OT: Your Holiday Traditions - YouLookFab Forum

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OT: Your Holiday Traditions

kimlee

Veteran

All the talk of holiday parties, holiday sparkle, etc,.... has me practically giddy. The Christmas season is my favorite time of the year. I was wondering what special traditions the various YLF family has.

For me, the holiday season offically begins with a Black Friday shopping trip with my sister in law, mother in law, and my mom. On Christmas eve, the hubby and I host all of our family at our house. We make smores, watch the old Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer movie, and "track" Santa.

I would love to know what traditions you guys have.

General

27 replies

Latest reply was from nicoleb

Ana

(website)

Veteran

This weekend we're having "Stir it up" Sunday. We're making Christmas cake, decorating the tree and watching movies all day. This is the first Christmas we'll actually be at home since I can remember, so we're just starting the tradition this year.

kimlee

Veteran

Ana - I think "Stir it up" Sunday is a great idea. I am sure you will enjoy spending Christmas at your home and creating this new tradition.

rachylou

Veteran

Oh woe to the lactose intolerant! Christmas is dairy overload time for my peeps. We eat a lot of melted cheese... fondue, raclette... and follow it up with giant bowls of ice cream. The cheese fest ends with the X-mas morning fondue, eaten after very little sleep because we decorate the tree and attend vigil mass X-mas Eve. My dad used to do the fondue, and now my brother does. I stir and cut bread. For X-mas dinner we used to have beef wellington and travel-themed appetizers, but I think this will be no more as my cousin will be taking over X-mas dinner this year. This might be a bad thing or a good thing. On the one hand, no beef wellington. On the other, my uncle was promising cuy for appetizers - that's guinea pig to you and me (:o !!

If I can swing the time, I'll go into the city to look at the windows.

kimlee

Veteran

Rachylou - You have me drooling on my keyboard. I might have to whip up some fondue this holiday season.

Girl X

(website)

Veteran

Since maybe 2007 or so, my sister and I declared that we were no longer going to buy our parents Christmas gifts. It had reached the point where it felt like we were only getting them things for the sake of it, rather than getting them gifts that we absolutely wanted them to have and knew they'd adore. So instead, I cook! I've done our Christmas dinners for the last 15 + years, but now instead of turkey and stuffing etc, I'll do a 7 course, non-turkey dinner and my sister takes care of the wine (or other alcohol) pairings for 5 of the 7 courses (the other two either shouldn't have alcohol or are shared with the course before or after). My parents LOVE IT. Far more than they've ever enjoyed any of the gifts we've bought them in the past. We print out a menu on card stock, which acts as our Christmas card for them (and anyone else who attends our dinner).

The 25th has always been when we make a big deal of things, and we'd always have pizza for dinner on the 24th. But since our gifting shift, we've fancied things up for Christmas Eve with Champagne and a small buffet/party style dinner (things we consider super fancy, like balyk cut smoked salmon and caviar). I'll arrive at my parents' house around the 21st and will immediately start baking goodies.

My mom has a 'Sparkle and Sweets' party for The Girls, which consists of sparkling wine or Champagne and SWEETS. Cookies, cakes, puddings - no real food allowed!

rae

(website)

Veteran

Our family is kind of spread out nowadays, and my mom usually has to work on holidays. The last few years, we've gone out to eat in Chinatown or any interesting place that happens to be open. This year, we are hoping to add a friend or two to the mix and have a Korean Christmas food fest, since we saw some places that are open 365 days a year.

The last two years, we've also gone bowling for NYE.

banananutmuffin

Major Christmas tradition in my family is Christmas breakfast: oyster stew, pork tenderloin and sweet rolls.

Other than that, I always make it a point to watch my favorite Christmas movie during this season: Die Hard.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Since my mom's passing three years ago, we've been in a bit of flux for the holidays, figuring out new traditions. My husband sometimes suggests we go away for Christmas, but I prefer to be at home with the decorated house, the dogs, the fireplace, etc.

One thing we do end up doing every year is watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Not exactly Christmasy, but it has become a ritual we really enjoy.

