Christmas

susieSA · #1 (**permalink**) 10-26-2008, 11:06 AM

Yea yea yea....
I know it is barely November...

But considering that Christmas stuff is already in the shops I got wondering about how different people in different parts of the world celebrate Christmas...

And what family traditions we all have to celebrate Christmas...

skippy740 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-26-2008, 11:11 AM

I always got 3 presents at Christmas time.

"Jesus got 3 presents... and you ain't no better than Him!"

susieSA · #3 (**permalink**) 10-26-2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skippy740

I always got 3 presents at Christmas time.

"Jesus got 3 presents... and you ain't no better than Him!"

Oh man that is so true.... In so many ways....

thanks

pushka · #4 (**permalink**) 10-26-2008, 11:23 AM

Since my husband and I separated/divorced ten years ago, my family is split each Christmas Day..one year the kids spend Christmas Eve and Boxing Day with me, and Christmas Day with their dad, the next the rota is reversed. Fortunately, the kids are with each of us for at least the morning on Christmas Day as they've spent the night before with one of us, and don't go to the other parent till lunch time, so we both get to see them for a little time that day. For the remainder of the holiday, I usually visit my parents/sister's houses with my kids on one of the 'big' days, and sometimes visit friends' houses on others. Occasionally I have had group gatherings at my house over the holiday, for parties, but not so often these days as I like a quieter, family time together more nowadays (I'm getting old and boring, lol!).

BenRaines · #5 (**permalink**) 10-26-2008, 11:30 AM

I think that this Christmas will be the quietest for us this year. We have always had family around. Now that we are in Idaho the nearest are about 700 miles away. We are having most to our house for Thanksgiving. Also late December is not the best time to travel with the Idaho/Utah weather. Probably just be the two of us cuddled up under a blanket by the fireplace. Hmmm, wait, that doesn't sound so bad after all.

Ben Raines

Elgama · #6 (**permalink**) 10-26-2008, 11:31 AM

this is just our family tradition lol

We have an advent calender, with 25 drawers each with a Christmas related story and activity and of course a chocolate. We also have an advent candleholder, until the 24th and the 12 days of Christmas we just decorate the porch with these items on a table to signifie Christmas is coming.

My daughter has just decided she would like to pretend Santa exists this year so: On the 23rd we will be putting out the glass of milk, mince pie and carrot for Santa - as we have a magic tree that arrives that night with the presentsm (the tree is ivory with silver lanterns), we decorate our tree morning of the 24th, put presents underneath it and then we ice the Christmas Cake, prepare our main meal and make mince pies, all of us then we have a long walk unless weather is very bad and everyone takes a nap, we have our main Christmas dinner (usually stew and dumplings, chocolate trifle and lots of nice stuff to drink we make cocktails), we often have friends to this, then we go for a either a Christingle service or midnight mass (Christingle is a children's service they get an orange which symbolises the world, a red ribbon round it is the blood of christ, 4 jellytots or monkey nuts represent the fruits of the gospel in all 4 corners of the Earth and the candle in the orange is the light of Christ). Then we come back and open presents, have a mince pie (I make jam ones for the kids) and hot chocolate and go to bed.

Christmas Day is Jesus' Birthday the Angel or Santa on top of the tree is changed for a star, and we read the nativity story, then depending on the weather we either make little boats or scrolls with our 3 promises or presents to Jesus, if weather is good we walk to the river and let them go and have a picnic if its bad we have our picnic in the front room and then let balloons go outside with the promises tied to them. We then come in watch Queen's speech, have a birthday tea for Jesus in the evening with a birthday cake,

The other days of Christmas are just holiday season we have a nice New Year and enjoy Daddy being home

We take our tree down as is traditional on the 6 January I try to take my children to an Epiphany service (when the wise men come to see Jesus) or tell them the story.

-Charley

BenRaines · #7 (**permalink**) 10-26-2008, 11:33 AM

Mince pie, don't you want Santa to leave any gifts? LOL

Ben Raines

Elgama · #8 (**permalink**) 10-26-2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenRaines

I think that this Christmas will be the quietest for us this year. We have always had family around. Now that we are in Idaho the nearest are about 700 miles away. We are having most to our house for Thanksgiving. Also late December is not the best time to travel with the Idaho/Utah weather. Probably just be the two of us cuddled up under a blanket by the fireplace. Hmmm, wait, that doesn't sound so bad after all.

Ben Raines

sounds great Ben!! my ideal Christmas

susieSA · #9 (**permalink**) 10-26-2008, 11:51 AM

Sounds like a great plan Ben

And Elgama, do you mind if I loan a few ideas from you?

Almost every Christmas has been different for us since being married... With moving countries, making new friends, having a baby etc... hehe...

I am not sure what we are doing this year.... I do know that hubby will be meeting his half brother this year who he has never met before.. So that should be exciting.... Also some cousins for little dude to meet....

Christmas for me has meant different things for me during my life.. Depending on where I was in my life....
The most important part for me right now is for my son to grow up knowing what Christmas is really about....
(We didn't do the Santa thing when I was growing up - but I know hubby did so we might do that for a few years.. )

This year I plan to decorate the tree (hubby puts up the tree & I decorate) with little dude... We didn't get to do that last year....

I grew up with this big gold ball on the Christmas tree... Kinda a family airloom... And a few years ago it was passed down to me... So I am really excited for my son to grow up with that memory too...

And Pushka... You "getting old and boring"... NEVER!!!!

Elgama · #10 (**permalink**) 10-26-2008, 12:12 PM

Use what you like lol - for me Christmas should never be a huge amount of expense or energy it should be fun for all - growing up my Mum always did steak and chips instead of a traditional Christmas dinner.

our compromise with Santa is that we do Santa but Ellie is also aware he is not real - we explained he is like a character in a book and its nice to believe he is real, but he isn't, but that some children believe he is and not to say anything. She says she wants to pretend he is real - but I still wanted to do what my parents did and open presents on Christmas Eve at midnight (or when we get back from mass) - so we came up with the magic tree lol also means Christmas is simply Jesus' birthday.

We also try to do the 3 gifts the kids get one big gift each and then sweets and a book. Richard and I have yet to have bought each other something lol we have never been able to afford it before this year, I want to spoil Richard because my friend Stephen always makes sure I have loads of presents.

-Charley