Christmas Eve

[Snow is falling...]

For me....Christmas Eve is almost better than the 25th itself!
My family have so many traditions, and quirks that it is, at least from my perspective, the best day of the year. All the people I know have completely contrasting ways of celebrating C.Eve. Some, play a round of golf. Some go on the town. What do you do?

For me....this sounds silly but it's what I do!...I get up quite early, 8am ish, and watch as many cartoon Xmas specials as I can :mrgreen: Thenm after lunch, me and my mum go on the annual ''handing out cards'' marathon. We travel all over the countryside delivering the xmas cards to our friends...this sometimes takes the whole afternoon, and we arrive back as it grows dark, happy, and 16 mincepies heavier. It's great, as I don't see some of these people throughout the year. It's become a real tradition...while we're out my dad, sister, and little brother add the final touches to our decorations....freshly cut holly from the garden.

We arrive back, and the house looks that little bit better!

We then eat, put the little brother to bed....but not after watching the king of all xmas videos....''The Snowman''! After that, I read by the fire....maybe leave out a cookie and a carrot for 'ol Rudolf, and make my way to bed.

Then there's the sleepless nights. I don't know what i'm waiting for....But I can't sleep. Half of me's scared that It'll all be a big letdown.

But I look outside my window, praying for snowflakes...the carols are playing softly, and the tinsel twinks...I feel as happy as I can...

What do you guys do at Xmas Eve?




Snow is falling

[caseydbell]

we go to my grandmother and hang out All Day (and i mean all day) we eat, play games open gifts, anything you can think of. This year eve falls on Sunday, so as soom as church is over we are going home to let the dogs out, gather up evrything that needs to be taken and to grandmothers house we go.

[Ervserver]

Christmas eve I look up the chimney every 15 minutes to see if Santa is there

:o

[Misfit Toy]

Me too :wink:

Christmas Eve is usually the day family and them come over and we have the holiday bash. Xmas day I like nice and quiet and relaxing. For Xmas dinner we might have a few people over, depends on the year, we usually have a few. I like it small. Wake up, turn the fire on, turn on LOG (tv special or my LOG DVD) and OPEN and go through the stocking :D

Not to mention my dog wont even sleep Xmas Eve because he just stares at the door waiting for morning and then he darts right off to his stocking haha, he's so cute.

I even like watching the shopping channel on Xmas and part of Xmas Eve, because here they turn it into an all Xmas music and winter Xmas scenes video until they return boxing day (26th).

[ReineV]

I ADORE Christmas eve! I really enjoy it more than the 25th because of the awesome feeling of anticipation! My family gets together, has dinner, watches movies, bakes cookies and plays board/card games.

[mrshamm]

WE usually go to my Grannies for her Christmas party on Christmas eve but since Christmas eve is on a Sunday and my Grandfather and Father are both pastors, my Grannies party will be on the day before Christmas eve, my parents Christmas party will be after the Christmas eve morning service and then that evening my father has scheduled for my mom, dad, me, and my little brother to have a concert at their church in place of the evening service.

[ChristmasFanatic]

Christmas Eve has always been as fun as Christmas Day itself, for me. When I was old enough to drive and after I'd graduated from high school, I'd get my two younger brothers and we'd head to my Dad's for the afternoon. Dad would put out all kinds of snacks and we'd sit around and watch TV and just relax. My Mom and her sister used to trade off Christmas Eve get togethers...one year at my Aunt's, the next at Mom's, but once the grandkids began arriving and the houses became a wee bit too crowded, that tradition kind of ended and I'd spend Christmas Eve at Mom's and we'd simply prepare for Christmas Day and wrap any last minute gifts and relax and snack....and snack and snack! Last year, we had a small get together at the apartment, just Mom, my step-Dad a niece, nephew and my Grandparents. We prepared everything, so nothing had to be brought by the guests and we scheduled it for 1:00Pm until whenever. We all had a very nice time and by 5:00PM, everyone had left and we still had an evening to relax and enjoy. I guess we're doing the same thing, this year and I really can't wait.

When my folks were still married, the day was even more exciting and I think Mom and Dad spent the day trying to keep us a little calm. We'd attend church services that evening and then home for homemade cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate. I really don't have anything but wonderful memories for Christmas Eve and even a few bad years, I simply put out of my mind and enjoy the good years, even more. :???:

[joyful]

I love to attend church Christmas Eve but that's not always possible.

When we were raising our children I use to have Christmas dinner Christmas Eve, it gave the kids something to fill in the long evening and it freed me up on Christmas Day, I didn't have to cook, we just reheated leftovers. There are times we still have a Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve, it just depends.

Anytime I get to spend at home with my hubby just the two of us is the best. We just enjoy being together and sometimes watch a christmas movie.