I do know that this year I will resume my tradition of visiting my sister for a few days -- she lives four states away, and it's an 11 hour drive to get there. I've been making that drive for over 20 years (since my dad died -- he and I used to make the trip together), and last year was the first time I didn't. But this time will be way more fun than usual because my niece is living near me now and we'll make the drive together, so maybe we're starting a whole new tradition!

Girl X

(website)

Veteran

Janet - we watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy (extended edition!) over the holidays too! It's become more of a background thing rather than a close attention thing, but I think we have at least a couple of years before we stop wanting to pop it in.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

They sound so fun! For the last 10 yrs, Ive spent my Xmas day with my rascist BIL (and their kids, grandkids) and bite my tongue till it bleeds grrrr!

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

I love hearing about other's traditions and I am very much looking forward to developing my own little family's traditions as this will be out daughter's first Christmas - kicking off tomorrow with the Christmas Parade. I am also looking forward to having my first summer Christmas in quite a few years.

Next weekend we will put up our Christmas tree. We will decorate it with decorations that we have bought on our travels. I am looking forward to seeing them all together in one go - just working on how to ensure that they stay on the tree!

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

BTW - those of you who enjoy LOTR might be interested to know that I live not very far from Mordor...

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

DH and I do not live near any family. I like to decorate the house and I have handmade Xmas stockings for all the dogs (Regan's still needs to be made, probably too late for this year). But our real tradition is Chinese food and a movie on the 25th. Sometimes we bring friends. The rest of the day is spent in our PJs watching movies (LOTR is a fave of ours too) and eating homemade candy and cookies.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Oh no, Biscuitsmom! That sounds awful. I don't think I'd be able to bite my tongue in that situation. I'd probably end up biting it off!

AJ

Veteran

The day after Thanksgiving, we put up the Christmas decorations.

Our church has an annual christmas caroling around the neighborhood, so we will bake and decorate Christmas cookies a few days before the caroling to enjoy afterwards.

We also like to watch A Christmas Story. I never get tired of it!

My kids unwrap all their presents on Christmas morning, but they only get to pick two to use right away. Then we store the rest of the gifts in their closet and every Friday they get to choose a gift to enjoy. So Fridays are present days until they're all gone.

Also, after we unwrap all the presents on Christmas day, we pile all the torn up wrapping paper in our formal living area and set up two rows of chairs to act as forts. We divide into two teams and then we try to grab as much wrapping paper from the middle as we can and hide behind our forts and throw paper balls at each other!

Marley

Veteran

Oh - it is fun to read about everybody's traditions. We usually gather at my parents' home a few days before Christmas and help prepare for the big Christmas day meal. We also do a lot of baking and always bake sugar cookies and then decorate them and get ourselves high on sugar! Sometime on Christmas Eve day we watch 2 different movies - A Christmas Story - and - Christmas Vacation. Christmas Eve we have oyster stew and go to a 10 p.m. Christmas eve service at church. Christmas morning we wake up (as soon as the kids wake us up) and go see what Santa has brought and left under the tree. We then have Christmas brunch of some type of egg dish, lots of different pastries and hot, strong coffee. After getting dressed, we exchange gifts and then head up to the local nursing home where we deliver small gifts that we have brought for the residents and we sing Christmas carols. We then go home and have a turkey, mashed and sweet potatos, cranberry, green bean, dressing feast with pumpkin and pecan pie for dessert. By this time it is the evening and we roll ourselves into the family room and moan and groan about how we've eaten too much - some of the more energetic of us go out for a brisk walk. We then spend time in the evening working on a crossword puzzle, playing table games, talking and laughing. It is a great day - and I treasure everyone of them!

On New Years Eve and New Years day my dad's side of the family always gets together for a family reunion - it is primarilly focused around eating, watching football games, playing table games (a midwest tradition!) and laughing our heads off. We always make home-made ice-cream and have all kinds of home-made toppings and other sweets with the ice-cream. My dad and his brothers are ice-cream eating machines!

san

Veteran

Wow I'm exhausted just reading of all this activity! But so much fun. Our holidays change year to year. Sometimes I host and sometimes the kids host. New Years Eve is always a time when we are too full of rich food and want to eat a healthy vegetable soup.

rachylou

Veteran

kimlee - 'tis the season!

kimlee

Veteran

Girl X - I really love your idea of cooking a multi-course meal for your parents. I may suggest this idea to my sister for my parents and to my sister-in-law for my in-laws.

