Anyone have any special Christmas, Hannaka traditions?

[Cinnabar]

To start off....

Christmas Traditions - YouTube

Christmas Traditions - YouTube

Christmas Traditions - YouTube

Christmas Traditions - YouTube

[Nakamova]

Here are some of my family traditions:
My younger brother waits until the last moment to do his Christmas shopping -- and since he can't drive, I'm the lucky sibling who gets to take him to the mall.
We wait to decorate the tree until Christmas Eve.
We have Christmas Eve dinner at my aunt's house.
My aunt tells us that the dinner that she has prepared will be terrible. (And it's always delicious).
We put up stockings for Santa, even though we are all old enough to know better. And Santa always leaves something!
My mother makes at least 12 kinds of Christmas cookies. (And I eat way too many of them).
My sister and her family arrive 3 hours later than they say they will.
Everyone has a really wonderful time.

[Rae1889]

We always decorate the christmas tree on Grey Cup day *Canada's form of the super bowl* and that's usually in November sometime.

We ALWAYS get socks, pajamas and slippers for xmas. One year my parents tried to skip it, and we got a little disappointed. *we usually open these up on christmas eve so that we can get up in our new pretty pajamas for xmas photos in the morning.

I always get sick in the morning. I'll wake up, we are all excited and then skip breakfast, so I end up so hungry I usually get light headed and wanna puke. Recently though on Easter, my parents made breakfast first before we did the egg roll and the hunt.

I got my cats from a Jewish couple when they found out their son was allergic and then had to go for cancer treatment. So I always put up a small menorah for them.

[Cinnabar]

I began this thread because for the first time in years I'm in the Christmas spirit. To say why this is the first time in many years means I should be shuffling over to The Padded Room. But, I rather take the merry, more constructive route. I will say this. Since a child I picked up on no particular traditions because I lived here and there with so many different family members. Nothing stuck.

Up until this year I've lived vicariously through my partner's enthusiam for the holiday. His abounding joy, stringing lights all around the house, blow up Santa on the roof, fashioning a sixteen foot christmas tree out of wire and lights, six foot tall angels a glow in white lights and much more. Junked up a bit but it makes him happy. Certainly a spectator's sight! Then the tree in the house. He does that up, too. Then the unwrapping of gifts in the morning, Christmas music going on. If not for him I'd be watching "The Bishop's Wife" and drinking spiked egg nog with no decoration but a wreath. And I've been there. Not so bad really. Some people don't have this. But I'm wanting to start my "own" quirky traditions, even at this late stage in life, and this is just one of the reasons why I wanted to hear from you all. But above all to get some "sharing" going on.

Nak I love that you all still hang stockings. That your mother makes twelve kinds of Christmas cookies and that your sister arrives three hours later than expected. Well, you may not find it amusing but I call it a funny familiar familial quirk. Say that ten times fast!

Rae I'm sorry you feel like you've got to puke in the morning but you have me LOL! And how clever and dear that you hang a menorah for your adopted Jewish cats. These are the things I need to hear! We all need to hear.

Well, I'm thinking now that, like easter eggs, I'll decorate Christmas eggs. But I have to make sure I boil them first as I'm a terrible cook.

I hope this thread takes off because what a wonderful way to share. Bringing each other into each others homes during this time of year.

....and he agrees!

[Rae1889]

Lol we also make christmas eggs! I forgot. I'm half Ukrainian, and we do the fancy intricate Easter eggs. During that time they are always bright colours and spring designs. During christmas they are silvers, golds, reds, greens and blues. With winter designs like snowlakes trees and stars.

They take like an hour or more an egg, but are so pretty!

http://www.ukrainianegg.com/frontpg.htm

[Cinnabar]

You have my

Yes. I've seen them! Just gorgeous and difficult to imagine how one could manage the intricacies...mine just might turn out to be red and green. No, really. I could muster up more than that...though probably abstract.
And thanks for the link. Such customs are so interesting to me!

[occb]

Holy moly Rae -- Ukrainian eggs are difficult to do, but so beautiful.

My family is German, so we celebrate in German tradition on the evening of the 24th instead of the morning. Santa used to come and give us our gifts personally. That tradition died the year my brother told me that Santa was actually uncle Gerhard

We decorate the tree on the 23rd, and always have real candles instead of lights.