[Ladybugkisses]

We sit around and listen to music and eat, eat and laugh.

[Ervserver]

eat....good idea

[caseydbell]

I love hearing about what everyone else does :-D

[Ervserver]

me too, I often get new ideas

[ReineV]

eat....good idea

you know what's an even better idea?! more eating....

[HollyJells]

We open 1 small gift on Christmas EVE

we read the Christmas Story from the Bible and then read Twas' The NIght Before Christmas

Go hog wild over different cookies and end up staying up WAAAAY past our bedtime due to the sugar rush from said different cookies

Lots of SPIKED Eggnog and SPIKED spiced cider for the adults and the non spiked versions for the kiddies

Decorate the cats with garland and watch them chase it (they NEVER chew on it though, which is a good thing)

Sleep and wake up in the morning HOPING we got some snow (we live in North Carolina about 90 miles from the beach, so we never get hardly any snow... we did get some in 04 though)

Go to his mom and dad's house to rip into our gifts then lotsa good food and fun is to be had :wiggy: :???: :cool: :eek:

[Ervserver]

eat....good idea

you know what's an even better idea?! more eating....

I'll second that

:???:

[slick]

hi there I am new here and wanted to see whats going on here? :cool:

you know what's an even better idea?! more eating....[/quote]

I'll second that

:???:[/quote]

[Mat Laz]

On, Christmas Eve I usually spend the day listening to Christmas Carols and movies sometimes the family comes over to our house.

God bless,

Matt

[slick]

me and my family invite family over and the bring presents and we have a feast. with like these bottles of rootbeer and we have like cheese and turkey and stuff like that. and when all the family leaves and it is time to go to bed we all open a gift and we get these christmas pajamas. oh and we connect the computer upstairs in the livingroom and keep track of santa. and once he gets to newyork then we go to bed. wait for santa and then the little girls get up like at two or three in the morning and wake everyone up. last year I had to take them back to my room to watch a movie. :celebrate:

[mrshfromjersey]

We like to have a yummy dinner, go to midnight mass, come home and go to bed - trying to sleep but secretly listening for Santa to come. In the morning, dvdguy wakes up REALLY early and makes me get up. We have breakfast while opening our presents.

[Ervserver]

Does dvdguy make the breakfast?

[dvdguy]

yes i sure do :o

[Ervserver]

That's good, gives mom a break

[kidzrme]

MY WHOLE FAMILY GOES TO MY MOTHER'S HOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS EVE. AUNTS, UNCLES, COUSINS, GRANDPARENTS, FRIENDS...WE HAVE A HUGE FEAST, AND PASS OUT THE PRESENTS TO ALL OF THE COUSINS(WE DRAW NAMES, EACH FAMILY PICK A NAME FOR AS MANY CHILDREN AS THEY HAVE) EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY LOOKS FORWARD TO THIS TRADITION. ALL OF THE GRANDKIDS SLEEP AND GRANDMA AND PAPA'S HOUSE ON CHRISTMAS EVE, AND CHRISTMAS MORNING IS SPECTACULAR! :eek:

[Crimbo_Spirit]

I think christmas eve is quality , we jus chill for the day really ... Then have our baths and everything , then have a take-away at night :D :lol:

[MinaHarker]

I go to my grandma's and visit with extended family. We eat, open presents, and just have fun. I like it better than the 25th too because of seeing my cousins <3.

[Crimbo_Spirit]

This site rules, there is so much crimbo spirit but where is everyone it is getting a bit deserted, but hopefully everyone will come back b4 christmas eve. By the way some of you's people crimbo eves are really caring :-D

[sugarplum fairy]

On Christmas Eve, we start by watching Christmas cartoons all day. I fix whatever I am going to take to the in-laws that night, and we get ready and go to my in-laws house. There we eat, play games, talk, laugh, take pictures, and exchange presents. Afterward, we come home, get ready for bed, set out treats for Santa and the reindeer, read some Christmas books, and go to bed. It is so much fun. :???:

[ASailrsWife]

Christmas Eve is so much fun. Though I have to say that Christmas day soes still top it. EW go to Mass as a family and then head to my Aunt Mary's house for our get together. Everyone is there and it is just so much fun. Then my husband and I go to Midnight Mass at his church while my mom and dad take my daughter home, set out the cookies, sprinkle the reindeer food and tuck her into bned. When my hubby and I get home from mass, well, the magic of Christmas begins.

Michelle

[scrooge2]

My friend Sarah loves to go around the local neighbourhood with her adorable family and enjoy the Christmas lights on the houses. At the end she rates them as the best, the tackiest, and the worst! She recommends to all.