Rae - I think it is fun to eat out for Christmas....that way there is no stress worrying about cooking or cleaning up after the meal.

Banananutmuffin - I chuckled at the thought of watching Die Hard at Christmas.

Janet - I wish you and your niece safe travels. I am sure you will all enjoy the visit with your sister.

Biscuitsmom - I am sorry that you have to endure that type of situation. I would likely go off rather than bite my tongue.

Londonkiwi - There is something magical about Christmas when you have a little one around. Last year was my daughter's first Christmas, and I now see the season in a whole new light. I am sure you will create lovely traditions and memories with your little family.

Andrea - A day spent in PJ's watching movies sounds like a lovely tradition.

Ana - I agree!!!

AJ - I have never heard of your idea on handling gifts but it seems like a great one. It helps to make the fun/magic last a little longer.

Marley - You have a lovely set of traditions.

San - I like the thought of soup on New Year's Eve.

Anonymous

Christmas = tamales around here. New Year's Day = Hoppin' John.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Am I the only one who has turkey on Christmas day?? I thought everyone had turkey. This was a fun thread to read! I'm very interested in hearing all the very different traditions you all have. Rachylou, fondue at Christmas? Wild!

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Kimlee, it's so much fun reading those traditions. Do you make your S'mores outside or by the fireplace or in the microwave?!

I love all the LOTR fans and will have to think about adding that, because I loved the trilogy, but, I'd probably be sitting in the back bedroom watching it myself, and that wouldn't be any fun. I'll start a little tradition with myself on that one, with my cats.

We usually go to our place in Palm Desert where my twin sister, nephew and parents live. My brother drives in from WeHo and we have appetizers, drinks and dinner on the 24th. Then, everybody returns in the morning, and I make brunch and we open up our gifts. Later my sister makes a turkey dinner with the fixings and I'd we're not too stuffed, we'll all go to see a film together, usually a lighthearted comedy.

If I reread all your postings, I'm going to get very hungry...oysters, fondue, Chinese food, S'mores, oh my!

kimlee

Veteran

Alicat- All I can say is yum!

Elizabeth - Growing up we always had turkey on Christmas. But now, after a HUGE turkey at Thanksgiving, we like to eat something else on Christmas.

Vicki - The location of the smore making all depends on the weather. If it is not too cold/wet/rainy, we make them outside in our fire pit. If it is too cold, then we use our fireplace. And two years ago, it was 75 degrees (gotta love the Deep South and its crazy weather) so we made them in the microwave. No matter how we make them....everybody loves them.

rachylou

Veteran

banananut -

"Major Christmas tradition in my family is Christmas breakfast: oyster stew, pork tenderloin and sweet rolls.

Other than that, I always make it a point to watch my favorite Christmas movie during this season: Die Hard"

OMG! That sounds so good!

And Die Hard - ohmigosh, there are some things that my brother plays over and over. That is one of them. And Sharpe's Rifles. We putter in the middle of the night to Sharpe's Rifles, LOL.

***
londonkiwi -

And LOTR. That's the one *I* play over and over, for background atmosphere. Do you really live near Mordor?!

***
AJ - That is so awesome! Forts and a wrapping paper battle!

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Forgot to add that we sometimes play "Charades" or "Celebrity," which is quite fun, drawing names of films, books and/or important people and then work individually or with a team to act out the answer. It's quite fun.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Ana and Kimlee, believe me, I have a hard time with it. I would love to tell him exactly what I think of his BS, but I dont say much because they have *completely* cut ties with others who have disagreed with them on other matters, and this is the only relatives my DH has left in the state....his kids are really nice people and we only see him once a yr (TG!) so I do my best to ignore his sickening, ridiculous viewpoints...

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

I used to start the season with Black Friday but when they changed all the opening to midnight this year i stopped. No challenge there and i feel bad for the employees. >.>

We do one special Christmas or fun thing every day until the big day. This year my son made one of those chain link countdown things @ school so that is hung up as well.

I try to do Christmas jammies but we always seem to end up traveling and thus don't get home until late Christmas Eve so i've kind of had to give that up.

Also we go see the Holiday Train! Which is coming up this Monday! Excited!