What is one of your favorite Christmas traditions?

[Nauga Mok]

One of my favorite Christmas traditions was the bag of goodies we got at the Christmas Eve Program at the Church when I was growing up. It was just a paper lunch sack with mixed nuts & peanuts in the shell, an assortment of hard candy, like the old ribbon candy, filled peanut & raspberry candies, a candy cane or two & an Orange. Since I grew up in a small midwest farming community, Oranges were a SPECIAL treat. Two of my fondest memories are; Dad coming home after "doing the Church's Christmas" -- bagging up the goodies. Could always tell by his face if it had been "a good year" or not. On good years EVERYBODY got a sack. On "not so good" years just the kids got them. If there were any extras, they went to the kids of "needy families" in the community. The other great memory was FINALLY getting to help "do the Church's Christmas" in '68. In '69, I joined the Air Force & never got back to that little Church on Christmas Eve again. Writing this makes me wish I was back there this year, but sadly that little Church had to close it's doors for the last time this past Summer. With that in mind, I made up "Church Christmas" for the kids tonight -- complete with the old fashioned ribbon candy, filled peanut & raspberry candies & the all important Orange! The kids may be grown & the Grandkids all moved away & the Great Grand Daughter too little to enjoy such things, but the kids are old enough to remember this story when I tell it to them on Christmas Day.

NM

 

[Juju]

What a great story! I hope you WILL pass on the story and the tradition to your kids and grandkids--it's a story they'll be happy to have at some point in their lives.
Merry Christmas!

 

[rocker bri]

The Mad Rockers ride we do every boxing day come rain or shine.....

 

[Juju]

Rocker, you are my hero!

My bicycling club usually goes for a quick 20-mile ride on Christmas day, but today, with temps in the low 40s and 15-20 mph winds, we may forego that particular tradition in favor of another mug of cocoa in front of the fire.

 

[Nana]

The Mad Rockers ride we do every boxing day come rain or shine.....

Bri, are you still doing that mad ride today? From pictures I've seen of the UK and the news reports, you'd better have snow tires, chains, and a plow on your trike to lead the group through the snow!!!! All I can say is , all your 2-wheeling friends will be wishing they were the ones with a stable ride !
Have fun, and be safe.

My favorite Christmas tradition is the annual Christmas Eve family time.... dinner together with everyone at Nana & Papa's house, then stockings for everyone and gifts under the tree for the grandchildren! We never have all the family here at one time on Christmas, but maybe that's just as well if you've seen the crowd we've got. 11 of us last night was good. Would have been 26 if all of them were here!!!!!!! :drama:

 

[Nauga Mok]

Nana, your family sounds a bit like Dad's. He had 5 brothers. Each brother had 3 kids except him, (2) & his youngest brother (5) for a total of 19 grandkids. Grandma & Grandpa + each family & kids added up to a house filling 33 + guests. Each family took a turn, so it didn't overload Grandma's health. These get togethers were BIG, planned, "pot luck" type dinners. Back then families were a lot tighter than now, so one family didn't "hog" all the holidays. The way this worked was Dad's family got Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving day & Christmas dinner on New Year's Day this year, & next year, Thanksgiving dinner was the Sunday after & Christmas Dinner was on Christmas Day. That plan worked well & the wive's families had their dinners too on the "off" or "on" holiday. Mom's family wasn't so big, but it usually extended out to the local Aunt's & Uncles (Grandpa had a HUGE family) & their families so the actual head count was nearly that of Dad's family. Of course, there were guift exchanges -- I think we had a $2 limit. With the adults, it was kind of a game as to now inventive they could get with just $2! I remember one year, Mom got this BIG package. Inside that was another package, and another inside that. Since it started out as a 15 doz egg crate, it seems there were about 10 or so "layers" before she got down to the actual item. Needless to say, our families had a LOT of fun with the Holidays!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

NM

 

[tis]

You stirred some fond memories for me. Ribbon candy all colors, also the decorations in the living room stretching from the four corners of the ceiling & being held up in the center of the room with one of those paper bells or balls that would unfold.

 

[Gorilla]

Christmas Eve Dinner
Midnight Mass
Present opening

 

[RiderRick]

Family gatherings with lots of food and laughter. Remembering the less fortunate. Happy smiling children, special Christmas music and not forgetting to give thanks and remember the true meaning of Christmas. Making memories to enjoy after its all over.