Usually on the 25th my mother makes the tastiest Christmas goose. My mouth waters just thinking about it.

Last Sunday we celebrated the first advent with home-baked cookies and Christmas spice cake, games and a fine dinner.

My mom likes to make Christmas festive, so it's always a fun time. I missed it when they used to live overseas: I was single, so I had nobody to celebrate with at home, and my brother completely adopted Canadian traditions.

Hot Damn! I just missed St. Nick's day Aw, I was so caught up with work, I didn't get my partner anything.

[Rae1889]

Also, I decided to follow the wiccan way when I was about 7 or 8 years old. My parents are both agnostic, but their parents were either ukrainian orthodox or Protestant *Irish* so they just dealt with the traditions of their parents. But I wanted to celebrate Yule. So they let me add my own touch too.

My favourite is taking oranges and jabbing cloves into them. Covering them completely, then hanging them from various places around the house. They smelt so good.

I also wanted to carve the Yule log with runes and pictures of the sun. The douse it in cider or ale and then light it with a piece of wood left over from the last yule log. *when I was younger I was only allowed to draw on a log that my dad sanded for me* traditionally it was Ash wood that we burned, but occasionally we would use cedar.

My parents are so used to this now, that I have to make clove oranges, and I need to carve the log, otherwise it just doesn't feel like Yule *christmas* I have some pictures kicking around here of watching the pretty carved wood fully in flame!

I can't wait!

[Nakamova]

Rae, I'm picturing tiny cat-sized menorahs, and little catnip dreidels. I hope you don't let the kitties light the candles...

I've love all the lights associated with the winter holidays. In my neighborhood people go all out! So much so that the local arts council runs a benefit trolley tour to view the more spectacularly lit up houses.

[seizingbeauty]

Cinnabar THANK YOU! This thread is perfect, or to follow Rae and Nakamova's line Purrrfect. Funny cuz we gave ourself our Christmas present early this year! We got a Kitty Cat! SO HAPPY! Before going off again...
I understand what you mean when you said "I picked up on no particular traditions because I lived here and there with so many different family members". I decided to create my own tradition, so when I was 15, Christmas Eve I started to watch all the Christmas movies and I do mean all. Stayed up until Christmas Morning. When my daughter came along she would sleep in my arms as I watched. As she got older she would try and stay awake and fall asleep watching with me. Now we celebrate on the 24th and she goes to her Dads Family for the 25th.
Now my bf/hubby and his family share my movie marathon with me. This invovles "spiced"eggnog, scotish shortbread and Christmas cookies. We often play darts will the movies playing inthe back round and his dad gets the fire blazing. Often to the point we need to open a window
I haven't much felt the "Christmas Spirit" yet this year. Barely any snow in Montreal. I have to say typng all this out certainly helped!
Thanks again Cinnabar

[Cinnabar]

Thanks! I'm glad all this is getting you into the spirit. I love your tradition of "movie marathon". There has been a Christmas movie out for some years which I unforntunatley forget the name of but it has to do with a dysfunctional wealthy couple in Conneticut (where I grew up, so I could relate). When it comes to mind, I'll post the name of it here. Really, very funny! And I do love eggnog and short bread. This time of year is a great excuse to indulge in creamy, fattening fare!

[skillefer]

This year, we're doing Christmas in a big way since it's Abigail's first. So as usual, at Thanksgiving we had the traditional turkey dinner. Christmas will be a blend of West Indies and Korea. Curried Chicken, Goat, Bul Go Gi, several West Indies (Indian primarily) sides, rice, etc... We haven't got the tree yet. Most likely this week. Mom in law picked the colors and theme last year, so I got to pick the colors and theme for the house this year. Hubby has already put up the lights. (Surprised he didn't fall from the roof considering he set himself on fire trying to smoke the turkey....key phrase "quit playing with the lighter fluid") This weekend was Christmas candies and cakes...mounds bars, chocolate jumbles, almond bark pretzels, candied pecans, glazed pecans, cherry bread, 5 dozen soft gingerbread cookies, and 2 different kinds of fruitcake. Went to the Christmas parade. Byby loved it...but got scared by the horns on the big trucks. Next weekend is cookie baking. Oh! And tonight is rum balls. LOL....what can I say...my family loves food. Everyone will open 1 present Christmas Eve night...and we'll open presents on Christmas day after everyone is awake and I get my coffee. Oh! And midnight mass on Christmas Eve and driving around to see all the Christmas lights.