[e_xander]

I get up early with my children and start following Santa's progress on the internet (It's gonna be on SantaUpate.com this year!). In between updates, we get start preparing dinner for that night. We go to church at 3pm with my wife's family and afterwards, return to my house to open gifts. After gifts are open, my wife's sister and her family go to her in-laws and my mother-in-law, her ex-husband and my family go out looking at all the other Christmas lights. We check on Santa throughout the day/night until he gets close to the US. Then we usher the kids to bed and sit by our tree and enjoy the rest of the evening. I am as excited as my children the whole day. I love Christmastime.

Sean

[devOn]

i like Christmas Eve because it is the day I'm really ready for Christmas.... I like christmas better but Christmas Eve gets me into the CHristmas spirit for Christmas..

[eschen]

Here in Germany, Christmas Eve is the main day of Christmas. We are five persons (my husband, my son, my parents and me) and eating baked toast. After dinner we are distributing the Xmas gifts and are talking nad laughing. Our little son (3 years old) is totally excited about his presents and is playing the whole evening with his new toys.

Xmas Greetings

Silvia

[clarebear]

:-P
I love christmas eve i think its the best day off all,we all go as a family to visit the rest of the family we take our presents to give to each of them,we prepare everything for christmas day eg cook turkey peel veg etc.We get the house lovely and cosy and tidy,then we get ourselfs dressed and ready for xmas eve mass which i love,then get in and have a little buffet tea.
i just love christmas!!! :cool:

[kelly88]

We don't really have any traditions for Christmas Eve, usually every year is different but it goes something like I get up at around 8, watch some TV then get bathed and dressed. When I've had breakfast etc and we're ready me and my mum do some shopping for things we'll need over Christmas while the shops aren't open. Then we come back and watch whatever Christmassy things there are on TV. In the morning or early afternoon my uncle and aunty would come to visit but my uncle died earlier this year so this Christmas will be strange without him :sad: . Then we watch some more TV and eat! Later in the afternoon my brother and his family usually come (unless he comes Christmas day or Boxing day). We sit around talking, opening presents off him etc. Then we got to Mass later in the evening. When we come home I open my new pyjamas, put them on and watch some more TV then go to bed. I then spend half the night either awake or waking up every 10 minutes :D . Christmas eve is always really good!

[ReineV]

just under TWO weeks to Christmas eve!!!! You guys I am SO excited! We're going to be cooking Mexican food Christmas eve and baking cookies!!

[WonderfulChristmasTime1]

We sit around and listen to music and eat, eat and laugh.

[Mimi]

Hi everybody, I'm new to the forum. An interesting place, many fun topics.

Christmas Eve is very special to us. Our grandchildren are here, we all head to church to see the special play for children and attend service, after returning home we have the same meal my family did when they came from Europe. We'll generally open a couple gifts, my hubby reads "The Night Before Christmas" and we all try and remember the words, lol... or make up our own. Then the wee ones are whisked off to bed to wait for Santa. We generally hear his bells sometime during the night.. he's fast though, we've never caught him. The adults opens a few more gifts. Morning is fun with everyone running around, I make a buffet breakfast for everyone and we sit and enjoy each other's company. There's a lot of kibitzing that goes on among the adult children. A fun day filled with family and good memories.

[Christy Carol]

Mimi...can I come to your house? :-)

[e_xander]

Mimi...can I come to your house? :-)

Me too, me too! :???:

Sean

[megarrick]

My Christmas Eve is spent at my boyfriends parents house. His parents, sister, her boyfriend, and the two of us are there. We all have a part in making peanut brittle! 6 people in one little kitchen! Then we sit down and watch movies and talk while his mom cleans up all of our mess! When shes done, all the "kids" get to open up one of our presents. Around 10:30 my boyfriend brings me back to my house and he spends the night at his parents house. My dad works shiftwork and he always works on Christmas Day (hasn't been home for Christmas in 10 years) so me and my brother open presents either when Daddy is getting ready to go to work or either has just gotton home. My boyfriend gets up and drives over here to have Christmas with my family and them we go back to his parents house and have Christmas there.

Sorry this is so long! :eek:

[sarahelizabeth]

Christmas Eve is more exciting than Christmas Day. Christmas Day it starts to settle in that everything is over. But Christmas Eve there is still partying left to do! Christmas Eve we go over to my Aunt & Uncle's house. They have a huge house so it's very nice for all the people they have to shove in there that night! :D The house is amazing, and completely decked out for Christmas. Everyone brings food. Shrimp cocktail, Spinach dip in bread bowl, Esther Price chocolates, ya da ya da, EVERYTHING you wanted to eat all year but didn't because you were saving up for this night. :P Hot chocolate constantly warming on the stove, A Christmas Story on TV, Christmas music playing, my Aunt and Uncle's cat Ribbons hissing at everyone from afar :)... it's simply an amazing time and I wish I could take those few hours and pause them so I could just enjoy it for just awhile longer!

