Whether this is your first Christmas as a parent, or you already have children, its never too late to start some Christmas traditions!
In my family we have many. Some were carried on from my childhood. Some are more recent, since I became a Mummy. But I embrace them all, and hope that by making these memories with my children each year they will carry them on to their own families when they are grown up.
So here are some of my Christmas traditions. Maybe there are some ideas here that you would like to adopt or adapt for yourselves 🙂
Christmas Eve baking
When I was a child I remember my sister and I baking sausage rolls and mince pies with my Nan. Listening to Pinky and Perky sing Christmas carols and licking raw sausage meat off my fingers when Nan’s back was turned. Its a tradition that has stood the test of time. Now my children bake on Christmas Eve with my Mum, and I try to stop them eating the sausage meat! I hope when I have Grandchildren of my own that we carry on this tradition. I just need to learn to make pastry as nice as Mum’s!
Christmas Pyjamas
This is a relatively new one for me. I started it around 10 years ago, for my 3rd child’s 1st Christmas. She was only 8 weeks old and I bought her the cutest little Christmas pudding babygrow. But then of course my other children needed Christmas themed pjs too. And so the tradition was born. Every year on Christmas Eve we come home from my parents’ house and sit together as a family to open our Christmas pyjamas. Myself and my husband get involved too, everyone has to go to bed wearing their new cosy jammies 🙂 Once the children are all changed and ready for bed its photo time! Of course they are always so excited that its a nightmare to get them all organised 🙂 Many attempts later I usually end up with a nice photo of them all. Or at least one that shows their personalitites 😉
Twas The Night Before Christmas
When my eldest was small, I borrowed an illustrated copy of the poem Twas the night before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore from the library. I read it to my daughter when I tucked her into bed on Christmas Eve. The next year I bought our own copy, and snuggled up with her to read it again. The following year she remembered, and was asking for it all through December! When I read it she loved the part where it named all the reindeer, but she was upset that Rudolf was left out. So we started our add on to our tradition.
“Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!
GO RUDOLF!!!”
Now I have 5 children. My eldest is 19. And every year we snuggle up in one of their beds and read our now dog-eared copy of the book. And of course when it comes to the reindeer, we all shout “GO RUDOLF!”
Stockings are from Santa, presents are from people
We live in a very small house, the seven of us. There is no storage space. Hiding presents is difficult, hiding the fact we are taking them to Nanny and Grandad’s house is impossible. This, and the fact that every family is different, and no child should wonder why SANTA brought their friend an Xbox one when he brought them something much smaller, led to this tradition. Our children know that Santa fills their stockings on Christmas Eve with little toys and practical gifts, but their wrapped presents under the tree are from Mummy and Daddy, Nanny and Grandad, Aunties and Uncles. They accept that, and at least they can thank the right person for their gift.
Visiting those no longer with us
Christmas Eve sees us visiting the cemetery. It may seem morbid, but I think it’s important to remember our lost loved ones, and wish them a silent Merry Christmas.
Christmas Day breakfast
Every Christmas morning, after the children have found out if Santa has been and opened their stockings, we get ready and head off to my Mum and Dad’s house just down the road. Once there my husband and I head straight for the kitchen, to prepare the Christmas breakfast! Bacon, chipolatas, eggs, hash browns and toast or fried bread, with mushrooms, beans and tomatoes for those who want them. It’s a breakfast befitting the occasion! Finished off with half a pink grapefruit. It sets us up for the day ahead 🙂
Do you have any Christmas traditions of your own? Comment below or pop over to my Facebook page and share them with me!