The holiday season is now in full swing and Christmas stories about food, crafts, gifts, etc.all over blogland is just proof of that. That said, I am joining the fun as well and thought of sharing with you our family’s Christmas traditions.
This year is going to be our fifth celebration of Christmas together here in the U.S. and over the short four years we’ve been here, we have created traditions that the three of us love and will always consider special.
Christmas Eve Morn Gift Opening for My Boys
My boys, being my husband and our son, were shocked the first time this happened. When I told them to open a gift (which I chose specifically for a reason), the question mark on their faces couldn’t be hidden. But more then anything, they were delighted to open a gift a day early. The reason: it was what they were going to wear for Christmas Eve.
I’ve always remembered that as a kid to have new clothes to wear on Christmas was special. And I’ve carried that thought with me all these years. The husband is a typical guy who doesn’t love to shop but he does love to go shopping with me. So to make it more exciting, I shop for them and wrap it up to add more excitement and they are enjoying it. So far, they love what I’ve bought for them. Their gifts to open this year are already wrapped and are now sitting under the tree.
Christmas Eve with My In-laws
Even before I got here, my husband always celebrated Christmas Eve with his only brother and his family. And we continued the tradition when my son and I arrived here. We eat, we talk, we open gifts and just hang out spending time with family until late night. There’s always guitar playing and singing involved – both my hubs and his brother play guitars – which is really fun.
Celebrating Christmas Eve with family is what I was used to doing back in my home country. All my siblings together with our families gathered at our parents house, the same as here. The only addition is we did parlor games. That is the kind of fun that I miss doing.
Christmas Day Mass
I am Catholic by faith and although my husband is a Baptist, religion was never a big deal between us. I’ve heard services in his church but on Christmas Day, we all hear mass together at noon time, all dressed up in our Sunday clothes.
Christmas Day Dinner
We eat out for dinner and it is a different restaurant every year. The only problem is that the selection is limited because most of the restaurants are closed on Christmas Day. But so far, we’ve never gone to the same restaurant. We haven’t decided yet where to go this year. I still have to check my app and see who’s open for some delicious Christmas dinner.
A Box of Whitman’s Sampler Assorted Chocolates
This was my husband’s mother’s tradition that he passed along to us. And me being a chocoholic, I am more than happy to continue the tradition. She always bought a box of Whitman’s Sampler at Christmas and placed it underneath the Christmas tree to be opened on Christmas Day. And even better, now, they are selling huge boxes of this luscious treat.
I always find it heart-warming to look back on what we’ve done in the past Christmases that we have celebrated, and I am looking forward to making another wonderful memory with my boys.
Do you have any Christmas traditions that you would like to share?
It sounds like your family has a lot of great Christmas traditions. We have a few, too 🙂
Thank you. (“,)
I think family traditions are so important for making holiday memories. Each year we love adapting to new ones too 😀
I’ll probably add a new one this year. We’ll see. (“,)
What great family traditions. That is the best part of the holidays. Just creating the memories! We have coffeecake on christmas morning!
Coffeecake! That sounds good. I love coffee and I love cake too! Perfect! (“,)
We use to do Christmas Eve with my parents and Christmas Day with his family. Some years my parents take the kids and give them their presents early while we go and do our shopping. Other times they have joined us on Christmas Day. It all depends on weather as well. I would love to take the kids to a midnight mass but it is to late for them.
I would like for us to try the midnight mass too. But with a kid, I think it can be a little difficult.
Family traditions are so important! We love decorating the tree and the outside of our house.
We love to decorate too. I forgot to include that on the list. (“,)
aw your family traditions are so wonderful – I love making memories!
Thank you. So do we. (“,)
We are starting a new one this year with a Christmas Eve Present box.
That is nice. (“,)
There are no better traditions than those at christmas. Theyre almost magical.
I totally agree. (“,)
We have family Christmas traditions and the kids always get upset when we try to change them up. One of my favorites is picking out a live Christmas tree at a tree farm.
We’ve never tried picking a live tree. That is something that I want to experience though.
We usually hear mass on the eve of Christmas. A festive dinner follows that!
That is great, Kendall. (“,)
Christmas would not be complete without some delicious chocolates! Love whitmans too!
I couldn’t agree more. (“,)
These traditions are truly important. They make Christmases more special.
They really do. (“,)
I so love all of your family christmas traditions. We love baking and giving the food away as gifts. I cracked up at your tradition with a Box of Whitman’s Sampler Assorted Chocolates because we always bough that for our grandma.
My late mother-in-law started the Whitman tradition and hubby passed it along to us. (“,)
Thanks for this post! What a fun holiday post!
Thank you. (“,)
I love your traditions! I’ve started my own this year with my daughter. It’s so exciting.
I think Christmas traditions became extra-special with kids around. (“,)
These are such lovely Christmas traditions. I like that you go to mass and remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Thank you, Fiona. (“,)
Sounds like you are enjoying some great family traditions every year. That is what makes Christmas special for everyone those little traditions that we carry from year to year.
I know right?
The last 5 years now that the kids are teenagers we have a few different traditions. There is a Doctor Who marathon on every year on Christmas day we watch. We bake lots of treats for the day.
We always get together with my siblings. Lots of food. Lots of fun.
Before I came here to the U.S., our get-together with my siblings and our parents were like that too – lots of food and fun. (“,)
Eating our for Christmas dinner would be a nice change. I usually cook our Christmas meal and if I were to suggest going out, everyone would think I’ve lost my mind lol. But it would be a nice change. Less time in the kitchen = more time with family.
Exactly! (“,)
Sounds like y’all have some pretty fabulous family traditions!!! Love it
Thank you. (“,)
These are great Christmas traditions. I read a few posts about Christmas traditions today and made me realize maybe I should start some new traditions.
I think of starting some new traditions too. (“,)
I love traditions and think that they’re important for all families. Right now, we’re still in the building stages of our traditions.
I hope you get to build traditions that will give you wonderful memories. (“,)
Whitman’s Sampler Assorted Chocolates is a good tradition to carry on! They are so good.
I know, right? So good. (“,)
It sounds like a Christmas traditions worth remembering and spending time with our families. I wish you and your family the best Christmas Sis.
Thank you, Jessica. Wishing your family the same. (“,)
Just like how Filipinos celebrate their Christmas, they celebrate it with their family 🙂
Wow you spend time with a lot of people! We usually have a big dinner with family and a smaller dinner with a portion of the family.
Your tree looks beautiful. We have a lot of different traditions and are always adding a new one each year.
Thank you, Bonnie. Actually, I’m thinking of adding a new one this year too. (“,)
Christmas brings me mixed emotions. I am happy to spend it with my husband and kids but part of me is longing to spend time with family in PInas lol.
I miss Christmas in Pinas too especially the food and the parlor games. (“,)
Oh yeah, the Whitman’s!! I forgot about those…my family got a box every Christmas too!
Cool! So we are not alone. LOL.
Our tradition includes family dinner at Christmas Eve and then Family, extended family lunch on the 25th 🙂
Sounds great! (“,)