[Head Elf]

When I was little we would go over to our god parents homes and recieve gifts from them. Because we always wanted to open presents, these were the only ones we were allowed to open. Kind of to appease our anxieity. It didnt' work. But we would have dinner and visit and open thier gifts and head home. Usually we would have the radio on in the car and the sightings of Santa Claus would get me exicted. Then they would tell us that they were going to shoot Santa Down (they didn't know it was Santa, just some UFO) and I would get upset. Christmas day was hectic and frantic. But just as much fun as the previous night. The whole family would get together at my aunt's house (hers was bigger than my grandma's). And we would have a huge meal. All the cousins would be there and we'd play. The adults would talk and laugh.
Some things don't change that much. I track Santa every Christmas Eve. I play Christmas music and sit in the dark and look at the tree. I still open one present just because. Christmas Day I cook a big meal and have friends over. Or I'm over at the neighbors house with his family. I just wish it would snow on Christmas EVE or day.

[kgstyles]

I think Christmas Eve is better than Christmas day. Christmas Eve is the top of the mountain you've been climbing all year to get over and your so happy to finally get right there and then at midnight Christmas Day you fall all the way back down to the bottom in one day to do it all over again. Christmas Eve we watch movies all day and make a big huge dinner and every year we drive around once it gets dark and look at all the christmas lights one more time before people start taking them down thenm we go home and the kids and the wife go to sleep and i stay up for a while and drink a lot of egg nogg.

[Merry Sage]

As a kid, with my younger brother, Christmas Eve was absolute agony. You'd be a lather all day and it was one day of the year you were ready for bed at supper time. cheesy

My parents used to take us round the neighbourhood, looking at everyone's lights, peeking at trees in windows. Its a custom I continued when my own children were still young enough to excited about Christmas. And of course, the Christmas programathon on the tv! You'd start scanning the TV Guide once Advent arrived, taking note of dates for all your favourites.

Sometimes, those days seem like another lifetime away. I'm living on the other side of the Atlantic now and don't see my own family at Christmas. My inlaws seem to see it more or less as one day, done and dusted. However, that hasn't stopped me making it a special time for the two of us. I still watch my favourite Christmas videos on Christmas Eve and my husband tries his best not to regress too far in age. Though by the time the first weekend of December has arrived, he wants the tree up and we open one gift each on Christmas Eve. :celebrate:

[Billy Battles]

When I was a kid we would wake up Christmas Eve and it would be like just any other day until the evening we would go to my Great Aunts house and have Christmas eve there. Until she passed away.

As I got older we went to my Aunts house and Had Christmas Dinner there.

Now on Christmas eve I just spend time with my nephew making cookies and watching Christmas movies. The main part of my Christmas Celebration has always took place on Christmas Day

[Sunshine73]

Christmas Eve is when we celebrate Christmas with my DH's family. If the day falls on a weekday, DH and I will both end up working at least half a day :( BUT when we get home, we will spend the day watching Christmas programming on TV and putting the finishing touches on all our Christmas Day preparations.

Then in the early afternoon we will head over to the in-laws for their annual Christmas Eve open house. We all just sit around laughing, eating, talking, eating, watching the TBS marathon of 'A Christmas Story' and eating some more. Neighbors and friends (DH's parents know A LOT of people) will drop by to share in the food, laughter and my father-in-laws very famous, very potent screwdrivers (10 parts vodka + 1 part orange juice= a need for a designated driver :) ).

[Minta]

For several years, things varied on Christmas Eve. We normally ran from house to house on Christmas eve, exchaning gifts and visiting but it was just too much for us and our daughter. A couple years ago, after we moved into our current house we changed things trying to make things a bit calmer for us and our family now that we have 2 kids.

On Christmas Eve morning we will go out to breakfest with my mom and anyone else who wants to joins us. We will go visiting the family and freinds that will not be joining us for Christmas Dinner. I do a lot of baking during the holidays and give out goodie bags so this is the day I will deliver them. About mid afternoon we will head to the local market and pick up an assortment of fresh seafood for our dinner and the head home. We must be home no later then 5 pm. The local fire house had a year tradition that every year on Christmas eve, they take Santa around on one of the firetrucks. He comes down our street between 5 and 7 pm. Last year we just missed him and had to go over a couple blocks so our daughter could see him. They stopped the truck so I could take my daughter up on the truck to see him and get a candy cane from him. It made her night. So this year we will be home so the kids can see him. Our son will be 16 months this Christmas so this should be interesting.
After dinner we will all get changed and sit on the couch watching a christmas movie. Our daughter will help get cookies and milk out for Santa. We will read twas the night before Christmas and off to bed they go so Santa can come. Last year a group of high school kids went caroling through our neighborhood. Our neighbors daughter was in it. I am going to see if they plan on doing that again beacuse if they are I want to have candy canes and/or hot chocolate to hand out to them. It was great.

