https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 02:10:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions/page/2#post-1229277 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 10:30:42 +0000 LovelyPlum 1229277@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Growing up, we never turned on our Christmas tree lights before we got home from Christmas Eve Mass. It was such a magical thing! We don't do that anymore, but we do put luminaries down our front walk. My mom always did this growing up, and it's something I like to continue.</p> <p>Now, Christmas Eve is for my little family (me and DH now, baby next year). We have a very appetizer-heavy mid-afternoon meal and seafood in the evening while wrapping presents. Then we go to Midnight Mass and the carol sing beforehand. It's one of my favorite nights of the year! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1229230 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 10:16:04 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1229230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travelgirl1: you could do shrimp in half and just make them into soup separately! (Can you tell I have a lot of dietary requirements in my life?!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1229087 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 09:36:42 +0000 travelgirl1 1229087@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: yum, milkshakes and waffles!</p> <p>@Mrs. Jacks: I keep eying your soup recipe thinking how I could do it without any shrimp (DH hates seafood) and without me feeling sad about the absence of shrimp, lol (I love seafood)</p> <p>@bpcmarj: Wrapping presents is a fun thing to do! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1229067 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 09:33:17 +0000 travelgirl1 1229067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: oh I love those two!</p> <p>@looch: Me too! I think when A is older maybe we'll bake gingerbread shapes together, they'll smell like Christmas and she can decorate them in festive shapes. Painting baubles around a table would be another fun one.</p> <p>@SugarplumsMom: pastries between every course? Yum! I tried Glogg when I was at the Tivoli Gardens Christmas Market in Copengagen, such a magical place! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1229014 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 09:18:55 +0000 bpcmarj 1229014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>New christmas PJs and watching a movie while drinking hot chocolate. And, wrapping presents since I come from a long line of procrastinators. haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1228992 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 09:14:11 +0000 pui 1228992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: SAME HERE haha!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1228923 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 08:46:47 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1228923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do traditional Italian Christmas eve dinner and open matching pjs and drink hot cocoa. (though last year we had wonton soup which was amazing!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1228868 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 08:23:11 +0000 Mamaof2 1228868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We go to church and while there the elves drop off new Christmas pjs under the tree!</p> <p>For dinner we have milkshakes and waffles</p> <p>Then we bake cookies for santa.</p> <p>I think I like Christmas Eve better than Christmas day - its just filled with wonderful memories and my heart just glows all day!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1228851 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 08:18:17 +0000 SugarplumsMom 1228851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In Sweden, they celebrate Christmas Eve, not Christmas Day (in fact they celebrate most holidays on the eve before).</p> <p>Dec 23rd: We either just arrive at the in-laws or come the night before. This is traditionally the time when they put up Christmas decorations (yes, the day before). </p> <p>Dec 24th: We basically eat all day at the in-laws. Dinner is a smörgåsbord or traditional Swedish food. Coffee and pastries is served in between and after meals. There's a rice porridge that's eaten at night, traditionally with one almond in it, but we have it sans almond. Before we open gifts, some people bake candies, some work on a puzzle. We drink Glögg, a sweet spiced wine topped with raisins and almonds served hot. </p> <p>Dec 25th: Christmas Day is when we get to celebrate our little Christmas as a family of three. We go home, open our gifts and stockings. Have a nice, relaxing day in our own home :heart:</p> <p>Eta: I forgot to mention the new tradition we started last year! DH wears a cheesy Santa suit and I takes picture of him with DD. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1228819 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 07:56:08 +0000 looch 1228819@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really like the baking cookies idea, but I have no idea how we'd do that if we're not sure what we're saying about Santa!</p> <p>I like things where people "DO" something, like a craft, bake, etc, it's more enjoyable for me than sitting around the dining room table (my dad loves that and I can't wait to get up, lol). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1228801 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 07:43:41 +0000 mediagirl 1228801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pui: the candlelit singing of Silent Night makes me cry every.single.time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1228797 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 07:39:11 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1228797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've got a couple from various points in my life. </p> <p>When all the cousins were younger and together, after church we would do a parade around my grandparents house (just inside) with all the lights off and just candles and sign silent night. Each child would carry a piece of the manager scene with one child getting to place baby Jesus in the manger. It was a great way for us kids to get the meaning of christmas. </p> <p>As we grew up, we started on christmas eve each getting to pick a gift we couldn't wait to give. You know that one gift that is just so perfect and you can't wait! So that was always fun. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1228793 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 07:37:33 +0000 travelgirl1 1228793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsMccarthy: I know exactly what you mean, I am SO excited for A that she has her whole childhood ahead of her. I take her to stores every few days to show her sparkly ornaments and decorations and she loves them! I bought her some jingle bells to ring the other day too, she's really getting into it.</p> <p>Oh, one other thing we're doing is writing A's letters to Santa until she's old enough to do them herself. We'll give her them to keep when she's grown up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1228772 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 07:04:06 +0000 blackbird 1228772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We never did anything growing up except open up one gift on Christmas Eve. </p> <p>I'd like to start something, but am unsure what to do. Dh and I used to go out for a really fancy dinner together Christmas Eve, but we won't with E now. We did buy a bunch of classic Christmas shows (The Grinch, Charlie Brown, etc) to watch. I'd like to figure out something! I love all these ideas. DH and I weren't going to do gifts this year, but I could buy us pajama pants :)</p> <p>@cherrybee, that sounds amazing! My MIL does an open house every year on a weekend before the holiday. