Christmas rituals?

Question

What Christmas rituals do you have that makes that short period of the year realy feel like Christmas?

I read in the paper that in Germany its a ritual to go skinny dipping in the freezing River Rhine. I'm not so game!

My dad always used to eat half a carrot, and leave icing sugar footprints when filling my stocking. Those days are sadly behind me now, but I am trying to come up with new Christmas rituals and would welcome some inspiration while it is still fresh in everyones minds.

Answer 1

this year, a friend of mine helped me start a new tradition for the kids. We filled some bags with oatmeal and sparkles, and gave them out to the kids in her daughters class at school. it comes with a note saying you should spread it outside your door or patio window on christmas eve, as the sparkles help santa find your home, and the reindeer like to eat the oatmeal. I thought it was a good idea for those kids living in apartment buildings. On x-mas eve i smashed a few prunes up slightly and on x-mas morning my daughter and i went out a shoveled up the poo off the lawn.

Answer 2

Baking. Nothing in the stores can compare with homebaked Christmas cookies and fudge. Also, donating toys and clothes to local charities so that other ppl can also celebrate Christmas is nice. Recently, I've added a ritual that makes Christmas less stressful--getting all the Christmas shopping done by the end of the first week of December. That weekend after Thanksgiving sure is hectic, however.

Answer 3

We allways cook a gammon [ham] joint on xmas eve night which we slice and have in a warm crusty bread bun with mustard.


I still give the kids a stocking to put at the end of the bed ,this get filled with sweets, chocolates and small gifts, they still enjoy this even though they're teenagers.This was what I remember from being a child and I carried it on with my own chidren except we had my dads socks instead of a proper stocking like you get nowadays,

Answer 4

When I was a child, it was baking, decorating the tree, being taken to shops to buy prezzies for immediate family and friends.
Leaving biscuits out for Father Christmas.
Having stockings hung on the old upright piano (we had no fireplace).
All the little things. Your children will have one or two that they cherish, if you do as much with them as you can.

For me as an adult:
There are several, in particular, buying prezzies and sometimes food to take to my Brother's house.
Hanging up the stockings there at his house is also big since our parents died.
Eating with mates and family and a bit of drinking.
--That Cheeky Lad

Answer 5

i might desire to do with out the White Russians however the ribeye, eggs and Viscount St. Albans feels like a success. Ours have replaced by using the years because of the fact the babies grew up. Now we upward push up, have some espresso and a few domicile baked goodies, then sit down and open the presents, dress and then every person has some form of interest interior the kitchen getting dinner waiting for something of the kin and chum who will connect us. I extremely have discovered even with the shown fact that working mutually interior the kitchen has delivered us closer, it form of feels to make us not purely kin yet a teem of acquaintances too. We snort a lot and act stupid, and each each now after which you will pay attention somewhat sigh by technique of somebody of contentment. that could be a eye-catching sound. wish yours is happy.

Answer 6

Ooh I LOVE Christmas! I think I get more excited about it now than when I was a child. My parents give us all Christmas eve presents, and on Boxing day we all go round to my parents house, eat lots of turkey sandwiches etc and play cluedo. I'm aware this is spectacularly sad but it's what makes Christmas special!

Answer 7

When I was a kid, my family always made Gingerbread houses.

Answer 8

Family arguments, putting on too much weight, drinking too much, spending too much money, that kind of thing!