What holiday traditions do you have with your family and loved ones?

***Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds*** · 12-11-2009, 10:03 AM

Traditions are at the heart of every relationship, since repeating actions help form our bonds.

With AI moved here to Australia, his normal holiday traditions were kind of thrown on their head, not only because Christmas is suddenly in the middle of summer, but because we also lack the celebrations of Halloween and Thanksgiving, which really make this end of the year "the holiday season" for many people (and since my birthday is always right around Thanksgiving, we already celebrate something in that week XD).

My own family doesn't have too many real traditions; we have Christmas eve dinner and Christmas morning breakfast (after opening the presents, of course). We've now added in lunch, where I cook up a delicious turkey, and due to the obscene amounts of food already consumed, dinner is usually just a light salad... if anything.

Putting up the tree could be something of a tradition, though it's more of a general "let's do the Christmas thing", as far as I'm concerned. XD

We've started a new tradition of watching the movie A Christmas Story every year, too, since it was something AI watched back at home (apparently one TV station used to play it over and over all day, so their family declared it a fantastic tradition).

Eagle Eye · 12-11-2009, 10:25 AM

My family rotates Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.

One aunt/uncle has dinner at their house Thanksgiving, and then a different one on Christmas Eve. During the Christmas Eve dinner, each aunt/uncle always has an early present to give to all the nephews/nieces, not sure if that's still going to happen now, seeing that almost all of us are over 21. One of my aunts in particular always hosts Christmas Day Dinner, and then yet another aunt/uncle hosts New Year's Eve, in which everyone gets drunk celebrating the new year, and then we all go home the next morning.

Good times, especially when I was younger.

Joker · 12-11-2009, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds

We've started a new tradition of watching the movie A Christmas Story every year, too, since it was something AI watched back at home (apparently one TV station used to play it over and over all day, so their family declared it a fantastic tradition).

^ A Christmas Story is played non-stop 24-7 on certain cable channels here in the states.

As a kid every Christmas we hung our Christmas stockings for Santa. And all of my family from my mothers’ side used to get together at my Grandmother's house and we either would have Christmas Eve dinner or Christmas Day Dinner at her house as a family.

One important holiday tradition that I had as a child involves a small fake mini Christmas tree that my mother used to put up in the room that my little brother and I shared. Every Christmas this small little fake tree with its cheap colored Christmas lights would illuminate our room at night and give me the sense of Christmas. As my brother and I grew up and took separate rooms we would switch out whose room the little tree would stay in up until Christmas. After I moved out of the house and into the dorm room in college my brother kept the tree at home and subsequently still has it to this day.

As for my family at home, my wife and I have a few special traditions that we share with our son. We always go Christmas tree hunting the weekend before Christmas and we always wake up that Saturday morning have hot chocolate and doughnuts and then go tree hunting. On Christmas Eve we usually visit my family both my mothers and fathers since I have the bigger family. On Christmas day we bring flowers to my father-in law’s grave and have my son say Merry Christmas to his grandpa and great grandmother. Then since I used to get every damn thing I ever wanted from Santa on Christmas including the most ruinously priced video games, I know that my son wants nothing more than to spend the day at home playing to his hearts content with all his new stuff. So we head home and the rest of the day I spend in peaceful quiet with my wife while my son sits zombified in front of the TV having at it with his newest game or in his room with what ever mountain of toys he decided to try out first.

(My son is very spoiled so he gets a lot of toys from both sides of our family) Lucky bastard….

Eagle Eye · 12-11-2009, 11:22 AM

Reason #15 why I don't want a daughter, I'll spoil the hell out of her (I'll spoil both of them, but still).

ZeldaGirl · 12-11-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

We've started a new tradition of watching the movie A Christmas Story every year, too, since it was something AI watched back at home (apparently one TV station used to play it over and over all day, so their family declared it a fantastic tradition).

We do that too!

I love it.

We don't have many traditions, but every year, my dad (with the help from his kids) decorates the house with bajillions of lights. Seriously, we're on the news every year because there are so many.

***Booyakasha*** · 12-11-2009, 01:46 PM

Our big family tradition is for the whole extended clan to rent a couple hotel rooms at the local Best Western and gather there for Christmas Eve---loads of room there for people to hang out, makes it easier for all the out-of-towners to find a place to sleep, and we don't have to worry too much about cleaning up afterwards. Kids can swim, adults can play pool or ping-pong or piss away money in the game room. Works out great.

