Do you guys have a special meal on Christmas Eve?

[Faithmom6]

I am sure some families do their Christmas get togethers on Christmas Eve.
We don't. I would like to start some kind of Christmas Eve tradition with my kids including a very special Christmas Eve non traditional meal. My oldest son loves homemade cheese dip with the rotel tomatoes. So, I am thinking we will have tacos, enchiladas, cheese dip, etc. Does anybody else have a nontraditional Christmas Eve meal?
Then, I put our treats and goodies in Christmas containers and leave them out in the kitchen so everybody can "graze"!!!
Then, we will leave cheese and eggnog for Santa at bedtime!:razz::D

[VeryWelshXmasLover]

I don't have any meal tradition on Christmas Eve, but I would love to have one!! I'll keep a close eye on this thread :grin:

At the mo, my Christmas Eve tradition is to watch The Muppets Christmas Carol. I love that film!

I really would like more traditions :)

[VeryWelshXmasLover]

Leaving Christmas treats in containers in the kitchen for grazing sounds good! lol

[whitexmas]

On christmas eve we usually have a bunch of finger foods and appetizers, then christmas day we have a sit down traditional dinner. So christmas eve, its usually cheese balls, really good bread, maybe a salad, spiced nuts, maybe lil wenies in bbq sauce, of course LOTS of cookies and sweet treats that i've made throughout the season. I'm a huge baker, so I enjoy making all the recipes I can find! haha

[trackrebel]

well...Christmas Eve is our Big Day....but we don´t have a traditional dinner...or even lunch....last year we ate Spaghetti Bolognese (meat balls)....and in the evening we always have dinner at grandma and grandpa....she usually prepares some noodle or potato salad along some sausage and bread we can prepare sandwiches from.....thinking bout it....that last few years we had fish...cold fish like salmon and stuff....at the end we have some cheese.....Grandma usually has icecream for everybody as a desert....but nobody touches it usually cos we are all so stuffed...:D...of course the kids will eat it...I´m sure.

[trackrebel]

@faithmom

Your dinner plans sound very delicious....and I´m sure Santa will be happy bout the cheese dip as well...:D

[Faithmom6]

@faithmom

Your dinner plans sound very delicious....and I´m sure Santa will be happy bout the cheese dip as well...:D

Thank you!
We will have the traditional turkey and dressing with all the trimmings on Christmas Day!
I am so excited!!

[snowytree]

We usually have ham sandwiches and a bunch of all the different appetizers that we like! We also have a ton of junk food:)

[trackrebel]

who doesn´t like junkfood.

of course when we arrive at my grandma´s on Christmas Eve, she has a big bowl of handmade christmas cookies....at least 8 or 10 different types...and she will be sad if we don´t eat....lol...so we eat....and then eat dinner...we are stuffed like crazy...boy I think I need to start working out so I can eat all of it, without weighin a ton

[snowytree]

who doesn´t like junkfood.

of course when we arrive at my grandma´s on Christmas Eve, she has a big bowl of handmade christmas cookies....at least 8 or 10 different types...and she will be sad if we don´t eat....lol...so we eat....and then eat dinner...we are stuffed like crazy...boy I think I need to start working out so I can eat all of it, without weighin a ton


Your'e cracking me up! It sounds like my grandmother when she was alive...it just wasn't right unless we were eating every minute! I didn't want to disappoint her!

[trackrebel]

Your'e cracking me up! It sounds like my grandmother when she was alive...it just wasn't right unless we were eating every minute! I didn't want to disappoint her!
hahaha...that´s how she is too...and after feeding us like that she sometimes would make remarks like
"oh tanja...i think u gained some weight"....and I´m like thinking.....thx grandma....didn´t have to say in front of everyone....hahahahaha

[joyful]

I did my Christmas dinner on Christmas eve when my kids were growing up so I could be free to enjoy Christmas Day with the kids. It also gave them something special to do on Christmas Eve while waiting for morning to come quickly. I would have candles and a beautifully set table. Then on Christmas Day if anyone was hungry, things just had to be reheated and not by me. Hee Hee, I loved it.

I still do it depending on where we are for Christmas. Last Christmas we spend the night at my daughters (their invitation) so I wasn't home on Christmas Eve. This Christmas Eve my other daughter and her family will be here, so I will do a Christmas Eve dinner with all the trimmings. I'm already planning it.

[MsChristmas]

Christmas Eve is at my In-Laws. We usually have a deli tray and all sorts of appetizers and salads. Last year everyone made their own little specialty! It was nice!


:rudolph:

[Holiday]

Oh yes! Christmas Eve is my favorite ~ my families Christmas celebration at my parents house:

Smokehouse Spaghetti
Bruschetta
Corn (that was frozen from the garden)
Garlic Bread
"Burn" & serve rolls
salad
~ whatever everybody brings as a side dish

pies
cut out Christmas cookies

I always bring a Cheese log, one sister always brings shrimp & dip ~ actually, the whole kitchen table is full of snacky food.

