OT: Favorite Christmas Tradition

Okay everyone...let's get nostalgic!  What's your favorite family Christmas tradition? For me it's watching all my nieces and nephews put on their "production."  Every year the nieces and nephews (or at least the ones that haven't become to proud) put on some sort of song and dance that they have all orchestrated.  They usually talk over the phone for weeks before and then the older ones get the youngers ones involved to do their part.  I haven't heard any rumbles about it this year, but I certainly hope they're still planning on doing one, even if it is last minute.  Watching the kids strut their stuff is probably my favorite moment of the entire year! How about you...what do you look forward to this time of you?

My favorite tradition is going to church Chrismas Eve then coming home having hot chocolate (SF this year) and watching the grandchildren decide which present they want to open that night. They only get to pick one! Santa comes while we are a church.We have done this since I was a child and my daughters were children and now it has gone on to another generation. It just warms my heart!   Hugs  connie d

my whole family used to go to grandma and grandpa's house in Dearing Kansas (my hometown) Christmas Eve to open gifts and nibble on appetizers. Then Santa would make it to our house while we were gone to grans and leave our gifts. Gran passed away this past October so the tradition is now over, each family will carry on for thier own... very sad, but life moves on I suppose.

My favortie tradition was when I was a child. We use to go to candle light service at 10pm on Christmas Eve  with lots of family. Then we would go home and my parents, brother, sister, and I would open presents in our PJS. It would take hours I think we would make it to bed around 1-2am and then santa would come (I always woke the house) and we would open presents all over again. The rest of the day was spent with family. Now that we are older its harder to keep traditions with little kids and all. I will always remember those Christmas's and just smile.

Tracy's - that is so cute! What a wonderful tradition. Mine? I loved listening to my Dad's selection of Christmas music on the old turn table stereo we had growing up and opening presents surrounded by family, having an Italian Christmas dinner complete with Dad's homemade marinara sauce and meatballs, and now that we've grown up, it is the infamous 7's, 9's or Doubles white elephant dice game our entire family plays on  Christmas Eve. It is noisey & boisterous, but always filled with fun. Thanks Tracy! Great to travel down the lane...