***Heroine of the Dragon*** · 12-11-2009, 06:20 PM

I used to enjoy the "putting up the tree" tradition with the old tree we had. And having lunch with our extended family with all the mayhem that came with that.

I kinda started my own "tradition" some years ago. My tradition has been to buy immediate family (and some friends) a Christmas tree decoration every year. They might find it odd, but I love shopping for Christmas decorations and sharing them!!! I also have my own collection which seems to be added to each year, as well!!!

**Valigarmander** · 12-11-2009, 08:33 PM

We go celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with my mom's side of the family usually. We visit my dad's side on Christmas Eve. My dad's side of the family is the more boring one, though.

Don't tell them I said that.

Bomby · 12-11-2009, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds

We've started a new tradition of watching the movie A Christmas Story every year, too, since it was something AI watched back at home (apparently one TV station used to play it over and over all day, so their family declared it a fantastic tradition).

Haha, I always have to watch at least a little bit of it every year.

Christmas Eve = Family get together with my mom's side of the family. It used to be at my grandparents' house until my grandmother passed away back in '05.

Christmas Day = Early morning gifts, awesome breakfast, spending the rest of the day doing not much at all.

I'm thinking of adopting the English and Japanese tradition of eating a cake on Christmas. It sounds like a delicious way to spend a day.

***CaptHayfever*** · 12-11-2009, 11:44 PM

We normally decorate the tree together, but as I won't be home until the 22nd this year, I'll probably miss that.
Mass on Christmas Eve, followed by a drive around the neighborhood to look at lights, & a single present opening each once we get home.
The stockings & the rest of the presents come the next morning, along with (usually) pancakes. Then we get the house ready for family to come for lunch/dinner. After that, we may or may not go see other family later in the evening.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

Mushi · 12-11-2009, 11:48 PM

Tamales. They make so many tamales. Four hundred tamales.

Jere · 12-12-2009, 04:35 AM

Tamale - Weebl's Stuff

Hehe.

Gathering and eating with the close family at christmas and on new years eve most part of the family tries to come up here, and if we do some math, first we have my father and his 5 siblings plus their other halfs and then we have us cousins and we are about 19, this equals a hellova party.

Dylan · 12-14-2009, 06:04 PM

My extended family usually celebrates a little early, since it's hard for everyone to be together all at once.

On Christmas Eve, my parents, sister and maternal grandma drive up to see grandma's oldest sistergo to an evening service at church. It's not midnight mass or anything; it all goes down at around 6-7 p.m.

Christmas is the usual stuff: Wake up at about 6 a.m., call Grandma over and open the **** outta 'dem presents, hell yes.

Panfan · 12-14-2009, 06:55 PM

Night before Christmas Eve: eat cookies, watch tv, maybe play a few rounds of Star Wars Battlefront or NBA Jam with my brother, open 1 or 2 presents, practice choir songs and instrumentals for church

Christmas Eve: open a few presents in the morning, sandwiches for lunch, very light snack around 5 or 6, church, snacks like mozzerella sticks, pizza rolls, and party pizzas for dinner, open rest of presents

Christmas Day: Church, naps

This year we're also bringing back the old family tradition of making homemade slushes.

Also it's a Christmas tradition for me and my siblings to see how pissed we can get our oldest sister in the few days she's home.

**Galefore** · 12-17-2009, 05:24 PM

Before Christmas, usually the Friday before, we have a church Christmas party. It's usually hectic, but I have pleasant memories of previous parties where I would use sticks as swords when I was a kid. I remember once when there were some church teenagers who were like 'wtf sticks u gaiz r dumb' and with my youthful excitment I had all of them playing our little game of BATTLE SWORD WARRIORS too. Also, one year I tried using that riddle the Bone guy in SMRPG tells you in yet another game and mistold it horribly. For the last few years, though, since I grew older and so did all of the other kids, it's been less awesomewinfun and more 'k so lets socialize with church ppl and ****'.

Church before Christmas is usually a Christmas message with food and sometimes a program.

We usually eat a very awesome meal on Christmas Eve (including Grandma's dressing, which is win****ingtastic) and then wait a bit to open the presents. I usually hand them out, and then sit down and tear them all open. Then, with everything in tow, I cart them back to the house (Grandma's house is directly across from ours) and sit down to enjoy each individual object.

Christmas day is usually just the aftermath; we continue to indulge our newly created excesses and sleep a lot.

Yeah, sure, it's rather average... but it's still awesome stfu

***The Doctor*** · 12-20-2009, 04:27 PM

Christmas Eve: I finish work, deliver presents to friends. Go home have tea. Then watch A nightmare before christmas, then I'll watch Xmas episodes of Doc Who.

