Christmas Traditions

Since I was a child, I've always loved Christmas time. Not just the day, but the entire season, from Thanksgiving 'til New Years, the whole month was magical to me. As I've been busily scurrying about my yearly holiday disaster plan...ahem...preparations , I started thinking about Christmas traditions, and what they mean to us. When I was young, my favorite tradition was our Nativity. Mom would put up the stable, and Mary and Joseph, the 3 wisemen, the shepherds, the angels, but the manger stayed empty. To one side of the stable was a small pile of straw. Every time my sisters or I did a good deed, helped someone, was nice to someone (even each other ), we got to put one piece of straw in the manger. From December 1 until December 24, it was our responsibility to make a comfortable bed for baby Jesus by doing for others. If we fought, pouted, disobeyed, were just plain selfish and petty, the manger stayed empty. It was quite a feeling of responsibility to think that my actions or inactions directly affected how cozy and comfortable the baby was when he made his entrance on Christmas morn. It was a lesson that stayed with me throughout my life, to do for others even if (especially if) they don't know I'm doing it, and I cherish the memories I have of that childhood tradition. My current Nativity set is ceramic, I made if for my mom when I was a young teen, and she left it to me when she passed away some years ago. When I was working on it, I had my ceramics instructor make the manger so baby Jesus could be removed. To this day, when I put up my set, the stable sits ready, the worshipers wait on bended knee, and Mary sits lovingly beside the empty manger, waiting for Christmas morning, for the birth of Christ, the King.

I know we all have traditions we hold dear. Would you share some of yours? I'd love to hear how you celebrate in Greece, and Germany, and Australia, and everywhere. I hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas season, and are taking the time to enjoy the beauty of it, amidst all the rush and hectic activity. Remember the reason for the celebration, and let it fill you with peace, and joy, and love for a King born a baby in a manger. Merry Christmas everyone!

 

More of a family tradition here, but on the last Wednesday late night shopping (that's this Wednesday!) all the girls in the family get together, walk into the city centre and have a turkey roll and liqueur coffee. It's just nice for us all to get together; mums, sisters, aunts, cousins, daughters etc.

 

At home, with the first of advent, the Christmasmarkets start in every bigger town. Kind of like a fair that last until Christmas. Where you can get crafts, jewelery, pottery, anykind of things that makes a good/interesting gift. And also a lot of food. A specialty is Gluehwein. A hot, sweet and seasoned whine. It is just fun walking around and see the things you usually don't see. I miss that here. A friend advised to turn the AC on before making the Gluehwein. Well, it doesn't really help. The all around is missing.
We used to bake lots of cookies and make decorations for the home.
On Christmas eve, we went to church in the afternoon, where the Christmas story was acted out during the service. After dinner at home, we went to grandma, where some other family members met. The children had to recite a poem and songs were sung. After that we got the presents. We have 2 Christmas days. Which helps with visiting the family. Since my grandmas birthday was on the 27th, it always was a very long holy day with lots of food. (germany)

Two years ago we started decorating the Christmas tree and the home with the children involved for the 1st advent (like grandma. My parent put the tree up 2 days before Christmas eve, the soonest. Mostly on the 24th.) The children just love to decorate. We bake through the whole season.
When the adults make the Gluehwein, my children get hot Juice.
Christmas eve we go to church. Have a dinner with potato salad and baked fish. Like in my youth.
The gifts will be opened on Christmas. Last year we started, with every one choosing 2 songs, that we all sang. And than was the opening of the presents. Because it is not about toys and such things.
Here is a Christmas pageon somewhat before Christmas. Depending on what of my children you ask, they say they have fun with it. I have fun with it. (USA)

Edit

I forgot to mention the advendscalender. We had one as a child. Filled with one piece of chocolate. It was fun searching for the right number each day and then checking out what shape it is (Candle, bear, sleigh e.t.c.)
My children have one to. They helped making calenders for their teacher too. I think teachers deserve a little nice surprise. And it is so much fun. (making and having)

 

When I was a little child my parents used to surprise me with the beautifully decorated Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve. Then we decorated it together until I took over and banished my parents from the room while doing it all by myself. Everybody was always so busy, my mom cooking and my dad doing last minute shopping and dropping of presents off for friends.

Then my parents had to close their eyes before they entering the room instead of me. I just loved to see their eyes open in delight.

It was so much fun because it became over time my responsability to come up with color combinations and new ideas. My preparations started earlier and earlier every year because we could not buy new ornaments every year and so I started crafting my own.

One day I made a tree that was decorated in pink and white like snow (no artificial snow, just ornaments) and nearly all of my ornaments were edible. I chose marshmallow mice for example and chocolate pieces that I wrapped into colored tinfoil (that was still in Germany... Little did I know back then that one day I would end up in the land of marshmallows... and that aluminum is not environmentally friendly. The lights were reflecting beautifully of the little packages though).

At some point I was even allowed to start using real candles again... so pretty.

Last year I told my niece and nephew that in Germany we use still a lot of living trees for Christmas. And yesterday they gave the cutest tiniest living Christmas tree I have ever seen (more like a bonsai). The kids seemed to have been all over the place in the search of a tree. They are just the best kids ever and really want their auntie to be happy. I was jumping around screeching like I was a kid again.