Christmas Day, my dad and his wife come over for breakfest and we exchange gifts. Through out the day other freinds and family members come over. Some stay dinners, some don't. Usually we have my mom, hubbys mom, brother, sister, aunt and cousin over for dinner but I am not sure what will happen this year. My MIL is moving to Florida next month and my sister in law found a great guy who knows what they will be doing.

[JOHNOR]

christmas eve changes slightly from year to year with me, last year was my first year living with my boyfriend, i woke up early, made some breakfast and then just chilled out on the couch watching tv for a few hours, i then rang my mum, dad and some other family members and had a chat about what was happening on xmas day. i got my bath and made sure everything was ready for the big day! i then ironed mine and my boyfriends new xmas day clothes (how exciting!) and the made a nice dinner for us (roast chicken, mm!) a bit later on i watched a xmas film, put some fake tan on and had a few hours of peace and quiet whilst my boyfriend went and got very merry at the pub!

this year will be different, i will be getting up around 7am and having a bath, my hairdresser will be coming at about 9am (didn't get my hair done last year and i deeply regret it looking back at the pics!) after my hair is done i will fake tan myself and then the real fun begins! i will do a "santa" and drive a big bag of gifts down to my mums for all the family, i will spend the day there watching xmas films, listening to xmas music, eating, drinking and being merry!

[JanaBanana]

On Christmas Eve we usually just stay around home... we might take the kids sledding, last year hubby and I went for a nice walk with our Huskey dog, the snow was falling and it was just nice... we usually have a snack night and watch National Lampoons Christmas Vacation (My fav movie) or sit aournd the fire and drink cocoa listening to Christmas music ....then we read our 4 kids Twas the Night before christmas...after they are tucked in bed we load the tree up with all their gifts :)
Christmas eve is such a wonderful day!

[Chillywilly]

Christmas Eve is very enjoyable for my household too. It is part of the highlight of Christmas holiday season for many of us it appears. Our kids try to get us ot open one or two gifts. Only once did we do that. We have decided to wait until Christmas Morning for gift openings.:cry:

[MissKringle]

We're usually at my aunts and we do lot's of stuff, we'll hang out all day, watching TV and movies and other stuff (and eating pretty much all the lollies in the tree lol) then when it gets darkish we go for a walk and check out all the lights along the street especially the waving santa at the end of it lol we all love it, then we'll come back to the house, have a barbequed dinner watch a christmas movie (last years was "Elf") then the little kids will go to bed and we'll wrap the last of the presents then we'll go to bed, it's really fun and even though there's no snow the lights all look gorgeous, this year however we're having christmas at our house so maybe there will be some new traditions,
love love

[Andrex]

Christmas Eve is much better than Christmas in my opinion.

I picture it like this: Christmas Eve is like dusk/night, sometimes snowy, everything's mysterious, nobody knows what they're getting. I relate it highly with Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Christmas is like a cloudy, white landscape with red decorations, and everything's been revealed. The anticipation is gone, although there is still much fun to be had.

It's simply my personal taste that I prefer the Eve rather than the Day. :D

[primchristmas]

I love Christmas Eve! We always go to my moms and spend the whole day together talking, laughing and enjoying each others company......then when the kids just about cant stand it anymore we open gifts......first the little ones .....I love watching them ......with each gift there is more excitment on their faces.....then the grownups .......my sister and I have the most fun watching each other open the gift that we have looked for all year for each other......(my mom says that we still act like kids at Christmas)I just love the feel of the whole day!!!

[ilovesilentnight]

I love christmas eve and Day. But for me also is christmas eve. I always am wanting snowfall on christmas eve. And i almost got my wish last year and the year before. 2 years ago it snowed exactly 1 week before christmas day on december 18th but all melted cause it warmed up. Last year it snowed on christmas eve day and some of kansas got it but missed us by 30 miles but it was still cold. Anyways i always go to my grandparents of my mothers side on eve and my grandparents on my dad on day. I love both.