Christmas Day: Open Presents. Visit Local cousins and give them their presents. Go back home and wait for grandparents to arrive, then have a big christmas meal with them, parents, and my sister. Watch the new Christmas Episode of Doc Who. Buffet meal. Say goodbye to grandparents. Bed

Boxing Day (26th): Is my London cousins birthday. So we go around there. And that's usually a buffet meal, board games, and way to many people for my liking.

12-11-2009, 11:48 PM	#11
Mushi Derp Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Looking at you. I can read your mind. Gender: Posts: 6,982 Thanks: 179 Thanked 351 Times in 271 Posts	Tamales. They make so many tamales. Four hundred tamales. __________________

12-11-2009, 10:03 AM	#1
*Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds* Admin "mine.. not yours. NO. MINE." Epic Ladynerd Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Forteresse de Valois Gender: Posts: 28,504 Thanks: 1,658 Thanked 1,820 Times in 1,042 Posts	What holiday traditions do you have with your family and loved ones? Traditions are at the heart of every relationship, since repeating actions help form our bonds. With AI moved here to Australia, his normal holiday traditions were kind of thrown on their head, not only because Christmas is suddenly in the middle of summer, but because we also lack the celebrations of Halloween and Thanksgiving, which really make this end of the year "the holiday season" for many people (and since my birthday is always right around Thanksgiving, we already celebrate something in that week XD). My own family doesn't have too many real traditions; we have Christmas eve dinner and Christmas morning breakfast (after opening the presents, of course). We've now added in lunch, where I cook up a delicious turkey, and due to the obscene amounts of food already consumed, dinner is usually just a light salad... if anything. Putting up the tree could be something of a tradition, though it's more of a general "let's do the Christmas thing", as far as I'm concerned. XD We've started a new tradition of watching the movie A Christmas Story every year, too, since it was something AI watched back at home (apparently one TV station used to play it over and over all day, so their family declared it a fantastic tradition).

12-11-2009, 10:25 AM	#2
Eagle Eye Diddy bops Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Birmingham, AL Gender: Posts: 15,014 Thanks: 1,616 Thanked 1,084 Times in 597 Posts	My family rotates Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. One aunt/uncle has dinner at their house Thanksgiving, and then a different one on Christmas Eve. During the Christmas Eve dinner, each aunt/uncle always has an early present to give to all the nephews/nieces, not sure if that's still going to happen now, seeing that almost all of us are over 21. One of my aunts in particular always hosts Christmas Day Dinner, and then yet another aunt/uncle hosts New Year's Eve, in which everyone gets drunk celebrating the new year, and then we all go home the next morning. Good times, especially when I was younger.

12-11-2009, 11:22 AM	#4
Eagle Eye Diddy bops Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Birmingham, AL Gender: Posts: 15,014 Thanks: 1,616 Thanked 1,084 Times in 597 Posts	Reason #15 why I don't want a daughter, I'll spoil the hell out of her (I'll spoil both of them, but still).

12-11-2009, 01:46 PM	#6
*Booyakasha* SuperMod of War Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wisconsinland Gender: Posts: 9,945 Thanks: 157 Thanked 1,481 Times in 763 Posts	Our big family tradition is for the whole extended clan to rent a couple hotel rooms at the local Best Western and gather there for Christmas Eve---loads of room there for people to hang out, makes it easier for all the out-of-towners to find a place to sleep, and we don't have to worry too much about cleaning up afterwards. Kids can swim, adults can play pool or ping-pong or piss away money in the game room. Works out great.

12-11-2009, 06:20 PM	#7
*Heroine of the Dragon* The Grinnie Fool! ♥♥♥ VGFCodes Staff Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Twinklebutton Wintersprout Gender: Posts: 31,454 Thanks: 864 Thanked 851 Times in 632 Posts Blog Entries: 1	I used to enjoy the "putting up the tree" tradition with the old tree we had. And having lunch with our extended family with all the mayhem that came with that. I kinda started my own "tradition" some years ago. My tradition has been to buy immediate family (and some friends) a Christmas tree decoration every year. They might find it odd, but I love shopping for Christmas decorations and sharing them!!! I also have my own collection which seems to be added to each year, as well!!!

12-11-2009, 08:33 PM	#8
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,700 Times in 2,580 Posts Blog Entries: 20	We go celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with my mom's side of the family usually. We visit my dad's side on Christmas Eve. My dad's side of the family is the more boring one, though. Don't tell them I said that.

