many years and plays a very good benevolant bishop! The angels are 3 or 4 of the local young teenage girls (about 13 yrs or so) dressed in shimmery white angel costumes. And, the devils, are under hideous red masks and black and red capes...and are usually a couple of the HS or young college boys who have told the younger kids that they wouldn't be able to make it for whatever reason...so the devils are always a mystery. Each year, there is usually one boy who is the *token*. The devils scoop him up after he talks to St Nick and take him away (usually to another part of the building until after the show).

It brings the story of St Nick to life....and ensures at least a few weeks of good behavior from the children.

Yes, we actually do this every year. As a child I was scared that the devils would trip me or take me off....but it never happened. Now, I am one of the organizers of this program and it's really an awesome tradition. When we were young, this was considered a *Children's Holiday*. It really didn't have anything to do with Christmas, because Christmas was HOLY. This was fun.

:-) Theresa in IL (the elves' assistant)

Reply to
Mommy Razz

I forgot to say we celebrate Hanukah each year too. We call it Hanukah night even though it last for 8 nights for my Jewish friend. I thought it would be nice for the kids (and me!) to see how my friend celebrate Hanukah and she loves doing it with us. I have my own Menorah. We make a meal that is what her Grandmother traditionally made when she was a girl. Then we play with the dreidel and eat chocolate coins. And exchange gifts of course. We all really look forward to this evening. Last year I made the kids peel and grate the potatoes for the Latkes not sure they are looking forward to it anymore. hehe

Lynne

Reply to
King's Crown

I love Santa Claus. Several years ago I decided to celebrate St. Nicholas in a special way that will be ongoing. I got married on St Nicholas Day! We each open a gift then DH and I go out on a date.

I always get the boys new pj's for Christmas and they get to open them on Christmas Eve. I know it's nothing big, but it is one of the few traditions I had growing up AND it makes for nice pics the next morning! As they've grown older (17, 13 and 11) they want "lounge pants" and t-shirts. Makes me feel old that my babies are not babies anymore.

Cecelia

Reply to
Cecelia Medbery

I think we do all the traditional things....we get to open one gift on Christmas eve. Even though we have no little ones at home anymore,we still do Santa stockings for each other,sneaking them out while the other is asleep. My favorite activity is listening to Christmas songs every day in December. We have quite a collection now. I never tire of them. I also like to have a lot of Christmas scents and candles throughout the house. We also make a lot of goodies to be given to visitors during the holidays. I didn't realise this had become part of others Christmas until I didn't do it one year! LOL We make the cereal/nuts snacks and package them in gal. zip bags decorating them with stickers and tags. I then put them near the tree in a big box and make sure each departing guest gets one.

Hugs, Sabrina in Kentucky

a good friend is a life long treasure

Reply to
Sabrina

Hi Cecelia,

I do the same thing with the pajamas. I get each child a new pair of pajamas and I get them a book. I wash them up so they smell great and are ready to wear. I wrap them up and let them open them on Christmas Eve. Next day the kids look great for pictures.

Lynne

Reply to
King's Crown

I think we have a bunch of sneaky mom;s here who want cute, clean smelling children for their scrapbook pictures, LOL!

I think new PJs are a great idea! In fact, I used to do the same when my 26 yr old was little :)

Reply to
M-C

Hey all, I just love Christmas. I've realized over the last couple of years that what I really love is the season of Christmas. You know the who month. With everything decorated. Listening to the music all of the shows on TV. We go and look at Christmas lights. We have a couple of really big displays that are up every year we take the kids to go see. It's kinda depressing that on Christmas day its all over. So I like Christmas eve better. The excitement.

Growing up. My parents always let us open up a small gift. I've been doing that with my kids. I like the idea of the PJs. I agree with the pictures.

There are always every Christmas season movies have have to watch. It just isn't Christmas without them. Holiday Inn, White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, It's a Wonderful Life, Christmas in Connecticut, etc. It got harder to find them on TV so I own most of them on video now and can watch them when I have time. I always like to also watch the Christmas cartoons, like Frosty, Rudolph, & Santa Claus is coming to town.

We've been listening to Christmas music every day since thanksgiving here at work also.

Reply to
scassady

We never got to open any presents on Christmas Eve because it's my sister's b-day. It was fine with me. Sis & I always snuck out way after Mom & Dad went to bed to see what Mom & Dad left unwrapped. They always left one gift for each kid unwrapped, and of course filled the stockings, after we went to bed. Well, sis & I thought we were sneaky. Turns out Mom always knew!! Since we were always out handing out goodies to friends she thought for years that it was great to be able to give stuff to others on her b-day. LOL

Reply to
Deb in AR

I thought being sneaky was a requirement for being a mom??

Reply to
Deb in AR

InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.