And Mom always has out a tray of Christmas candy that we all got together & made on candy making day.

[CharlestonNole]

This year my family will begin new tradition(s).

In the past, the extended family (cousins, uncles, inlaws, etc) had gathered at my grandparents home for a meal and celebration. It was a ton of people and a huge blast. We've done it for all of my 36 years (missed a few here and there, when I was in the Navy). However, both grandparents were recently admitted to a nursing home thusly ending that tradition. I am sure each individual family will move on and do their own thing.

We will take Christmas to the nursing home, I am sure me and mine will have a blast creating new traditions.

[act_as_if]

We do both a Christmas Eve and Christmas day dinner. On CE,the whole family cones over and we have potato soup and Chili. CD is the traditional meal. Turkey, potato.ect.

[JOHNOR]

how did i miss this thread?

every christmas eve i go to my mum's house, alot of the family are there that day so i usually drive over to mcdonalds for everyone, this year i have decided to throw caution to the wind (lol) and go to kfc for a big bucket. we can all share that, it will be less hassle.

christmas eve night, me and my partner stay at home watching christmas movies and drinking festive mint baileys (anyone had this? it's divine) and have a few snacks. this year i will do a mini buffet for the two of is, maybe some chilli nachos, onion rings, breaded mushrooms and salad? i can't wait!

[lmm8606]

We have Christmas Eve at my in-laws house. My father in law smokes a ham and we have salad, cheesey potatoes, homemade rolls as well as snacks and goodies in dishes on the counter to snack on. Then my mother in law usually makes some huge dessert that everyone should be too stuffed to eat...but we do anyway, lol! :D

[SparkleNana]

Joyful -- I LOVE your idea about doing the festive dinner on Christmas Eve! I have never heard anyone explain it like that. You are brilliant!

As you said, it gives the children something beautiful to focus on on Christmas Eve. And then - Christmas Day can be relaxing for you - because there are wonderful left-overs ready to enjoy!!

[SQNOLA]

We eat dinner on Christmas Eve at my in-laws, in Austria. The traditional dinner is fish or goose, but we have chicken schnitzel instead, with potato salad. The chicken schnitzel is VERY thin pieces of chicken breast, breaded and fried in such a way that it doesn't come out greasy. And the potato salad is not like American potato salad. It has an oil and vinegar dressing with onions, but no mayo or eggs. It sounds a bit plain but has a delicious taste.

While I love the dinner, my favorite part is dessert! My mother-in-law makes over 20 different kinds of traditional Austrian Christmas cookies that are incredible. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!

[Santa's Helper]

We go to my mom's every year for Christmas Eve. She doesn't make us sit down to eat dinner together although we usually do. We call it a casual meal. We usually have ham, turkey breast (I make it in my rotisserie (sp?)), Cheesy potatoes, mashed potatoes, rolls and of course cookies. Sometimes my mom will make pies and a cake as well. Then on Christmas day we go to my husband's gram's house and pick at the food there and then to his mom's house where she usually sends home an entire Ham with us plus roast beef and some other stuff. My refrigerator is so packed that all of that food blocks the light inside! When you open the door it's just dark in there.

[snowytree]

We go to my mom's every year for Christmas Eve. She doesn't make us sit down to eat dinner together although we usually do. We call it a casual meal. We usually have ham, turkey breast (I make it in my rotisserie (sp?)), Cheesy potatoes, mashed potatoes, rolls and of course cookies. Sometimes my mom will make pies and a cake as well. Then on Christmas day we go to my husband's gram's house and pick at the food there and then to his mom's house where she usually sends home an entire Ham with us plus roast beef and some other stuff. My refrigerator is so packed that all of that food blocks the light inside! When you open the door it's just dark in there.


Yummm..cheesy potatoes!

[snowytree]

For some reason it wouldnt let me put cheese potatoes, but that's what I was referring too!

[Santa's Helper]

For some reason it wouldnt let me put cheese potatoes, but that's what I was referring too!

Yeah because if you put Cheesy with a small c that is the code for that little smiley face guy! It did it to me so I always put a capital C now.

[Minta]

We have a early dinner at home with just me, hubby, the kids and my mom. We stop at the local market and pick up whatever seafood we are in mood for and head home. For us adults it's all seafood while the kids will have a combination of seafood and chicken nuggets.
I will have pepperoni bread, assorted dips and chips and veggies, homemade cookies and cake spread out to munch on later in the evening if anyone gets hungry.
We eat around 4ish. Santa will come around on the local fire truck anytime after 6:00 so we want to make sure we are ready to throw on our coats and greet him outside when he comes down the street.

Christmas dinner we have a full sit down dinner of turkey with all the trimmings. Guests who come for Christmas dinner can vary year to year.

[Sunshine73]

For us, Christmas eve is with the in-laws. There are always tons of appetizer/hors d'oeuvres from my father-in-laws famous bourbon meatballs (now that he's gone my mother-in-law makes them but I'll admit, they don't taste quite as good), to tiny shrimp and cheese quiches to mozzarella sticks and my sister-in-laws chicken balls.