12-11-2009, 11:44 PM	#10
*CaptHayfever* Smash SuperMod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 27,659 Thanks: 1,991 Thanked 2,486 Times in 1,513 Posts	We normally decorate the tree together, but as I won't be home until the 22nd this year, I'll probably miss that. Mass on Christmas Eve, followed by a drive around the neighborhood to look at lights, & a single present opening each once we get home. The stockings & the rest of the presents come the next morning, along with (usually) pancakes. Then we get the house ready for family to come for lunch/dinner. After that, we may or may not go see other family later in the evening. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

12-12-2009, 04:35 AM	#12
Jere Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sutme Gender: Posts: 3,648 Thanks: 404 Thanked 331 Times in 256 Posts Blog Entries: 3	Tamale - Weebl's Stuff Hehe. Gathering and eating with the close family at christmas and on new years eve most part of the family tries to come up here, and if we do some math, first we have my father and his 5 siblings plus their other halfs and then we have us cousins and we are about 19, this equals a hellova party.

12-14-2009, 06:04 PM	#13
Dylan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Teenage Wasteland Gender: Posts: 7,790 Thanks: 1,632 Thanked 1,816 Times in 773 Posts	My extended family usually celebrates a little early, since it's hard for everyone to be together all at once. On Christmas Eve, my parents, sister and maternal grandma drive up to see grandma's oldest sistergo to an evening service at church. It's not midnight mass or anything; it all goes down at around 6-7 p.m. Christmas is the usual stuff: Wake up at about 6 a.m., call Grandma over and open the **** outta 'dem presents, hell yes.

12-14-2009, 06:55 PM	#14
Panfan AND HE PRAYS Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grayskull Gender: Posts: 18,806 Thanks: 1,405 Thanked 2,247 Times in 1,337 Posts Blog Entries: 15	Night before Christmas Eve: eat cookies, watch tv, maybe play a few rounds of Star Wars Battlefront or NBA Jam with my brother, open 1 or 2 presents, practice choir songs and instrumentals for church Christmas Eve: open a few presents in the morning, sandwiches for lunch, very light snack around 5 or 6, church, snacks like mozzerella sticks, pizza rolls, and party pizzas for dinner, open rest of presents Christmas Day: Church, naps This year we're also bringing back the old family tradition of making homemade slushes. Also it's a Christmas tradition for me and my siblings to see how pissed we can get our oldest sister in the few days she's home.

12-17-2009, 05:24 PM	#15
Galefore EXPLOSION GOD OF MUSIC Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Some studio somewhere Gender: Posts: 8,275 Thanks: 1,361 Thanked 826 Times in 535 Posts Blog Entries: 5	Before Christmas, usually the Friday before, we have a church Christmas party. It's usually hectic, but I have pleasant memories of previous parties where I would use sticks as swords when I was a kid. I remember once when there were some church teenagers who were like 'wtf sticks u gaiz r dumb' and with my youthful excitment I had all of them playing our little game of BATTLE SWORD WARRIORS too. Also, one year I tried using that riddle the Bone guy in SMRPG tells you in yet another game and mistold it horribly. For the last few years, though, since I grew older and so did all of the other kids, it's been less awesomewinfun and more 'k so lets socialize with church ppl and **'. Church before Christmas is usually a Christmas message with food and sometimes a program. We usually eat a very awesome meal on Christmas Eve (including Grandma's dressing, which is win*ingtastic) and then wait a bit to open the presents. I usually hand them out, and then sit down and tear them all open. Then, with everything in tow, I cart them back to the house (Grandma's house is directly across from ours) and sit down to enjoy each individual object. Christmas day is usually just the aftermath; we continue to indulge our newly created excesses and sleep a lot. Yeah, sure, it's rather average... but it's still awesome stfu*

12-20-2009, 04:27 PM	#16
*The Doctor* The Last Timelord. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: In the TARDIS Gender: Posts: 13,880 Thanks: 915 Thanked 656 Times in 426 Posts Blog Entries: 1	Christmas Eve: I finish work, deliver presents to friends. Go home have tea. Then watch A nightmare before christmas, then I'll watch Xmas episodes of Doc Who. Christmas Day: Open Presents. Visit Local cousins and give them their presents. Go back home and wait for grandparents to arrive, then have a big christmas meal with them, parents, and my sister. Watch the new Christmas Episode of Doc Who. Buffet meal. Say goodbye to grandparents. Bed Boxing Day (26th): Is my London cousins birthday. So we go around there. And that's usually a buffet meal, board games, and way to many people for my liking.