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Sunday, December 23, 2007

Traditions

Do you have any family traditions that you do during the holiday season?
When I was little, my grandparents always slept over on Christmas Eve.
That meant I had to share my bedroom with my younger sisters. In the morning we were allowed to open one gift of our choice before we had a big breakfast. One year when I was about 11 the gift I opened turned out to be a bra. My grandfather asked me what I got and I was absolutely mortified to tell him. While we always got undies and socks for Christmas I never dreamed I would get a bra. Thanks mom. Today I wish I would get one as my girls require expensive, good supportive ones since I'm well endowed. I apparently got my youngest sister's boob gene too. She has very little. I'd love to give her some.




Now I got off on a tangent for a minute, back to holiday traditions. When my children were little their grandparents (my parents) didn't sleep over on Christmas Eve. That evening is spent with the hubby's side of the family. It has always worked out well since my family starts celebrating Christmas morning opening all of our gifts together. The kids still get to open one before breakfast and before we get there. They always pick one of my gifts because this aunt buys good stuff.





I was thinking about some of our other traditions and they revolve around TV. Is that bad? First, Rudolph, we watch that every year together. The kids got to stay up past their bedtime when they were little to see it. As they got older it always seemed to be on Boy Scout night. I would have them leave scouts early so we could watch. I know, you must be rolling your eyes. The thing is we must watch it when it's on. Not tape it or get a video of it. We watch it just once a year when the network honchos decide to show it. If we could see it whenever it becomes nothing special. The first year that number one son was in college was hard for me. I called him and we watched it over the phone. Roll your eyes again. This year for the first time ever, I had to watch it with just the husband. Number one was busy at school and number two had to work. It was very sad, the end of an era.


Another tradition is to watch Christmas Vacation. This we watch on DVD when our schedule allows. Tonight is the night for this one. I just love the part with the squirrel and laugh like I never saw it before every time. So now that I've blabbed all about my traditions, what are some of yours?
I've got to go and make a chocolate chip cookie cheesecake, 2 pumpkin chiffon pies and 2 Bavarian cream pies. Wish me luck.

2 comments:

Sandi said...

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm bring me some pie please! sounds yummy!

Our tradition starts with putting up Christmas lights outdoors on the day after Thanksgiving. It doesn't matter where we live or how big or how small the house is.. the lights must go up! :)

Also when we put up the tree the kids each have ornaments that they put on that belong to them. This year was a little iffy as they are all busy..but it did get done eventually.

Also.. candy making and cookie making are traditions, too.

We ALWAYS watch Dave Letterman the week before Christmas too, as he does the same things every year and we love it. However..this year with the writer's strike.. I am sure it will all be reruns.. sniff.

There are more i am sure..but I will have to think of them and post them on MY blog LOL and stop with this long comment.

Kitten Herder said...

We have always opened one gift before bed time on Christmas Eve. Usually, on Christmas Eve or the night before that, we watch Denis Leary's "The Ref" ... yes we are a bit twisted. We also usually go to see a movie on Christmas day, late in the afternoon or early evening.

We try to have a special meal, usually something we wouldn't normally eat the rest of the year. This year we picked up some elk steaks. In a way, it really adds to our twisted method of celebrating, if you think about it, since we'll be eating Rudolph's cousin on Christmas night.

Our real big tradition is New Year's Eve. For the last six years we've gone to the local AHL hockey team's home game. After the game, they do a 'year in review' slide show with music, and then they do a fabulous indoor fireworks display over the rink. More than any other holiday tradition, this marks the season for us. Tickets go on sale in late September, and we usually get them the day they go on sale.

Happy holidays, all, however you choose to celebrate! (Though Summer's baking sounds REALLY yummy.)