https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 22 Jun 2026 12:22:40 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-what-are-your-family-christmas-traditions#post-356588 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:45:12 +0000 ladyfingers 356588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Growing up, the traditions were a little different. We're Italian, so the big event was always Christmas Eve. That was also the easiest day to get the whole family together since my cousins, etc. were often married to or dating non-Italians. So we'd have a big fish dinner, open presents, and watch A Christmas Story while eating pie. </p> <p>Now, DH and I do the fish dinner (usually with my dad and his wife) (but this year we won't be because there's no way I'm cooking a 7-course fish dinner at almost 9 months pregnant) and hang out with my dad and step mom and then I try to convince DH to let us open one present. Then we wake up early Christmas morning and open our presents and eat leftovers and I usually make a roast or something special for us for dinner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-what-are-your-family-christmas-traditions#post-356456 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:59:19 +0000 LemonLong 356456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As kids we were always allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve which were always new pajamas.</p> <p>For Christmas eve dinner my mom always makes a huge spread of appetizer type stuff like bacon wrapped dates, meatballs, chicken wings, etc and we play family games like Cranium.</p> <p>Christmas morning my mom makes poppyseed rolls which are so, so good so we all eat those and look through our stockings (even though we are all in our 30's, she still pretends Santa comes so she'll put powder foot prints on the rug and we get stockings and santa gifts)</p> <p>There doesn't seem to be any traditions on my husband's side so it always makes me a little sad on the years we visit his family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-what-are-your-family-christmas-traditions#post-356445 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:57:00 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 356445@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a white elephant party with my husband's family the Saturday before Christmas. The rule is the gifts have to be homemade. I love seeing what everyone comes up with. </p> <p>On Christmas Eve my husband and I pile the dogs in the car, pick up some hot chocolate, and drive around the neighborhoods looking at all the lights. </p> <p>We always eat breakfast and get dressed before opening gifts. Then we open gifts one at a time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-what-are-your-family-christmas-traditions#post-356432 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:53:10 +0000 JerricaBenton 356432@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are really cornballs for Christmas. Growing up the whole season was a big deal. We'd make a day of going out to cut down our tree. We always had the fun advent calendars and the religious advent candles. My brother and I had our own mini artificial trees in our rooms we could decorate however we wanted. I had a candy theme :) On Christmas Eve we would eat a big fish/pasta dinner and then go to midnight mass. Afterward we'd read Christmas books and set out cookies and carrots for Santa and the reindeer. My dad told us Santa liked Brandy with his cookies so we started that when we were older LOL. Then we said a family prayer and went to bed! Christmas morning we always did presents first, then breakfast and stockings. The scary thing is we still do most all of these things and my husband and I are close to 30 and my bro is 25, haha. My husband loves it because his family didn't really have too many traditions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-what-are-your-family-christmas-traditions#post-356400 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:43:22 +0000 tororojo 356400@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't wait to start our own Christmas traditions instead of spending like 5 days in a row going from family celebration to family celebration with no rest--DH and I never get time at home to do anything! I think we'll start our own traditions this year while I'm prego so we can continue next Christmas when LO is here. I think cinnamon rolls in pajamas and reading the Christmas story would be a nice start to the day. (probably after the kiddos rip all presents open) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-what-are-your-family-christmas-traditions#post-356332 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:25:35 +0000 DpeachLu 356332@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our family gets together christmas eve. We usually start off by attenting Mass then we head over to a family members house. We eat Tamales and Pozole and just sit around and talk. We let the kids open some gifts at midnight. We usually get together on Christmas day and eat left overs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-what-are-your-family-christmas-traditions#post-356318 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:20:02 +0000 heffalump 356318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm Jewish, so Christmas is spent at a theme park to take advantage of the short lines. Then we have Chinese for dinner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-what-are-your-family-christmas-traditions#post-356091 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:11:50 +0000 Smurfette 356091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The whole family goes to church together and then back to my parent's house. We have a ton of appetizers for dinner. The kids change into their pj's. Then all the ladies do the same, we get matching ones each year. Open presents and then sit around and play with teh kids toys and talk. It is my favorite night of the year. I love it more then Christmas morning. Christmas morning after we do presents with just parents and siblings, we have cheese danish and breakfast casserole. I love that breakfast!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-what-are-your-family-christmas-traditions#post-355896 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:27:39 +0000 Adira 355896@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always stay in our PJs during the morning, have crescent rolls with butter or jam, and take turns opening presents. Afterwards, we'll change into real clothes (sometimes) and play with our gifts while my mom makes dinner. We always have turkey for Christmas and it's very similar to Thanksgiving dinner - soooo delicious. After dinner, we usually play a board game together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-what-are-your-family-christmas-traditions#post-355825 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:12:12 +0000 Alivoo01 355825@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was young and living with my parents, we would open our presents on Christmas Eve because we always went to Las Vegas for Christmas. Once, we opened my parents gifts to us, we'd all pack into the car to deliver my 2 other aunts and their kids presents. When we got to their house, we'd open our gifts from them there while they opened ours. One year (or two), everyone took all their presents to my favorite aunt's house and opened them all together. She has the biggest and fullest tree full with decor. I love her tree! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-what-are-your-family-christmas-traditions#post-355808 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:08:09 +0000 DillonLion 355808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm Jewish, so we always spend Christmas with DH's family. Christmas eve we do a huge white elephant with all of DH's moms side of the family and spend Xmas day with my FILs family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-what-are-your-family-christmas-traditions#post-355801 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:05:10 +0000 Arden 355801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you spin off your own post? </p> <p>Just like my thanksgiving post - What are the special traditions your family has surrounding Christmas?</p> <p>Special breakfasts? Stories you read, prayers, songs? Any special traditions for Christmas Eve or the day after? Do you wear anything special? Traditional meals or treats? </p>