[tnchristmas]

I have loved Christmas Eve since my earliest Christmas memory. My sisters and cousins and I, along with our parents, would always have dinner at my paternal Grandparent's house. It was chaotic and completly wonderful!
After dinner we had to wait patiently (ok, really never very patiently) until 7:00 pm at which time we loaded up into the family station wagons and headed out to look at Christmas lights in the community. As we drove around, we sang songs and generally just had a marvelous time together. After a while, we'd drive back to the house where one or two of the grandchildren were allowed to run up the front sidewalk to see whether or not Santa had come. We would peer into the large picture window and see the mounds of gifts in brightly colored paper beckoning us to rush in. The lucky one or two would then race back to the driveway and wave everyone in. It wasn't until many years later than we realized that two of my uncles mysteriously never made that drive with us. We would all line up at the side door, my Grandather would go on ahead and get his movie camera (yes, I'm telling my age...no video cameras then, it was a movie camera with a blinding light bulb as a constant flash). We would all be given the signal and the melee ensued!
We opened our gifts in a flurry and then sat around and chatted and just enjoyed each other while eating peanut butter and black walnut fudge from our favorite china Santa tiered serving tray.
My grandparents passed on a few years ago, but we have continued a very similar tradition at my father's home. The children still line up with anticipation. I'm generally the designated "wrangler", keeping the kids in the formal living room while the gifts are readied. The mound of gifts is generally as tall as some of the kids and it is still a wonderfully chaotic time.
Memory is a powerful thing. As I've written, I've been transported back to those childhood days...I can see my Grandfather sitting in his recliner watching as each child opened his/her gifts. I could never understand how he could wait patiently to open his gifts until after we had finished. I've happily come to understand him. I now find myself doing the same thing. It's a gift greater than any in my stack to see the look on the children's faces as they open theirs. God has been very good to me to bless me with such wonderful memories and an incredible family with which to share this blessed time of year!

[JOHNOR]

anyone else want to share their christmas eve plans? i love this thread!

[Annette1990]

We usually spend time with family. But since my husband started a new job he is off on Christmas Eve. and works Christmas Day. And his parents will be in Mexico this year for the winter. So I think we will spend time at home as a family. I will make either dinner or appetizers. Still not sure when I will let my daughter open gifts since her dad will be at work Christmas morning. Might have to make a new tradition this year. And I plan to make Christmas dinner on Christmas day for when he gets off. A friend of his will join us since he is new here and will be working as well. And has no family around. Either way it will be a nice time I'm sure!

[MerrySouthernChristmas]

Let's see, Christmas eve always starts out with putting on all the christmas specials we can handle. (there's never enough) and begin cooking what we can cook a day ahead. The great fun always begins at night though. For dinner, we always have Pizza. You see, my dad used to work at this pizza joint, and since he was the oldest of all the brothers, he worked the latest and was incharge of picking up dinner for c. eve. So, one C. Eve the store was really busy and he didn't get home until late, so he brought home pizza for dinner. And we keep that tradition going. After dinner, we all gather in the family room and my sister brings the gifts she's brought for us, and we give her her the presents for them and we all take turns opening them (Last year was the first year we did this because that was because that was the first year she, steve and kyle had their own place. Usually, I was allowed to open one gift of my choice.) After that, I make hot cocoa and we go to one of the richest neighborhoods we know and look at all the cool lights. During the duriation that we are gone, Santa's elves come and leave us P.J.s on our beds. So when we get home I rush upstairs to my bedroom and put on my p.js. The rest of the night, i keep checking all my santa trackers and we watch movies all night until i basically collapse going up the stairs to my bedroom.

[MerrySouthernChristmas]

Christmas Eve is much better than Christmas in my opinion.

I picture it like this: Christmas Eve is like dusk/night, sometimes snowy, everything's mysterious, nobody knows what they're getting. I relate it highly with Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Christmas is like a cloudy, white landscape with red decorations, and everything's been revealed. The anticipation is gone, although there is still much fun to be had.

It's simply my personal taste that I prefer the Eve rather than the Day. :D

(I just quoted you to say how much i love the Trans Siberian Orhcestra)

[Mumof2]

We make a gingerbread house,prepare our Christmas dinner,bake more cookies,make reindeer food,listen to music,wrap any gifts that we might have missed,track santa on the web.then goto one of my sisters house and exchange gifts,come home,put on "A Christmas Story" it stays on all night long.see if santa is gettng close to us,leave out cookies and the reindeer food.me and the hubbby have a glass of wine together and help santa put out the gifts. i love Chistmas eve just as much as Christmas day. :)

[DoubleA]

Im also a big fan of Christmas Eve. All the anticipation! We have a nice meal, sit down after we made some cookies, get a fire going and watch one of our Christmas movies. We open 1 present each and call my family on the East Coast because they open all of theirs on Eve. Then I head to bed, turn on the Yule Log video and read some Christmas stories.

[bastones]

For me....Christmas Eve is almost better than the 25th itself!
My family have so many traditions, and quirks that it is, at least from my perspective, the best day of the year. All the people I know have completely contrasting ways of celebrating C.Eve. Some, play a round of golf. Some go on the town. What do you do?

