Christmas Traditions

Up until the age of about 21, I thought everyone had the same Christmas experience. I thought everyone did the same as each other in the lead up to Christmas, throughout the festive period, and on the day itself.

I feel incredibly fortunate that my family have always been lovers of Christmas and I consider them to be true experts when it comes to all things festive. Perhaps this is why, to me, Christmas is a very special time of year. I hope in years to come I have passed the true spirit of Christmas on to my children and that they enjoy some of the family traditions we have indulged in over the years.

When I was 25, I spent Christmas in Australia. I was very apprehensive about spending Christmas on the other side of the world, but I was part way through a trip around the globe and, although I desperately wanted to, I couldn’t really justify popping home for the winter festivities. So I faced Christmas in the sunshine, perhaps a BBQ on Bondi? A picnic by the Opera House? None of it seemed quite right to me. Instead, I gathered with three other homesick Brits to enjoy a proper ‘British Christmas’ with all the trimmings. In the weeks leading up to the day, we discussed what we would miss most about spending Christmas at home and I was intrigued by the various traditions different families had during December. How could everyone have such different Christmases? I felt I was missing out. So, we decided that we would each enjoy a different tradition on Christmas day that we would usually be doing with our families at home. We had a Christmas Day speech, just before lunch, celebrating all we had achieved together that year (or since we met, in September…), Christmas stockings ‘Secret Santa’ style on a $10 budget, and smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast, and finally (after consuming more wine than on all my previous Christmases put together) 'Christmas Karaoke' of which I am ashamed to say, there is video evidence...somewhere...

I find it fascinating how many Christmas traditions different families enjoy and we have adopted a few over the years. With a new addition to our little family, I wanted to add a new tradition to our ever growing list and my research led me to some beautifully thoughtful and inspired ideas. I thought I would share some of our family traditions with you as well as some ideas which I am sure we will be adding in future years…

The Little Men

When I was young, I always knew it was Christmas when the ‘Little Men’ made an appearance. The first decoration to be put up and the last to be taken down, we now have our own decoration, a nativity set, which we use in a similar way to mark the opening and closing of the festive period. One day, perhaps we will find our own ‘Little Men’!

Christmas Day Walk in our Pjs…with wellies!

A recent tradition which involves not getting out of our pjs on Christmas Day….bliss! Hats, coats, gloves and scarfs still in our pjs underneath and off we go for a walk. Luckily, my parents live in a quiet village… Not sure I’d do the same around Winchester!

Christmas Eve Box

Something I have been waiting to have children to be able to do, although Boo may be a bit small this year! A box containing some of the following items:

- New Christmas pjs

- A Christmas storybook

- A Christmas film

- Christmas activities

- Christmas cuddly toy

- Hot chocolate and marshmallows

All of these can be enjoyed on the eve of the big day in an attempt to calm and contain the little people. Obviously you can go to the extreme of a personalised box and contents, which is becoming a new trend!

Christmas Jumpers

Hugely popular in recent years, we usually dedicate a day over Christmas to all wear our ‘Christmas Jumpers’. Some are happy with the gaudy snowmen with a knitted carrot sticking out, or Christmas tree with flashing lights, others are more traditional with Fair Isle patterns. One day I’d love to knit our own jumpers… But knitting may be a bit beyond me at the moment!

Christmas Speech

A collaboration of all of the events and achievements of everyone around the dinner table, presented by a chosen family member who is given enough notice to write it!

Matching Christmas Pjs

This is our new one for this year. A family set of Christmas pjs, I was very excited to be able to find ones in adult, children and baby sizes!

Sleeping Under the Christmas Tree

We introduced this to our list of traditions when my stepdaughter was 2. To many, it sounds absolutely nuts, but it has become one of the highlights of December for us all. We move furniture, relocate the mattresses, ensure we have enough duvets, pillows and cushions to sink a small ship, then all snuggle down in the lounge, drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows, under the glow of the Christmas lights and watch Christmas films until we fall asleep. Something very different!

Table Presents

Something I thought everyone indulged in, but I have discovered it is not so! When all the presents have been opened, stockings have been emptied and the Christmas tree is looking a little bare around the bottom, it’s time for lunch. You reach the table and notice there is one more gift… a table present, sneaking in at the last minute as the final gift of the day. Whether it is something to make you laugh, or the last thing off of your list that you thought you were going to have to try and hunt down in the sale, it’s a lovely way to wrap up the gifting.

Stirring the Christmas Cake

I am proud to say that our cakes have become rather legendary, with orders now being taken for next year already! This year, we had 4 to make, bake and decorate and it was wonderful that the girls could help (with most of it, not the icing, no way, my OCD would not allow that!). The stirring of the cake and wish making is a tradition that we will definitely pass on.

Gingerbread House competition

Ready, steady, DECORATE!! A wonderful task for a rainy winters day whether you are making them from scratch or using a pre-made house to decorate this can be a great way to occupy hundreds of family members. Whether in teams or as individuals, it is great fun… As is the demolition and consumption afterwards!

Ornament Collecting

My favourite tradition. Every year, we buy a new decoration for our stepdaughter and we keep them all together in a special Christmas box. We will continue to do this every year for her and then when she is 18, and perhaps has a tree of her own, she will have the start of her own set of decorations, each one filled with a special memory. Now she is old enough to choose decorations for her box, but she wont know that they are hers until they are presented to her on her 18^th Christmas! Boo’s box has one little decoration to start her off….

Letter Writing

No idea what to buy for an under one? A lovely idea I have come across is to ask everyone to write a letter containing aspirations, hopes and dreams you have for them that is not to be opened. The letters are then to be saved and opened on the child’s 18^th birthday.

Board Games

‘Why do they only come out of the cupboard at Christmas?’ I ask myself this every year, but every year a new game is purchased for Christmas and once we have had a few too many Proseccos, we try and get our heads around the instructions and play! Really hoping this year it isn’t the Pie Face Game or Speak Out!

Family Photo book

A collection of everything we have been through together for the year. Holidays, achievements, fun times, memories, although it is incredibly time consuming it is nice to start somewhere and in no time you will have created a library of photo books documenting your years together.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about our Christmas family traditions, and perhaps you may have time to add some to your December festivities for this year. If not, there is always next year!