Of course, no Christmas Eve meal is complete without the Christmas goodies. That's where I come in! I take over tons of Christmas cookies and candies and we eat so much through the evening that we always end up feeling like we've eaten a 20 course dinner!

[JOHNOR]

For us, Christmas eve is with the in-laws. There are always tons of appetizer/hors d'oeuvres from my father-in-laws famous bourbon meatballs (now that he's gone my mother-in-law makes them but I'll admit, they don't taste quite as good), to tiny shrimp and cheese quiches to mozzarella sticks and my sister-in-laws chicken balls.

Of course, no Christmas Eve meal is complete without the Christmas goodies. That's where I come in! I take over tons of Christmas cookies and candies and we eat so much through the evening that we always end up feeling like we've eaten a 20 course dinner!

were those his speciality? i bet nobody could make them as good as him.

[irishsnow]

Most of my family are working on Christmas eve and have last nimute things to pick up so we dont meet up until late that evening and everyone has already had something to eat at that stage

[bhenson]

:tree:This year I will host our Christmas Eve meal. I am having it around 1 pm and we are having sandwiches, potato salad, veggies and dip. And also the delicious desserts!.

Then on christmas morning we will have cresent rolls and breakfast casserole. For lunch leftovers and supper enchiladas. I am making us a chocolate pie and cherry cheesecake for christmas day!

:snowball:

[Courtney]

We usually fix something quick and that won't leave leftovers. We will probably do pizzas this year. :)

[Mumof2]

We don't have a certain meal.All of us make or buy something.we go around to my family in boston and have more of a buffet lol. cookies,stuffed mushrooms,sausages,Bruchetta(sp?),veggies and dip,chips and dip,Lasagna.etc.

[scottish*mama*claus]

not for Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day I make a full turkey meal with all of the trimmings (just like at Thanksgiving). I do that because my kids love it and because I buy an extra turkey at the grocery store every year because they mark the turkey down to $.19 a pound!!

Annie

[pinkini]

my husband and i always go to mcdonald's on christmas eve. we spend christmas eve with his family and they do not serve a meal.

[pkcrafty]

I don't have any meal tradition on Christmas Eve, but I would love to have one!! I'll keep a close eye on this thread :grin:

At the mo, my Christmas Eve tradition is to watch The Muppets Christmas Carol. I love that film!

I really would like more traditions :)

That's our favorite movie,too!

We don't have a meal, but like Faithmom, we put out snacks (chips, dips, meat and cheese tray, Christmas cookies,etc) and graze while watching movies and Christmas Eve specials.

[DayTek]

My in-laws have us over for a pot-luck every year. My mum-in-law brings pumpkernickle bread and spinich dip, my pops-in-law brings summer sausage and cheese, my sister-in-law brings breaded chicken nuggets (or just something breaded) and my husband and I bring Chinese food...LOL.

[Faithmom6]

My in-laws have us over for a pot-luck every year. My mum-in-law brings pumpkernickle bread and spinich dip, my pops-in-law brings summer sausage and cheese, my sister-in-law brings breaded chicken nuggets (or just something breaded) and my husband and I bring Chinese food...LOL.

OOH..My precious husband LOVES summer sausage!!!!
With Ritz crackers!:rudolph:

[NLxmasmom]

We don't really do anything special for our Christmas Eve meal. Usually just something quick.

[Holiday]

That's our favorite movie,too!

We don't have a meal, but like Faithmom, we put out snacks (chips, dips, meat and cheese tray, Christmas cookies,etc)

Our family must be big pigs cuz we have lots of snacks, sweets & a big meal too!! :lol:

[deffenm]

We do pizza. It is our daugthers birthday on Christmas Eve so we let the Brithday girl pick and every year it is pizza. She is only 4 but the girl loves her some cheese pizza. It is easy to clean up, we have no leftovers. I will make a the big meal on Christmas Day.

[ckat]

We don't have a traditional meal, but last year we started having a nice dinner with peach Bellini's. I think I'd like to continue THAT tradition :yum:

[girl_of_advent]

Here Christmas Eve is main day in Christmas, so we have our Christmas meal then. This year we go to my in-laws in Christmas Eve meal, so i don´t know what we are having.. :D

[Mary Kiss Mess]

Every year, my parents invite the family over for a big Christmas Eve buffet. It usually includes, meatballs, mini hotdogs wrapped in buns, mini pizza's, shrimp, bacon wrapped scallops, and a whole bunch of finger foods. Since everyone has families of there own, it's nice to get together on Christmas Eve.

[quick5pnt0]

For the last five or six years we've gone to a local deli a few days before and ordered a three or four foot hoagie and then on Christmas Even around noon we go and pick it up and that serves as our main meal for the rest of the day/night. Of course we have other side dishes (potato salad, noodle salad, cake, etc) but the hoagie is our main dish and we pretty much eat it non stop until its time to goto bed....LOL