I was thinking about our family holiday traditions. You know, it’s just done that way, or the things that worked or that people liked so just get repeated. What are your family traditions, what about your SO’s? What about conflicts? Ours are:
Christmas Eve Dinner: Homemade Lasagna (my side) or Fondue – both meat and cheese (her side). We trade off each year.
Candle light service at church (both sides)
Christmas Morning: Parents try to stay in bed as long as possible and the kids try to get the parents up :), parents make coffee and the kids must wait at the top of the stairs, your not to see the tree until all is ready (both sides)
Stockings can be opened while waiting for breakfast (both sides)
Christmas breakfast: Taylor ham served on toasted Deli Rye or a Kaiser roll. You may know what I’m talking about of you are from NY/NJ area. You just can’t find it out here in Denver:(. (My side) Maple Twists. AWESOME (her side). We always have the Maple twists and the Taylor’s when we can get it.
Gifts are opened one at a time (her side) Free for all (my side). We adopted the one at a time once married.
Christmas Dinner: Roast beast and Yorkshire pudding, gravy and smashed potatos (my side). Turkey, Ham, or Roast beef it varied (her side).
Our tradition is the German one.
Everyone goes out except one or two Elves.
They set up the tree, and presents are under it.
Those from “Santa” are unwrapped.
The rest are opened when everyone returns.
Coffee and cake while the kid play with the toys.
We gather again, this time at Grandma’s, for Christmas Dinner on Christmas Day.
My husband and I are both Swedish on our mothers’ sides. His mom was born there; my mom is 1st generation American. My mom never liked the Swedish tradition of opening presents on Christmas Eve, so growing up we always did it on Christmas morning. We did stockings first, then had a big breakfast, then presents.
My husband was very adamant about continuing his Christmas eve tradition with our family, and since I didn’t care as much, we do it his way. One benefit of having the present opening in the evening is that the grownups can drink champagne while the children unwrap.
My mom always put an orange in the toe of our stockings. I have continued this tradition, except I substitute those chocolate oranges that you whack to break open. My husband’s Christmas always included a lot of chocolate, which I am happy to provide.
The way we explain our earlier Christmas to our Santa-believing children is that, because they come from Swedish families, the Tomten delivers their presents (each child gets one big “Santa” present that is hidden until the last moment) early and then Santa fills their stockings while they sleep. Each year we find some new way to distract them away from the living room while we sneak the presents under the tree.
The only tradition worth telling is one involving my wife’s late grandmother (God rest her soul). On Christmas eve her family would get together at her grandparents house. Grandma Dorothy would get a bit tipsy on the egg nog, go to another room, knock loudly on the wall, and tell the kids “Did you hear that? I think I just heard Santa Claus!”