My first Christmas I introduced them to german style gingerbread and cinnamon cookies. I had made a lovely plate with oranges, nuts and cookies. and now I am not even allowed to do that anymore... because usually the family comes by a couple of days after my arrival and just floods me with those now and that on top of all other cookies, muffins, pies, cakes they made.

 

Oh my, all of your stories are so beautiful! What great memories! Thanks, Spots, for starting this thread.

My kids are mostly grown up now, so we changed some of our traditions. Right now, we get together for Christmas Eve and eat the traditional New England Clam Chowder in sourdough bread bowls, followed by a spinach salad made with spinach (of course), pecans, raspberries, and a raspberry vinaigrette. Then we grab hot chocolate and drive around seeing Christmas lights. On Christmas morning, the Nativity is recounted using the little set I have. Then we take our time discovering all the little goodies inside of the stockings. After a nice breakfast, we sit around the tree and open each present one at a time, oohing and aahing over the fun little things. We don't get much for each other because we reserve that for birthdays. It's mostly the family time. This year we are going to see The Hobbit together, play some music, and play games.

In Venezuela where I grew up, my family had a very special tradition. My mother had acquired a very beautiful, huge Israelite village made of cork board with little ceramic pieces that depicted people in different aspects of life. We got this when we lived in Spain for a year and it was hand made. The houses were about 8 inches high and had a hole in the back to put in lights. My brothers, sister and I would make a huge village out of it under the Christmas tree. A large white sheet was placed under the tree with cardboard in areas to make little hills. Lakes and rivers were made out of tin foil, and the people were placed collecting water or tending sheep or in the shops. We put grass down for the sheep and fake snow in some areas. There were three wise men that we placed far away. Each day, the wise men would move closer to the place of the birth.

On Christmas Eve, an angel would be placed on top of the house where the baby Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph inside. On Christmas morning, there would be baby Jesus in the manger, with shepherds and animals gathered about.

The village would stay up until, on January 6th, the wise men would finally make it to the manger, and we would all receive a little gift.

Only then could the decorations be put away.

Funny... I remember that and decorating the tree, but I never remember what presents I got. What a powerful lesson to remember that it's the memories of our time together that we carry the rest of our lives, and not the "things" we get. At least for me and my family.

Oh yeah... I do remember one gift. My brothers (the pranksters!) gave Mom and Dad a huge box. Within that box, was another box. And so on. When they finally got the end, inside a little box was a little piece of coal with a note that said they had been naughty that year and would receive no presents. We all laughed so hard!

P.S. They "did" get another present.

 

Very nice thread spots! I liked reading all your stories spots, chookie, dienstag, jennifersiegel and darlingDaizy

On Christmas Eve children sing carols. I remember that I loved that day because I went with a friend or two to the houses of our
relatives. We started singing the Christmas carols in the morning after the people returned to their homes from the church. We used to finish around noon. After singing to people they would give us some money. We sung carols on Christmas Eve and in New Year's Eve(different carols each time). The town of the island those days is filled with children wearing Christmas hats and holding triangles. I don't sing anymore as I am older now.
The tradition of children singing the carols is more usual in smaller places and not so much in big towns in Greece. Because in small places people know each other and they let their children be out alone.

When the year ends the midnight and first of January starts I am with my family and family friends. It is a tradition for all of the families of Greece when the new year begins we divide the New Year cake in as many pieces as we are and 3 more for Christ, Santa Claus and our house. Whoever is making the cake when it is ready he puts a coin inside the cake. So when we cut the the cake someone is the lucky one and gets the coin. It is very interesting to see who got it. Before some years I got the coin when I started eating my cake I saw something shining and luckily I didn't eat it


Something very interesting and unique is what it is happening in 6 of January(that day is a religious celebration called Epiphany).
After the liturgy in the church early in the morning people go to the sea port and the priest throws a silver cross(kind of big) in the sea.
Then some people usually men and around 18(but also some girls and older people) dive in the sea and they try to get the cross which is sinking. Whoever gets the cross osculates the hand of the priest and the next day all the people who dived go to houses with the cross and collect money for the church. As you can imagine the sea is very cold that day and all the people watching congratulate the people who dived. This custom is happening in a lot of places in Greece.

Christmas holiday in Greece is from 24 of December to 7 of January. People celebrate with the customs and traditions of their place and they go to the church to listen the priest telling about Christ. Christmas holiday is a very beautiful time and children loved it because they don't have school and because of all these traditions. Not only do children like it but of course and adults as there is time for all the family to get together.

 

One of my family's long time Christmas Traditions is to have a Happy Birthday Jesus Cake. All the family gathers around and sings Happy Birthday and then the little children gather around and blow out the candles. This is done before any presents are opened.

 

You all have such beautiful meaningful traditions. Thanks for sharing.

Mine seems quite small in comparison but when the children were young, we only opened presents after lunch on Christmas Day. They had to help clear the table, and help with the washing up and putting away. Then all the fruit, nuts and sweets were put out and finally we gathered round the tree for present giving/receiving. Only one present was handed out at a time which was opened before the next one was given out. My children have continued doing this with their children.

