[Sara Arell]

Our "traditions" haven't changed much over the years - I guess I kind of followed the traditions my family had when I was growing up to some extent and added a couple of my own. With my children out on their own (with the exception of one) things aren't quite the same on Christmas but we do have a few that we have kept since the kids grew up.

On Christmas Eve, we have a special supper - usually finger foods and snacks so we can nibble all night - we enjoy just being together and tasting Christmas cookies that I've kept hidden until Christmas Ever, along with little sandwiches, cheese straws, mixed nuts, chex mix, olives and just anything else I can think of to put together.

I think the tradition that my children loved the most was the opening of just one gift on Christmas Eve. The gift they were allowed to open was always one of my choosing since I didn't want them to open the things they had asked Santa to bring (and most of those weren't out under the tree anyway. I usually bought each of the a pair of Christmas pajamas and that's the one they opened. The new pajamas were as much for me as they were for them since they always looked so cute in their new jammies for the pics on Christmas morning.

Their stockings were taken from the fireplace when Rich and I went to bed a placed at the foot of the bed of each child - that usually bought Mom and Dad a little more time sleeping since the kids would go through their stockings when they woke up and play with whatever was in them for a good 30 minutes.

Just a few..........

What are some of your Christmas traditions?

[KFiasco]

When I was stationed in Panama I didn't have a chance to make it home for Christmas. I had only missed 2 before, both in Germany which was a blast. In Panama it was a different story and I was quite depressed. For Christmas that year my family sent me a video that they made. They did a little "Tonight Show". My brother interviewed my parents, my siblings, and my nieces and nephews. They were all funny and told jokes and little stories about how their years were going. I was laughing out loud it was so funny. For the next four or five years we continued doing our little family show, but somehow the tradition died out. Thinking about this makes me want to start it again.

Karen

[CRS]

Thanks for starting this thread, Sara! I love to hear about everyone's traditions!

Things are little different here this year since we won't be with family (our choice). We used to go to my sil's house on Christmas Eve and have a big dinner and open gifts. This year, I'll cook a big meal on Christmas Eve, then let the kids open their gifts from those families. Christmas Day will be more relaxed...last year we had "make your own pizzas" for dinner and the kids loved it, so we'll do it again.

Despite the changes, I'm looking forward to it!