For me....this sounds silly but it's what I do!...I get up quite early, 8am ish, and watch as many cartoon Xmas specials as I can Thenm after lunch, me and my mum go on the annual ''handing out cards'' marathon. We travel all over the countryside delivering the xmas cards to our friends...this sometimes takes the whole afternoon, and we arrive back as it grows dark, happy, and 16 mincepies heavier. It's great, as I don't see some of these people throughout the year. It's become a real tradition...while we're out my dad, sister, and little brother add the final touches to our decorations....freshly cut holly from the garden.

We arrive back, and the house looks that little bit better!

We then eat, put the little brother to bed....but not after watching the king of all xmas videos....''The Snowman''! After that, I read by the fire....maybe leave out a cookie and a carrot for 'ol Rudolf, and make my way to bed.

Then there's the sleepless nights. I don't know what i'm waiting for....But I can't sleep. Half of me's scared that It'll all be a big letdown.

But I look outside my window, praying for snowflakes...the carols are playing softly, and the tinsel twinks...I feel as happy as I can...

What do you guys do at Xmas Eve?




Snow is falling

Yeah, Christmas eve is probably the best thing about Christmas. When I am on holiday to see my other family, including my cousins, its a great eve because we get to stay up late and put our presents under the tree and play lots of games (especially when we were young - and we'd get in trouble for making a lot of noise! :D)

:tree:

[Aggy]

Christmas Eve is the one time when I can get everyone together. I put together a big meal which changes every year (with the exception of seafood salad). Everyone comes and put their gifts under the main tree. We eat, play Christmas related games, listen to music (the guys usually go off and watch tv)... laughing and just having a great time. After dinner we exchange gifts then I get everyone around the tree and take their picture. At the end of the night I exhausted and full but I've had a great time and wouldn't change it for anything.

[reindeerelf]

Christmas eve is a special time. We have brunch with a group of old friends and meet other members of the family at church in the evening. After that it's just my partner and I enjoying a cup of good cheer and our pets in our little house sitting by the fireplace and watching something Christmassy. I'll always remember Christmas Eve 1999. We were about to enter Y2K, there was snow on the ground, the night was calm, the temperature was in the high 20's
and everything seemed bright for the future. (I believe Yassar Arafat was attending midnight mass in Bethlehem!)

[girlsinmo]

If Christmas falls during the week we wait on my hubby to get off work then we open presents. Then my daughter & I cook the meat(turkey and/or ham) for Christmas day.

Sometimes we go visit relatives sometimes not. Santa fills my granddaughters stocking during the night. She gets it Christmas day. On Christmas we pig out all day lol

[thedementedelf]

Christmas eve for me is memories. My Dad passed away about 30 years ago and my Mom back in 99. But every Christmas eve I think about what Mom and I would do after my Dad passed. We would go to Mass and then for dinner we would stop at McDonalds on the way home. I guess we did this from my early 20's through my mid 30's when I got married and moved away. I don't do it every year but sometimes on Christmas eve I still hit McDonalds.

[thechristmasnut]

Christmas Eve is our Visiting day with family.... We go visit and exchange gifts with our family and friends, then go back home and have supper then after that we take a drive and look at Christmas lights. Then return home, the kids get to open one present (always contains Xmas PJ's) then everyone gets bathed and ready for bed. We put out cookies and milk for Santa and a snack for the reindeer and then everyone gets tucked in and read a Christmas Story.

[Twinkle]

To me, Christmas Eve is the best day of all. But when I was a kid, Christmas day was the best because I got to open all the gifts from Santa.
I will go back several years when I lived in Md when my daughters, their husbands, and grandchildren visited every Christmas Eve to celebrate. This was our grand Christmas celebration with gift opening and enjoying the Christmas turkey dinner dh and I had prepared for the exciting event. I believe I loved Christmas Eve more than the kids. The grand-children would fly in the door and run straight to the Christmas tree to find their gifts piled up under the tree. But there were so many in the house I tried to keep it organized and not just jump in to open gifts. I remember back when there were a few Christmas Eve's when the kids had to drive through snow to get to our house for the celebration. But they always made it. It was a tradition that will never be forgotten by any of us.
Now, it's a much simpler time. Dh and I celebrate Christmas Eve by ourselves usually watching Christmas Movies,turn on the fireplace, and having a hot buttered rum together and opening the gifts we've given each other. Usually, before going to bed we watch mass at the Vatican on tv.

[usafvet]

Christmas eve will be more exciting for me as my son is starting to get into the age where he knows about Santa and all. Other than that, I reminisce about my youth and staying up waiting for Santa when I was little...it was the anticipation that was the best.

