Tis the season and all, it’s time for some Christmasy posts. Christmas is completely different in every household. You know, even this year for me is going to be hard, upsetting and strange but today I thought I would have a little chat about Christmas traditions, we all have them and some change in time but they are all good to have. What do you look forward to doing at Christmas?
When I sat down to think of traditions it took me a while to think of some but in reality we have a few, it’s just a normal Christmas for us. I am going to try include a few from being younger until now 29. So we can all look, share and possibly pick up something to add to their Christmas traditions.
Starting with the younger days. I believed in Father Christmas for most of my childhood, I was around 10 when I stopped and every year my family and my mum’s godchildren’s family would go up to our local garden centre and visit Father Christmas. Followed by dinner at the local beefeater. Always remember the traffic light lollipops we received and the Christmas he told me no mobile phones for Christmas and all I wanted a Nokia 3310.
We always use to put the Christmas tree up the middle weekend of December. Around the 15th and our Christmas tree was real always and still is now. At my parents anyway. All the decorations for the tree are wooden which I love and isn’t overly tacky. And of course the chocolates that hang on the tree. Though my mum would say we could help, really she’s the one that had to do the tree to make it look right.
In my teens and early twenties, we still went to get the tree from our local garden centre and it would always be me or Emma, my sister who would have to go in the Freelander’s boot to keep the tree in the car. Was a little adventure and fun, though technically illegal.
Talking of Christmas tree’s, its my 4th Christmas in my own home and it was my artificial Christmas tree that was one of my first purchases. I remember just having nerve block injections and feeling poorly and going to Tesco to pick my tree up. My theme is different to the wooden theme which I love and would love to create here. But there are less around. I’ve gone for a homemade and clear/holographic theme. The tree in mine goes up on the 1st of December usually or the first weekend anyway. This year I am feeling the tree needs more colour though so may have to add some splashes more of colour in between.
A Christmas tradition, that seems to have stuck around for a few too many years. That is I get the flu or sick bug most Christmas’s. How rubbish! I have had a good few years off now so who knows what’s round the corner. Must of been around 7/8 when I was first unwell at Christmas, all through the night and slept until after dinner. Now I don’t eat turkey because even the smell of it makes me feel sick. You know when you relate something to illness and that’s it? Turkey is definitely that for me! I’ve also spent Christmas Day on my own before due to sick bug.
Lazy afternoons in front of the fire watching Christmas movies is definitely a tradition. Who doesn’t love snuggling down on the sofa, with the fire blaring and a good festive movie? I can actually, my mum hates the movie Elf but it’s one of my favourite Christmas movies. My favourites are The Holiday, Miracle on 34th Street, Elf and Polar Express. Though we just watched Last Christmas and that was lovely and I can sit and watch Love Actually anytime of the year.
Every year as a child and now, we alternate days. As a child one day with my mum’s family and the other with my dad’s family. Now it has changed a little because we are grown up and my sister has her family and my brother-in-law’s family to see. So we do 1 day with just my grandma and my mum’s side, auntie and uncle. (That’s the first time I have started saying something, writing it and having to stop and think its just my Grandma now.) Then the other with the kids, other sister and brother-in-law and both Grandmas. Sometimes my other uncle and auntie come over on Boxing Day evening.
We would always celebrate Christmas another day with our close family friends. Of which were the ones we saw Father Christmas with.
Tradition as a child, was to leave a jam sandwich and a Ribenna and lemonade combined for Santa. What do you leave for him?
Something that seems to becoming a tradition now I am older is Christmas baking. I love to bake but I am that type of person to see food and put on 3lb. So tend not to bake because of that reason. But things like gingerbread, cake and anything that looks nice to be honest. You could say it’s my creative side coming out more.
Even now if we stay over at my parents Christmas eve, my dad will only open the door a fraction, peek and then shut it and make us wait a minute or two more. Because Father Christmas is still in there sorting our presents out. When we were little Denise would be in with me or the other way round by 4:30am if not before because we were too excited. Emma though would stay in bed, the only day of the year she would. Could only bribe her out with a cuppa tea. Now Emma is texting me to hurry up and come round so she can open her presents.
Over the days of festivities, the girls would and do always play cards late afternoon and evenings. Now the 2 children try to join in but I love a game of new market. Beat your neighbour I like because I always win it. My mum does buy a Christmas game sometimes but we tend to go back to cards most of the time.
That’s it really on traditions for my family. What are your traditions?