[majormana]

are traditon at home was throw up tree put few decorations on it dont think are tree ever had lights and that just dawned on me. And then we open are present from central family meaning siblings and parents christmas eve lets just say not all extended reltives got along with each other. Then on christmas day we'd go to bevy's(family friend nice elderly lady) in the morning for breakfast open presents then for lunch go to my mother's mom's open presents then for dinner we'd go to dad's parents and me and gradad would attack the real cranberry sauce. then open presents and your nuts if you think we were done at that. some years aunt tammy and my cousin would be at granmother's other years not and the years she wasn't we'd all t go back on christmas eve to our house and aunt tammy and my cousin would come in middle of night on christmas betweeen 10 and 12pm and we'd wake up for that gift exchange. Not done yet. Then on 26th every 1's friends would come over and we'd eat snack food while adults talked us kido's exhanged lil things we made for each other then younger ones. As I grew up one by one these traditons tappered off. Now I do my own thing and I'm sure 19 year old sister dose to as for what rest of sibs do I dont have slightest. I go couple places with friends but try to relax now more on christmas. and these were what happend afor my mother was in jail nd her and dad spilt after spilt christmas got more complicated.

[Cinnabar]

Skillefer Indian food in itself. I love it! The combination of West Indies and Corean food sounds so exotic. Would love to give that a try! You get me to thinking that there is more than I can do. Turkey, turkey every year.... How creative that you have color and theme schemes for Chirstmas. This is an example why I'm fascinated with different cultural traditions. Sounds like staging a play! And a Christmas parade is new to me also. What's involved with that? Funny. You are reminding me of some traditions that I've forgotten. I remember now. Midnight mass. The church a glow with candles and the idea of staying up so late as a child!

Enjoy your rum balls tonight!

Marjorama Sounds like you made a whole lot of rounds on Christmas! But nothing like variety. Visiting loved ones. How great that on the 26th you congregate with friends and snack away! My friends get Christmas cards. You're giving me the idea that I should get more involved with them during the holiday. Who says it just has to be all about family? And good for you! Relax time. I think one gets the most out of Christmas when there's that inner calm...

[nana1]

Thanks! I'm glad all this is getting you into the spirit. I love your tradition of "movie marathon". There has been a Christmas movie out for some years which I unforntunatley forget the name of but it has to do with a dysfunctional wealthy couple in Conneticut (where I grew up, so I could relate). When it comes to mind, I'll post the name of it here. Really, very funny! And I do love eggnog and short bread. This time of year is a great excuse to indulge in creamy, fattening fare!

Maybe the show is "White Christmas". It is held up north in snow country at a inn.

[Cint]

Maybe the show is "White Christmas". It is held up north in snow country at a inn.

I'm dreaming of a "white Christmas" up high in the Rocky Mountains with lots of egg nog and hot chocolate by the fireplace on Christmas Eve.

Actually, I'll be in Breckenridge with a friend a few days before Christmas this year. I can't wait. I love Christmas in Colorado!

[Cinnabar]

Nancy Uh...that's not the name. Still trying to rack my brain!

Cindy As you know I had my taste of the mountains for the first time. Lucky lady to celebrate Christmastime in the mountains! My cousin is having an open house at her cabin. Not this year but maybe next, I'll be able to make it!

[Nakamova]

Maybe "The Ref" is the movie you're thinking of...

[Cinnabar]

Nak You've got it. Thanks! It's hysterical! Keep scrolling down for reviews.
http://www.squidoo.com/the-ref

[knothing]

Wow! A lot of good stuff here and really brightens my day!! Now here is my boring/odd stuff. We negotiate a day with the in-laws because my mom claimed Christmas Day ( my father and brother only get that day off work). This year the day is the 19th. Their stuff is really Jesus oriented including singing happy birthday to Jesus. They also have stockings for everyone. Her Dads side also has a Christmas eve party every year.

My mom has the full meal with Turkey and Ham. We open gifts and she always spends too much. My brother and I always tell each other what we are giving each other and if we know what mom is getting us we tell that also ( mom never knows this). he only thing I am in charge of is making sure the eggnog has the proper Rum to Nog ratio even though I don't drink. It seems I have the talent for that.

That is what I call my dysfunctional Christmas.