|
|
Holiday
traditions are very important to families, and it's so
much fun to learn about traditions that others celebrate!
Enjoy reading the following traditions and you may just
find some that you want to "adopt" for your
family:
|
Copyright
© 2003-2008 The BananaNana Shoppe |
 When
my son was little - very young - maybe about 3 years old, we
would celebrate on Christmas Eve by making a cake for Jesus.
For every year that we celebrate, we would add a candle. It
was a birthday for Jesus...after all, it is His birthday. My
son loved it and I intend on doing this with him when he gets
older. Wow, I am going to be a Nana on August 19,2008! I can
hardly wait to carry on the tradition.
-Shelia H. |
 We
have several traditions that our family enjoys each Christmas.
One of my favorites is giving my two young daughters a new (age
appropriate) story book about Christmas each Christmas Eve.
This Christmas will be our 5th Christmas doing this. The first
year we started with a board book!! Last year it was Dr. Seuss.
We read the new book together just before bed on Christmas Eve.
I have also continued the tradition started by my mother when
I was a child of giving each of our girls new PJs to open on
Christmas Eve. I always wrap the PJs in wrapping paper personalized
with their first names (makes it easy to find the right boxes
under the tree on Christmas Eve!!).
Last year, I purchased a decorative storage trunk to store all
of the Christmas Eve books that we anticipate accumulating over
the years to come. I am also keeping a photo album in the trunk
with photographs of Christmases past. We place the trunk next
to the Christmas tree during the holiday season. My girls were
thrilled this past weekend when we brought the "treasure
chest" up from storage. We've been reading Christmas books
each night before bed. Many years to come, I think it will be
very special to look through the trunk on Christmas Eve, read
stories, and reminisce over old photographs.
-Lisa H., Tennessee |
In
our family, we celebrate the 12 days of Christmas by opening
1 stocking stuffer each night for 12 nights. The anticipation
has always made the kids’ excitement skyrocket and
cuts down on them asking to open a gift from under the tree
too early. The stocking stuffers are normally no more than
$1 – 3 each, so it’s not expensive but so much
fun!! Then, on Christmas Eve we open the gifts from under
the tree (from the family), and Santa’s gifts are
waiting on Christmas morning!
-Jennifer
D./Boca Raton, FL
|
| |
|
My
24 year old daughter made me a Grandmother September 5, 2005.
It touched my heart when she asked me last week if we were
still carrying on the tradition at Christmas. Without any
hesitation I said, "Yes honey, we still sing Happy Birthday
to Jesus on Christmas morning." She then told me that
her family does the same.
Merry Christmas!
-Donna B./Myrtle Beach, SC
|
Before
Christmas my mother and I or my sister in law get together
and bake cookies and treats. We put our tree up the
day after thanksgiving and I always buy my kids each a new
ornament to add to the tree each year.
Christmas
Eve we stay home and have family time except we attend Christmas
Eve service at our church. During the day the kids and I
make gingerbread cookies for Santa and they mix together
glitter and oatmeal for the reindeer. When church
is over we come home and put on our pj's and watch Christmas
movies we rented the day before and eat popcorn. The kids
get to set out the presents they got for each other and
then they set out the cookies for Santa. Before going
to bed we sprinkle glitter and oatmeal out on the front
lawn for the reindeer.
-Jason
B.
|
|
Our
family tradition started 34 years ago when my oldest sister
was born. My parents gave her her first ornament and a new
pair of pajamas. Since then every Christmas Eve my parents
give my sister, brother and I a special ornament and a new
pair of pajamas. Even as adults we have a fun time opening
the gifts. It has evolved now to were my sisters husband and
my husband buy our ornaments and pajamas. My husband and I
have continued the tradition with our son, my parents first
grandbaby. As we all have gotten older and moved out of the
house my parents gave us a wonderful collection of ornaments
to decorate our own trees. Growing up every year we would
attend Christmas Mass, come home open our new pajamas and
ornament then head to bed so Santa could arrive. We are in
new pajamas in all of our pictures on Christmas morning. It
is a simple tradition that has the deepest of meaning to all
of us.
