Christmas Traditions

[ainitatyb]

I am compiling a book of the traditions of Christmas and some of the history surrounding the myths and stories of the season. It is a family project. As part of the project I would like to include examples of traditions and routines that others may have developed as part of their own Christmas routine. Would you be willing to share these with me and explain how they have developed?

For example in my own family there is the tradition that the crib is put up by father. It originated in the days when we children were small and not interested in the crib, just the tree, but over the years it is now an event that 'father puts up the crib'. It is the last decoration to be assembled and signifies the finish to putting up the decorations. It is also the last thing to be removed and signifies the end of the season.

What traditions have others developed?

[Naomicorlett]

My OH has to top off the tree ( we have a proper " topping off " ceremony) with his glass bird ,Father Christmas and pink plastic bell. We also have the fairy lights that his father bought to go round OH's cot for his first Christmas 58 years ago they now have to run thro a transformer and are very delicate.
Our other tradition is that Christmas day stops at 3.pm for my birthday presents and everyone has to watch me open them whilst making happy birthday noises.

[coccinelle]

When I had Christmases with my parents (now sadly departed) on Christmas Eve we (the children) always went out for a walk on Christmas Eve with my father and collected branches, fir cones, or anything to make up a Christmas woodland theme for the porch. I suppose this was to get us out of mother's feet! On Boxing Day, we always went to the races to blow away the cobwebs and have a little gamble, it was the only time we went to the races. This was a tradition which went down two or three generations as my grandfather was a jockey.

[ainitatyb]

These are great examples and typical of the sorts of ideas I am after. If anyone wants to share a photo with me then it can be emailed to [email protected].

Please everybody keep the ideas coming.

[annie0000]

We always wrote our letters to Santa and then set fire to them and sent them up the chimney - god knows how we thought Santa was going to be able to read them!

Before christmas lunch we were all sent outside (7 of us) with Dad and an old clock with a second hand so that we could race round the houses and be timed by Dad to see if we could beat last years record. It was a ploy to get everyone out from my mums feet so that she could get the food ready and also so that we had some fresh air and exercise to work up an appetite.

[katerich48]

When we were kids my mum always cooked a leg of pork on Christmas eve and we'd have roast pork sandwiches for our tea...and after my nan died - every Christmas eve my dad would like a big (church type) candle and put it in the kitchen sink (for safety reasons) and leave it burning all night for my nan...

[ainitatyb]

Thanks for the contributions so far, are there any more out there?