Christmas traditions!!

[Cheesemaker]

So, my family has had a christmas tradition for many years now, and it has been passed on to me!  I want to hear what traditions you have. 

So, in 1957 my great uncle bought a Lionel train set for the family and that train set spendt many years around the family christmas tree.  Fast forward to the day I was a teenager and was handed down the family Lionel trains!  I got to carry on the tradition and it's the one thing I look forward to every December!  Well, in 2002 I had made a very hard decision, that the original trains needed to be retired, since one has quit working, and the other needs a new transformer, so I placed both on a shelf, and purchased a new, more modern Lionel train.  I plan on fixing the old trains and passing off the tradition to my kids!  I got the train up this evening and the kids just go nuts, because they look forward to the train around the tree too!

So here is a picture of my family tradition!



Post up your family tradition, no matter what it is!

[kneedownnate]

Cool!  We used to go out and play in the snow in the hills till our hands were numb.  That was on the rare occassion there was snow

[Lady Di]

Go to the in-laws and watch them argue.
Family traditions, got to love it.

[Rocksurfer]

Stay home, open presents.

[topar]

My wife and I open one present on Christmas Eve then go to Midnight Mass.  Then the next morning get up make breakfast and open presents a few at a time so it lasts most of the day.  We hope to keep this up with our son but will see how it goes.  My parents always had us boys open everything on Christmas Eve so they did not have to get up early on Christmas day.    I love the family train though thats great 

[mikerob]

Prime Rib at Grandmas is the best

[Lady Di]

When I was a kid we decorated the christmas tree on christmas eve and when we got up in the morning my father would be up with the 8mm camera and big honkin lights filming the whole thing.
We all opened our gifts at once.
Marks family tradition was to pass out all the gifts and go around in a circle opening the gifts one at a time.

[Cheesemaker]

Since I've been working at the cheese factory, I've never had x-mas off!  Which really sucks when you work swingshift.  Usually the family will show up on my lunch and eat out in the van for x-mas eve.  Then x-mas morn it was get up early and open our gifts, go over to dad's and eat breakfast open gifts, and then go over and get things ready for work, and got up to my mom's for lunch and open more gifts.  Then I would put my work clothes on and head for work, which really makes for a really long day.  This year is the first year I get x-mas eve off!

[BLACKDOG]

tree goes up ASAP after thanksgiving, the ceiling in the front room at my folks house sloes up to the second story, so we set up a tree that is about 15 feet tall.  Since we moved to CA in '99, we've always gone and gotten a real tree, mom's fake tree hasn't seen the light of days since then. 

Christmas eve we open 1 present, then read the Night Before Christmas as a family. (Its a picture book, and mom takes great pleasure in her picture book reading skills, perfected by reading to kindergarteners for several years)  Christmas morning mom puts in an egg casserole thing that she made the day before, and we read the Christmas story from the Bible.  We then open presents, trying to take turns so dad can get everything on video tape, even though we never watch the tapes again  

Every year, we have a puzzle to figure out to get our biggest (most expensive) gift.  The first puzzle was just 3 different colored yarn balls, strung all over the house, and we had to follow the string to the end to get the gift.  Every year they get more elaborate, as we got into HS, and started taking spanish, my dad would make some of the puzzle clues in spanish.  sometimes we have to find clues, and unscamble the letters we find, other times we have to go places.  One year my folks actually stashed our gifts at Spotter's and Mikerob's parent's barn. 

After presents, we all help with dinner, then it is time to play with all our new stuff!

[kneedownnate]

Every year, we have a puzzle to figure out to get our biggest (most expensive) gift.  The first puzzle was just 3 different colored yarn balls, strung all over the house, and we had to follow the string to the end to get the gift.  Every year they get more elaborate, as we got into HS, and started taking spanish, my dad would make some of the puzzle clues in spanish.  sometimes we have to find clues, and unscamble the letters we find, other times we have to go places.  One year my folks actually stashed our gifts at Spotter's and Mikerob's parent's barn. 

That would have driven me nucking futs as a kid!  Shoot, that'd drive me crazy now!

[BLACKDOG]

That would have driven me nucking futs as a kid!  Shoot, that'd drive me crazy now!

Sometimes they do  

[Lady Di]

Man! That is really elaborate!

[*FFC*]

Christmas Eve with my family, Christmas afternoon with Matt's family.  Christmas Eve we have Santa over and he gives everyone a gift and we get pictures with him, then all the kids (all 2 of em now) get to open their gifts.  Then we do the gift exchange game.  Girls buy for girls, boys buy for boys.  Girls play first. 

Christmas day..... so far I don't know how the traditions go with Matt's family

[BLACKDOG]

Man! That is really elaborate!

  I think this tradition is coming to an end though.    Its getting too hard for my dad to plan and figure out the games, with his schedule and all.  Also, its getting harder for him to think of stuff that'll really test us, seeing as his youngest is now in college.

[*FFC*]

  I think this tradition is coming to an end though.    Its getting too hard for my dad to plan and figure out the games, with his schedule and all.  Also, its getting harder for him to think of stuff that'll really test us, seeing as his youngest is now in college.

We had a tradition die this year.  My grandma used to buy everyone something from Big Dog for Christmas.  Well, she passed away last year, and Grandpa figured he'd do it last year in memory of her.  So last year was our last year

[topar]

Cheesemaker I copied you.  I went out and bought a train set.  I will placing it as well as some of my wife's Christmas villiage around the tree today.  I will try and put up pics tomorrow.  I hope to one day pass on the trains as well.  My wife and I have been talking about a train for our tree for a few years and after seeing yours decided it was time. 

[Cheesemaker]

Cool Topar!  You'll have to post some pics. 

Another tradition we do, is we always get out tree on the weekend that is the closest to the 10th.  That was grandpa's birthday, and we always had a huge party and we would go get a tree too while all the family was together!  So, we still do this!

[Tice]

No real traditions, except going over to my moms at 6 IN THE MORNING to open gifts.   Before my Grandpa passed away almost 2 years ago, he and I would polish off about 8 bloddy mary's apiece before Christmas dinner!!!  I still do that part without him though, seems right to keep it going!

[brainlessfool]

 I just then  on the tree.

[Duffil]

It kinda sucks...my tradition is to hang out with my family until I can't stand it anymore, then start shotgunning beers in the back yard until they are fun to be around again.

I like the BLF version better:

I just then  on the tree.

anyone want to buy a family...I'll sell them cheap.

[brainlessfool]

anyone want to buy a family...I'll sell them cheap.

got a brother you'll let go cheap?

[Duffil]

got a brother you'll let go cheap?

I'll sell you 2 for the price of one!!  but no shipping, it's local pickup only.

[topar]

Here you go cheesemaker 

[Cheesemaker]

Nice!!

[Mistaken]

  he can travel to the future!!!

[topar]

Yes I can and all of you been naughty send me $10 each or I am telling Santa, if not maybe one day I will fix the date on my camera