 

Just curious, Blessed - how MANY candles were on the cake?

 

My family has always had our Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. When I got married, my husband's family had theirs on Christmas Day. So for many years we had a big Turkey dinner with my family, spent the night....next morning opened presents..had brunch and then went on to my husband's families' home. We then opened presents followed by another huge Turkey dinner and also spent the night with them. It was a Double Xmas for us and the children...lots of fun and food! This felt like a marathon and was exhausting.
(Both my hubby's parents and mine lived in 2 different Cities from us.....so lots of driving too)

Sadly my in-laws both passed away over 10 years ago...and we have been hosting Xmas at our house since. We don't see much of the family from my husband's side anymore. Their parents were the glue that held that family together. My heart goes out to my husband....he adored his parents and that time with them.

This is why I feel it is so very important to treasure the time you have with each family member. I never get everything done or plans don't go exactly the way I wanted them to....I'm learning to let go(of perfection).....and just enjoy the the holiday with my parents, children, siblings/nieces & nephews and my hubby.

I wish all of my farmerama family a Healthy & Happy Holiday Season!

 

lol, DarlingDaizy, being a normal family (or maybe not lol) that depended on whether we remembered to buy new candles. Enough to make all the little ones which we always seemed to have plenty of happy. I have a big home and a big family and always had a lot of drop-ins for Christmas Eve. We seemed to attract all the younger people who didn't have family activities on Christmas Eve. (One young fella told me one year that it was his fifth Christmas here, I actually hadn't noticed, but I hope it made good memories for him.) We always had ham, turkey, crawfish cornbread dressing and all the trimmings and sent plate lunches to the shut-ins and a few who didn't have families in the neighborhood. But a new era has dawned and with sadness for the first time in many, many years my health will not permit me to do it this year, so I have passed the mantle to my daughters.
Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.

 

Okay... I don't know if it's the season, the hormones (or lack thereof), or what, but your stories bring tears to my eyes!

@blessedlady2 - the passing of the mantel and the new era is hard. We must become less and our children must become more. But it still brings tears to my eyes.

And @Brookeham - that made me cry, too! Your husband's family missing out on the best time of their lives is so sad. Time with family - what a loss to not have that!

Hugs to both of you!!

 

I have waited trying to think of what traditions we still keep in my family... I can't speak for anyone other than me on this, but the one tradition I still hang on to is remembering that Jesus is the reason, not just for the Christmas season but for my whole life.
When I was growing up the thing that kept me going through Christmas holidays were the choir practice, the plays we did at church and being close to family...most of my family I grew up around is either gone now or scattered across the country, sadly my kids are more into the gift getting than anything else, such a change from when they were little! One Christmas we were so broke I couldn't afford food much less gifts, I put their names in for help through The Eagles ( a very little known group here) I didn't know whether they would help or not, but on Christmas eve they brought several huge boxes to my house... The kids were so excited about the food it brought all those bringing it to tears, and the kids didn't even notice the toys~ they were all about the good food we got. ( yes most of my life has been poverty, but I am richer than so many because I understand the value of the little things in life.) I understand that ALL good things come from God, regardless who delivers it. Merry Christmas my Friends, May God richly bless you now and in the coming new Year.

 

Thank you everyone for sharing your Christmas traditions, and the memories they hold, with us all. I always feel a little sad around Christmas, remembering our large family gatherings at holidays. Now it's just me and my husband and his parents, and once they're gone, it will be just us. Like many of you, my family is scattered everywhere, and has grown apart (when we lost my mom, we lost the glue that held us all together). But I also feel great joy and anticipation, and overall love, for the birth of the King who was the greatest gift ever given. I've long past gotten over caring what I might get, or really even if I get anything at all, because the gifts I want aren't in stores. My mom by love always asks what I want, and I always say not a thing, except to play a game of dominos with them, because my gift is spending another Christmas with them (although this year I did ask for a crock pot) My wishes are simple: I want a peaceful day, spent with my family, eating, playing games, loving, and celebrating Christ's coming. From my husband I'm always trying to get him to build a snowman with me, but he usually lucks out and we don't get snow before Christmas, so he's off the hook, lol. However, we had a snowstorm on Christmas Eve, snowed all day, and we now have about 4 inches of lovely fluffy Christmas snow, and since we're postponing our family Christmas celebration a week (dad's sick with flu, and we don't want to run down mom and get her sick too), I may just get my snowman . May you all have blessed and joyful Christmas filled with peace and love. Merry Christmas everyone!

 

Christmas has always been a double special time for us, we celebrate the birth of Jesus and several members birthdays. My birthday is on Christmas Eve and my cousin is Christmas day. I always remember baking rolls, cookies and cakes while singing Christmas songs with my grandmother, mother and aunts. We still continue with this tradition with my girls the next generation. They do the same with their grandma(3 generation now that my grandmother as past on 2yrs ago). We also would go to church service every Christmas Eve.
The week before going out Christmas caroling with other church members and prepare food baskets for families in need.


Most importantly sharing time with your love ones and remember the ones that have gone on before us.