https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:39:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389763 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 18:34:35 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2389763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LadyPantaloons: we got gifts from our pets too!</p> <p>@Pumuckl: we always had just one person opening at a time too. It went youngest to oldest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389682 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 17:03:42 +0000 IRunForFun 2389682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I guess I never really thought of them as unique traditions but as a kid we would always go to Mass on Christmas Eve and when we got home we were each allowed to open one small gift. It was usually a sibling gift. Christmas morning it was always stockings first, and opening gifts one person at a time, taking turns. </p> <p>In the weeks leading up to Christmas, though, we would watch tons of Christmas movies, the same ones every year, adding to the list if new ones came out. That's what gets me in the Christmas spirit, unfortunately my husband doesn't enjoy watching movies more than once and isn't crazy about Christmas movies in general. Bah humbug. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389675 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:58:33 +0000 Greentea 2389675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>And Christmas breakfast will be turkey bacon, chocolate (cinnamon) rolls, fresh fruit. </p> <p>We might try watching a Christmas movie, but DD is more into running than sitting :) I am mostly excited to be with DH and LO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389672 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:53:20 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2389672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@deerylou: I'm taking the bird-friendly garlanf too. Knowing our neighborhood we'll attract all the squirrels and the birds will stay away. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389655 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:42:13 +0000 psw27 2389655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do a buffet on Christmas Eve and drink way too many margaritas. We always make the same food and it always includes a platter of Chick Fil A nuggets because I can't get them very easily where I live. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389619 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:14:05 +0000 LindsayLou 2389619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LadyPantaloons: We got presents from our pets too! We loved it and I plan to do the same with my kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389616 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:12:24 +0000 Pumuckl 2389616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We unwrap one present at a time (so only one person is unwrapping at a time). We always alternate whose turn it is to pick a present from under the tree by birth order. Before we start unwrapping we read a Christmas story and whoever read the story is the first to choose. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389592 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 15:51:16 +0000 fancyfunction 2389592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>On Xmas eve we drive around to look at lights then watch A Christmas Story. We always make chocolate chip pancakes on Christmas morning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389588 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 15:47:44 +0000 MoonMoon 2389588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We celebrate winter solstice to mark the shortest day of the year, and days getting longer afterward! We do it sort of Iranian style, light a fire in the fireplace and eat lots of pomegranates :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389583 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 15:43:49 +0000 LadyPantaloons 2389583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We would open a gift on Christmas Eve from our pets. It was always jammies but our parents made us put on jammies first and then we opened the new ones and would have to change. Honestly I believed my pets went shopping and felt it was more magical than Santa. I'm doing the same tradition now for my kids, oldest is 3. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389421 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 14:00:13 +0000 Mommy Finger 2389421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our gift tags don't just say the name of who they are for. Instead, they give a clue. Then we all have to figure out who it's for. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389334 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 13:05:20 +0000 Adira 2389334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>These are so fun! We don't do anything that unique. We're incorporating the Christmas Eve Box this year with new PJs, Christmas book, and cookie mix for Santa (and us). Christmas morning, we always have crescent rolls. And dinner is always Turkey. And then in the afternoon, we usually play a board game or something - hoping to incorporate Xander into a game this year! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389321 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 12:59:24 +0000 deerylou 2389321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Growing up, Christmas Eve meant Feast of the Seven Fishes. Trying to keep this tradition alive, as it was always my favorite meal of the year.</p> <p>After Christmas Eve mass, we sprinkle the front of the house with dry oats and glitter, to attract Santa's Reindeer. </p> <p>We "adopt" a family through the county mental health department, and make sure some of their Christmas wishes are met.</p> <p>We celebrate Advent, and rotate who gets to light the candles. Whoever lights chooses dinner. This is DD's first year lighting candles and her meal choices have been...interesting. :wink: </p> <p>On Christmas morning, we string a garland of popcorn, nuts and cranberries and decorate a nearby tree for the birds and squirrels. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389289 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 12:39:54 +0000 Charm54 2389289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mrs Claus always comes on the night of the 23rd and brings matching pyjamas and chocolate. I have the best memories of running into my parents room, trying on our new Pjs and snuggling together in their bed. A lot of my friends growing up adopted this tradition too. I love doing it with my LOs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389280 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 12:35:23 +0000 Ra 2389280@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsLonghorn: We call it Jewish Christmas, too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389252 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 12:21:20 +0000 blackbird 2389252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>aw, these are cute. We don't do anything unusual :) I'd like to start a caramel popcorn/movie Christmas Eve, but we currently spend it with MIL, SIL, and the cousins, which I enjoy. I've made cinnamon rolls for the past few years, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389241 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 12:15:37 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 2389241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>On Christmas eve, we watch a old-school Jimmy Durante movie from the 1950s with stop-action taxidermy squirrel. Yes, it is as weird as it sounds. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389219 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 12:07:09 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2389219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: that aspect was not lost on me at all! :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389213 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 12:05:15 +0000 MrsLonghorn 2389213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Movie theaters are definitely full on Christmas day, as are Chinese food restaruants -- among my friends, Chinese food and a movie is called "Jewish Christmas". </p> <p>Because my dad is Catholic, we never did that growing up. We always celebrated Christmas with my grandparents. But my friends all did/do it! We will definitely do Chinese food and a movie this year because we unfortunately can't travel to my family's Christmas celebration out of town. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389204 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:57:58 +0000 kiddosc 2389204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: It's also nice that it's such an easy meal to prepare. Makes hosting Christmas a little easier. :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389197 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:56:19 +0000 lovehoneybee 2389197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think it's very unique, but we do a Christmas Eve box with new PJs, a Christmas movie, popcorn, hot cocoa mix an Twas the Night Before Christmas. </p> <p>Santa comes to visit every Christmas Day afternoon (usually FIL or D) with gifts he "forgot" to drop off the night before :silly:</p> <p>My dad always made tamales for Christmas Eve dinner! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389173 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:49:24 +0000 regberadaisy 2389173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.KMM: we let our girls open one gift on Xmas eve too. :)</p> <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: we host Christmas Day brunch every year and everyone comes over in Pjs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389170 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:47:17 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2389170@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: I'd love to steal your Christmas Eve chili tradition. In FL, there aren't too many ways to "feel" cold and wintery, but chili is a good one.</p> <p>@Mamaof2: @Ra: we went to the movies every year too growing up. The theatres were always packed.</p> <p>A friend of mine had a Christmas Day brunch with her family. I'd like to incorporate that and have everyone don their PJs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389161 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:42:27 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 2389161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We get together on the morning of Christmas Eve to make the gumbo that we always eat on Christmas Day. </p> <p>One thing I would like to do when the kids are older is a sleepover in the living room beside the Christmas tree - make it a special night and give the kids their Christmas PJs, watch a movie, fall asleep with the Christmas lights on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389144 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:29:24 +0000 Ra 2389144@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: Pretty full! Not everyone celebrates Christmas and the movies are one of the few things that are open so a lot of families go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389137 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:26:40 +0000 Meowkers 2389137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LuLu Mom: that sounds so fun. In our family we call Christmas Eve Eve (12/23) "Christmas Adam". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389135 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:23:25 +0000 Mamaof2 2389135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our dinner on Christmas Eve is waffles and milkshakes :happy: </p> <p>@Ra: are the theaters full or empty on Christmas? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389116 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:07:13 +0000 kiddosc 2389116@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We eat chili for Christmas dinner when we get together with my Mom's family. My Grandpa was a delivery driver when my mom was growing up and on Christmas eve they would never know when he would be done with work. So, my Grandma would make chili on Christmas eve since it was something she could keep simmering and ready no matter how long it took him to get home. It's a nice reminder now that they've both passed away. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389110 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:04:16 +0000 Ra 2389110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We cut down our own Charlie Brown tree each year. We find the ugliest, smallest tree on the farm and bring it home and make it beautiful. I've done it since I was a kid and my husband loves the tradition so we are hoping B stays on board with it, too. </p> <p>We also go for sushi and a movie every Christmas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-unique-tradition-in-your-family#post-2389108 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:03:21 +0000 .twist. 2389108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LuLu Mom: I am totally going to start your movie night tradition that is great! :D </p>