My dad worked on Christmas day and my family was unfortunately dysfunctional, so I heavily relied in the solace of Santa and Christmas cartoons, etc when I was a kid. Now, Christmas eve is more about me trying to make it magical for my son. Myself as an adult, I enjoy taking a moment to reflect on the brink of a day that is about to come and the significance behind it and what everyone everywhere around the world will be celebrating.

But now it's about my son and his anticipation. I heavily look forward to making it all the more magical for him.

[jody664]

Christmas Eve is one of my favorite days of the year......

My sister and her husband 4 kids all come to Ohio for Christmas and we all stay at my parents' house. Crowded but fun. On Christmas Eve, I usually help my sister wrap her mountain of gifts for her family. We lock ourselves in our parents' bedroom and wrap for hours while we talk and catch up.

Then we get dressed up and go to our parents' church for Christmas Eve service. (Sadly this is not anyone's favorite part of Christmas Eve, especially the kids. The service can be pretty dry and awfully long for a 4-year-old with Santa on his mind.) When we get home we have a simple supper of my sister's special Spinach Salad and soup and sandwiches.

After supper, my nieces and nephews open one Christmas gift. (They haven't figured it out yet, but it's always pajamas!) Then we enact the Christmas story. Every year we get a different character to play........Except for my dad and my brother-in-law. Dad always plays the innkeeper and my BIL is always Joseph. Dad is great at ad libbing, so we all wait with anticipation when Joseph knocks on the door at the inn. You just never know what that grumpy ol' innkeeper is going to say.

Next we read the Christmas story and then we set out milk and cookies for Santa. The kids go off to bed while the adults drink another cup of coffee and wait until we know for sure the kids are asleep. Then we start hauling out Christmas packages from every possibley hidey-hole in the house.

After that, it's time to collapse in bed. In just a few (very) short hours, we'll hear the kids up and ready for Christmas morning.

[SparkleNana]

This is a wonderful thread! I loved reading about the different celebrations on Christmas Eve. My dream for 2008 is to have everything organized before Christmas Eve - so that can be a day of pure enjoyment. (I think making things as simple as possible would be a good plan.)

[judesmama]

Thanks for sharing all of your stories! Christmas Eve is such an exciting time. Last year, I was veryyyyyyyy pregnant (I was due February 7), so my husband's family came over and we ordered lots of pizza! My SIL was pregnant, too (due in January), so we had a very relaxing, low-key Christmas Eve. Lots of great memories from years past, too!

[Mumof2]

I like comming back and reading the entries,so nice to see all the fun things everyone does. :)

[golodenqiueenalicia]

Christmas eve is soooo busy

My parents moved to Texas almost 2 years ago so we travel to Texas and come home on Christmas eve (in the am we have a big brunch at mom's and dads and my brother and sister come over and we exchange presents)

Once back in Chicago we drive 2hours to see my stepson and his family which is where the other stepchildren and their famiy are as well we eat again open presents and come home

Christmas Day my other brother and his family and my sister and her family come over for christmas Dinner and this year hopefully all my kidos will be home as well (if not this will be the first christmas ever):tree:

[irishsnow]

On Christmas Eve I get up early and go shopping and pick up what ever little bits I hadnt got. I try and visit as many of my relations as I can, then go home and spend time with my family before going to midnight mass.

[christmasmommy]

This is the time that we celebrate with my family and open gifts. Christmas day is now reserved to be a time at home with just our children. So Christmas Eve has become an family celebration day. With lots of food, of course.

[Courtney]

We wrap last minute gifts, make desserts and take it easy.

[sdkluger]

We'll play Christmas music, watch Christmas movies and cartoons, play games, and just have a good ol' time as a family.

Tim
http://www.customsofchristmas.com
http://www.myspace.com/sdkluger

[MerrySouthernChristmas]

Christmas Eve, i think, is more wonderful than christmas day! I guess it's all the anticipaition and excitment - not to mention chaos - that goes into the day. And it's actually the eve when things really get fun. The day is usually spent prepareing food for tomorrow's feast and watching christmas movies, but at night? It's just magical!
At night, we have pizza for dinner - family tradition from my dad's side - and watch - you guessed it! - more christmas movies. Then we go out to one of those fancy neighborhoods where the houses are really more like mansions and drink hot cocoa on the drive, looking at all the glorious christmas lights. When we get home i rush upstairs because i know the elves have left me some nice new p.j's. (when my brother was younger, 13-15, he used to set up traps to trap "these so-called elves", but yet, they'd always manage to defeat his trap and safely deliver the p.j's to his bed.). Once back downstair's, we're allowed one present and then it's - yep - more christmas movies and then i'm off to bed, though i never get to sleep until, like, one!