What are your favorite Christmas traditions? Things you absolutely love? What about the traditions you could do without? Is ‘loathe‘ too strong a word? (I’m looking at you, fruitcake…) See for yourself, and down below, check out the openers from Robin and Trish!
Parker Broaddus
Author of A Hero’s Curse & Nightrage Rising
First, I feel like my family and I are still young, and just starting out, so our traditions are fairly new, as far as traditions go. That said, there are definitely some things we have loved, and a couple we can’t stand.
Our family loves giving each other gifts. The childers love giving gifts. They also love receiving gifts.
What we don’t love is that frenzied, frantic, chaotic, ripping of presents open all at the same time in some kind of scene that looks more like a group of sharks going after a baby seal than it does Christmas morning. So we don’t do that.
We open gifts on Christmas eve, after supper. We read a section of Luke on the birth of Christ, and then take turns unwrapping presents. The youngest goes first, who then picks out a present for the next in line, who picks out a present for the next, and so on. We get to enjoy watching each other open the wrapping paper, and the one receiving has (at least a little) time to appreciate the gift they’ve been given. Time for gratitude.
There’s only so much chaos you can reign in with five childers, but it helps.
Christmas morning is another special time. The stockings have been filled overnight by St. Nicholas. Oranges, chocolates, nuts, and small treasures peak out of the top of each stocking. As each sleepy headed kid comes out of their room they can pull down their stocking and explore their treasures. Then it’s off to church for Christmas morning service, and then a quiet day where we get to embrace the Peace, and Joy, and Light that has come into the world, and into our home.
Robin Lythgoe
Author of As the Crow Flies
The Christmas season here in the US is a time like no other. Folks don’t even wait until Halloween is over before they break out the holiday decor, crank up the jingle tunes, and start binging on holiday television shows.
Ack.
Please, no.
Patricia Reding
Author of Oathtaker
My family typically celebrates the holiday on Christmas Eve. The day starts with my preparing a few thick and hearty soups. Often I go for chicken wild rice with pancetta; ham and potato chowder; and either a chili or a tortilla soup. I make large batches of each, then send some home with each of the kids when the evening wraps up so that they can snack over the course of the next day or two.
There it is! What about you? What are your love em’ or hate em’ traditions? Drop me an email, send a picture, or comment below.