kit'smamma

I gather that I'm a lot older than those who've posted. During end of depression and WWII with rationing and no $$ my brother and I always had, not only the orange in the stocking but new tooth brush, comb, some walnuts to shell and other items of usefulness. Under the tree would be pjs, winter underwear, socks etc. Mom always knit a new pair of mittens for us. How I remember leaving a note for Santa telling him that I was too grown up for dolls so he shouldn't leave any doll clothes. Of course my long suffering mother had been up til midnight for nights before making a lovely dress of some taffeta from a dress I'd outgrown for my favorite doll. I remember very clearly that it was white with tiny pink roses. Along with the dress there was a pink hand knit sweater with pearl buttons. I'm 74 and my dear mother died in 1964 and I'd still like to apologize. I suppose I did in a way because I played with that doll all day that Christmas and for several years afterward. Among her few souvenirs found after she died was that letter so I think she and Pop had a good chuckle over the incident. I certainly hope so.

wraez

Yes we did that too, but also put out a can of beer instead of milk...

running1

We always bake a birthday cake for Jesus' birthday... usually an angel food cake... after we open gifts we have birthday cake for breakfast... we even sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus. We always tried to make sure the children kept in mind the reason for the celebration...

I, too, have fond memories of finding trinkets and fruit in my stocking. When my sisters and I were old enough, my older sis suggested that the three of us fill Momma and Daddy's stockings. They agreed and it was great fun. We would fill their socks and cover them with a sheet and head to bed. About the second year of this, my sis said, "hey, let's hide the fruit," knowing that fruit had become the mainstay of stocking-filling. We left a little note in the fruit bin of the fridge: "ho ho ho"...
only to find potatoes, onions, and carrots in our stockings with a note: "ho ho ho!"

We've had a lot of fun with that one over the years...

Christmas is coming!!!

gramajo

When my daughters were young, they were allowed to open 1 gift Christmas Eve & I got to choose which one. It was always a new dress they could (were expected to lol) wear on Christmas Day.

I make Christmas Eve dinner now & since I cooked, DDs were expected to clean up, put everything away & do dishes. When my GS was an infant, I decided to start the tradition of reading him "The Night Before Christmas" while the girls were cleaning up. Each year, I got a new book age-appropriate for him. In turn, when GD came along, I had the 2 of them in the big chair with me. Two years ago, they were 10 & 13. Their mom had found a recordable "Night Before Christmas" & they had recorded it to read to me. :thumbup: I cried, but they've "read" to me ever since. :D

QuiltnNan

awww, that is so sweet!!! what a special time with them.

Gramie bj

My children are spread over long distance now. Mi,Id, an here in Wa have not had them all together in over 12 years, but DH and I still keep to one tradation started when I was a child. Because Christmas day was so busy with Church, Large meal, all kinds of family and friends gathering together. We had a family only night on Cristmas Eve, no big meal,(thats what people who don,t prepare the food say, LOL)our menue is cold food only, smoked turkey summer saug, crab, shrimp, smoked oysters, Pickeled fish (my Gran father was from Denmark and loved this, it is an aquired taste,) all kinds of cheese, crackers, raw veg. and dips, cheese logs, you get the idea, we spend the nite remmembering loved ones we have lost(my Granfather has ben gone almost 40 years and I still get one pickeled fish sent to me by a friend from pikes market in Seattle every year, and evey year my kids and grands all ask how could Grand-pa-dad eat this stuff! I just laugh and my Granmother, Mom and I have a bite in rememberence of him. We talk about past Christmas, laugh, play board games, and listen for bells, and chase the kids away from picking at the gifts under the tree. All gifts go home with those who live close to be opened Christmas morning.

QuiltnNan

sounds wonderful

athomenow

Christmas Eve as a kid was when we went to town to see Santa Claus. If it didn't snow he came to town in the back of a pickup truck with all the paper bags of fruit and candy. Then back home to discover he had already been to the house and the presents were under the tree. Took us years to figure that one out. So much fun. Thanks for the memories!

Pam B

We ALWAYS spent Christmas Eve at my grandparent's house. After I had grown and was married and my grandfather had passed away (my mom and grandmother had both passed away years before) we (my family and my brother's family) started ALWAYS spending Christmas Eve at my dad/stepmom's house. Life has a way of going on and becoming more complicated. My nieces have grown and married and now have their in-law families to consider and we now have 2 married children, as well. Last year we were able to get everyone together at my DS/DIL's house on Dec. 30th. (My dad/stepmom are not physically able to host anymore, although they would still like to and my house is not handicap accessible for my brother). Who knows what we will do this year? I find myself feeling very nostalgic on Christmas Eve.

Willa

Growing up we always went to the Christmas eve church program and got a bag of nuts, fruit, and candy. On Christmas we'd get up real early to go to my grandparents 2 hours away. All the cousins would have a great time playing and sometime during the day we'd sing happy birthday to my grandpa and brother. When my grandma was still around we'd each get the most wonderful popcorn balls. I still remember her popcorn balls and her smile. With my kids we eat breakfast before they can open even one gift they used to hate to wait now they like the breakfast thing first.