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1228704 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 01:52:55 +0000 StbHisMrs 1228704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh I forgot one of the most important ones! We sprinkle reindeer food on the lawn! <a href="http://www.kerryspapercrafts.com/?p=1716" rel="nofollow">http://www.kerryspapercrafts.com/?p=1716</a> We're running low this year and need some more.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1228697 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 01:45:45 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1228697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I LOVE all of these so much and plan to steal some ideas. The pajama one is particularly nice sounding. </p> <p>My husband and I watch Christmas Vacation and eat smoked salmon with horseradish spread on crackers, Swiss cheese fondue, salami and I make chocolate chip cookies for Santa. I'd really love to start reading Twas the bright before Christmas and watching the Yule log DVD (I just ordered one) as well as making Santa noises. I am so so so excited for Tor to be old enough to enjoy Santa. How I loved writing him my list. Christmas is so magical. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1228687 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 01:28:50 +0000 StbHisMrs 1228687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One of our Christmas traditions is going to watch the Christmas ships on the waterfront, it doesn't happen on Christmas Eve but it's a strong tradition. </p> <p>Ours is kind of crazy because we have my husbands girls for the evening, then we have to take them back to their Mom. So last year I went all out and made a traditional Christmas dinner, the girls opened all their gifts, and our kids opened their Christmas Eve gifts. They always get a Christmas movie, ornament, and pj's on Christmas Eve. Then we put the movie on and drink hot coco in our Christmas pj's. </p> <p>This year instead of going all out with turkey, ham and everything else I think I'll do more of an appetizer thing. It's too hard to cook for both days since we have a traditional dinner at my parents on Christmas as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1221772 Sun, 17 Nov 2013 06:13:24 +0000 tinyperson 1221772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travelgirl1: I'm hoping both! Cheese and chocolate. I think this years movie will be White Christmas... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1221503 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 21:24:03 +0000 marionberry 1221503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Growing up we went to do "Christmas" at my grandpa's house, then went to church, then came home to get in our pj's, drink got cocoa and then open our presents. This year we'll be starting our new family traditions but we'll still have church and perhaps we'll watch those classic Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman movies. Funny to think last Christmas Eve we were injecting our trigger shot secretly in the bathroom at our family Christmas party. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1221485 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 21:17:02 +0000 travelgirl1 1221485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsk: Ah, that's a good idea! Ahhhh I LOVED waking up to a pillowcase BULGING with pressies, I'm so excited for LO with her whole childhood ahead of her!</p> <p>@heartonastring: I love that the men cook! Champagne sounds lovely!</p> <p>@deerylou: It's my favourite, too :happy: </p> <p>@tinyperson: Fondue! Yum! Sweet or savoury? Or both?</p> <p>@swedishfish: Wasn't it so exciting waking up to all those gifts?</p> <p>@JerricaBenton: I like the nightcap idea!</p> <p>@Happygal: Ohhh the Night Before Christmas will definitely be part of our Christmas Eve. I love that book so much! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1221444 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 20:47:16 +0000 Mrsk 1221444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travelgirl1: we always woke to piles of gifts too, we got around it by opening a gift from our sibling....as kids we always put our gifts under the tree really early, we were so excited, lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1220917 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 11:14:53 +0000 heartonastring 1220917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The whole family congregates at DH's parents' house. The women and kids go to church while the men stay home and cook. When we get home from church we have hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, Christmas baked goods and lots of champagne! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1220916 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 11:14:23 +0000 deerylou 1220916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Feast of the seven fishes, new pajamas, and midnight mass. Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1220824 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 10:04:54 +0000 tinyperson 1220824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We get new pjs and a book and we watch a Christmas movie. The traditional food used to be Chinese, but I think we're doing fondue this year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1220676 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 07:56:14 +0000 swedishfish 1220676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travelgirl1: we always had a few presents under the tree by Christmas Eve and then the majority of gifts magically appeared overnight. :wink: </p> <p>Our Christmas Eve is currently too crazy for us now that we have R. We go to DH's aunt's house for dinner then rush out and drive to either my parents' or my aunt's house for dessert. I'm really unsure about how to rearrange things. </p> <p>My parents always did the Christmas pjs on Christmas Eve so I will do that as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1220667 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 07:49:52 +0000 JerricaBenton 1220667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Big dinner with different kinds of fish and pasta. Candlelit midnight mass. A nightcap of brandy and eggnog, then bed. Now that LO is here we'll switch the order to mass first in the early evening for a few years! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1220660 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 07:44:37 +0000 Happygal 1220660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We open a present or two from a family member, go to church, read the Night Before Christmas, and try to convince the younger kids Santa is here by hitting the roof with a broom. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1220619 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 06:43:21 +0000 travelgirl1 1220619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellocupcake: DH did the open one present at midnight too, so he wants to do that with A, but we didn't have presents under the tree, we woke up to piles of them on Christmas morning so I don't know how we'd do it..... maybe a mix of both, </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1219894 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 16:15:20 +0000 hellocupcake 1219894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Growing up we went to my aunt's house and celebrated there until midnight. After giving Christmas hugs we would go home and were allowed to pick one present to open before bed. (:</p> <p>Now, I spend Christmas Eve with the inlaws and do the same thing (wait until midnight, hugs and good wishes, go home). </p> <p>I plan to do the same thing with LO :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-christmas-eve-traditions#post-1219877 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 16:07:19 +0000 travelgirl1 1219877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cmomma17: I LOVE Love Actually!</p> <p>@Cherrybee: That's gorgeous! I think we'll do something like that if we move home.</p> <p>@lovehoneybee: That sounds like loads of fun! Shame you're not going this year, I'm sure you guys will still have an awesome time though. </p>