I wanted to share some of my family traditions and find out what yours are.
The weeks leading up to Christmas, we always take a few nights and go Christmas light looking. We have a few favorite spots and usually find new ones and enjoy the lights. Sometimes we take some homemade cookies to eat along the way.
This is a new spot we found this year where you can get out and walk around.
Christmas Eve we always open up one gift. This has been passed down from my mom for as long as I can remember. It’s usually a small gift form relatives or new jammies.
Of course we always put out milk and cookies for Santa. Additionally, we put out food for the reindeer. A friend of mine told me about this 7-8 years ago and we’ve included it in our traditions. We mix oatmeal and glitter. The glitter helps the reindeer to find the food in the dark. 🙂
( yes, I did make some cookies this year, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to)
We hide a present or two for each child. I put a note on the tree with a clue. Like “where do we wash our clothes?” Then in the washer is another clue. After the final clue is a gift waiting. The children really enjoy this.
At the end of Christmas dinner, we pass out “funny presents” to everyone attending. Again, this was passed down from my mother and her mother and so on. Sometimes they’re not so funny, but we try. (sometimes everyone else thinks they’re funny except the recipient)
For dessert I always make Creme de Menthe. Which again, has been passed down from my mom and grandmother. I take a parfait glass and add a little alcohol free Cream de Menthe in the bottom. Add a little vanilla ice cream, then a little more mint and ice cream and so on until it’s full, add a little bit of cool whip and a red cherry. Then let it freeze for an hour or so. It’s a wonderful treat! This year, I’m modifying some of them for my son and husband to chocolate instead of the mint. (they’re not fans of mint)
I don’t have a picture of my own. I wish I did, I’ll post one and repeat the recipe after the holidays, but the photo above will give you an idea.
What are your favorite holiday tradition?
We have lots of family traditions. New PJs for the kiddos on Christmas Eve (something that my Dad used to do for us when I was growing up). Then we have the ugliest cookie contest. The kids and my husband look forward to this one, a lot! I spend days making pretty cookies with the kids helping with me, supervising shall we say. This time is all about them! My husband usually wins – I think my son will give him a run for his money this year. We always have Christmas Eve Dinner at my sister in laws after we go to Christmas Eve Mass, then brunch at my house, and the finale dinner at my mom's. It is such a wonderful time of year and I am always so glad that we spend the time together as a family.
I love the idea of hiding a present – we always hide Easter baskets – so we may have to try this one! I love leaving reindeer food – we did leave them food last year we will have to try that again. That Creme de Menthe sounds delicious! YUM!
Thank you for sharing I love to read what everyone else is doing to add something new and different to our traditions.
Thanks for sharing…who knows maybe someone will start a tradition because of you.
Merry Christmas!
I love the idea of hiding a present with clues. Maybe we could do it for birthdays too.
We usually open one gift on Christmas Eve, too. I think it's nice because there are SO many things going on during Christmas Day.
Stopping by from MBC and joined the blog. Feel free to stop by mine:
Tamara
http://www.theunexperiencedmom.com
How great is that…glitter in the reindeer food so they can find it more easily…I'm sure the kids love this!
(…stopping by from MBC and now following you)
Have a wonderful holiday…and thanks for sharing your traditions
we love to look at lights too.