Originally Posted by
alwayslearning
When my sister, six years older than me, decided she was too old for Christmas stockings, none of us got them any more. I was 5 or 6 and felt she took something away from me. But then my father suggested we revive a tradition from his family called Christmas pie, which we had after dinner. In a big bowl covered with wrapping paper with strings or ribbon coming out of the bowl, there was one more small gift for each of us. Each got a chance to pull their string with their name on it. It also kept us all around the table until the meal was really finished for every one.
That is sad. In my house I told each of my 5 kids as they got old enough and told me they no longer believed that if they shared those thoughts with the younger ones they wouldn't get anything. I think kids should believe and I think that traditions are something that binds us. For my grandson we started up the german "pickle" tradition. After all of the presents are handed out the kids get to search the tree for the pickle ornament and who ever finds it gets a special gift. We also have hanging on the tree Santa's magic key that allows him access to the house since they have no fireplace like his GiGi does. That cuts down on the questions. The stockings were something that my kids really looked forward to because it was the one thing that as soon as they got up they could open even if no one else was up. It was Mommy and Daddy's way of being able to sleep in on Christmas and still have the kids be happy. My daughter is at the beginning of her relationship with a great boy but one whose mom would only get each person one thing and there were never no stockings so I tried to make sure this year that he knew our traditions so that my daughter could still have a great Christmas with the man she loves and their house would be full of laughter and joy. Christmas is one day of the year that I don't want my kids upset if possible; that and their birthday. I'm glad you dad did start up another tradition that sounds like fun.