Warmest Holiday Wishes.
Kristine, New Hampshire
|
I
started buying each of my children a Christmas ornament
(most of them dated with that year) from the time they were
born. Each year, we put all the old ones on plus added the
new ones. When they grew up & left home, that 1st Christmas,
they recieved ALL their ornaments (lovingly wrapped &
in a gift box) as one of their gifts that year. They now
enjoy all of their ornaments on their own trees, in their
own homes!
P.S. I'm also doing this for my grandbaby!
-Omi
(Shelby
A.)
|
|
Our
Christmas Family tradition actually started last year...I
wanted to start one so we all got together and brainstormed.
My sister Julia came up with making a Christmas ornament.
We pick names and make an ornament for that person. :) It
was so much fun. All of the family sitting around the table
that was full of crafts and creative things to use. It was
really interesting to see someone like my husband who doesn't
craft and how great his turned out. :) So that is our family
tradition.
-Autumn D.
|
Our
family holiday tradition is every x-mas eve, we have a pasty
dinner. This started when our kids were little, Josh, Jessica
& Ella. We didn't want to travel on Christmas Eve to
any of the grandparent's homes as we lived a distance away,
so I started baking cornish pastys, a family favorite, every
xmas eve. Now that the children are grown and have children
of their own, our home is their x-mas eve stop. Everyone
loves to come home on Christmas eve. I bake pastys for everyone
including the little ones and serve with cucumber &
onion slices marinated in vinegar. Jessica and Ella help
me prepare them as it's a big job, chopping the beef, slicing
thin slices of potatoe & onion, grating carrots and
then using this mixture in individual home made pie crust.
(I deserve a "star-good" for that) We bake them
and then feast. Another part of the tradition are the laminated
paper placemats Ella made in 2nd grade. Larry and I (dad
& mom) Josh, Jessica & Ella each have their own
placemat. So I use for xmas eve dinner. Son-in-laws &
grandkids have cloth placemats. A small gift with x-mas
theme is given to everyone (ornament, x-mas socks, pins,
etc).
Up until last year, everyone would spend the night and play
cards, mom (me) would fall asleep on the couch. We would
open remaining gifts x-mas day. But now, with other family
obligations, gifts are opened Christmas eve.
|
| |
Since
my granddaughter Katie has a birthday on 12/23 and my mom
has hers on 12/21 (she'll be 88!), we have a tradition of
having a holiday/birthday brunch the Saturday morning before
Christmas. Even though we try to keep the birthdays separate
from Christmas, I think they get cheated so I started a half
birthday celebration in June for them.
--Gram JoAnne
|
| |
My
favorite Christmas tradition began when our children were
preschoolers. Each Christmas Eve they (along
with any cousins present) act out the Christmas story while
an adult family member or older child reads the passage
from Luke 2. Now our grandchildren are continuing
the tradition. The children help with the simple
costumes, props and assign the various parts...angels, shepherds,
Mary & Joseph etc. It is very special when
there is a new baby in the family to play baby Jesus.
-Mama Gail
|
|
About
2 weeks before Christmas, my 2 daughters and I pile up in
the car and go shopping for our Christmas tree. We have so
much fun piling them all on one car! Each daughter and their
families decorate their own tree, then they all come to my
house to decorate mine. We play all my Christmas albums and
bake cookies and sing.
In
the past, the first 2 ornaments that were hung on the tree
were 2 red Santas that were the first ornaments my husband
and I bought for our first tree. I have given each daughter
one of those ornaments, and now they are the first thing hung
on their trees, in remembrance of their Dad. The first things
hung on my tree now are ornaments that were hung on my grandparents
first tree in 1948, the year I was born.
Another
tradition we have is driving around every weekend before Christmas
looking at the beautiful homes around Dallas. I used to take
my daughters, but since we all have smaller cars now, I gather
up all the grandkids and take them. On the way home we always
stop for hot chocolate.
It's
so wonderful being a grandma and to see all the traditions
being handed down in my family. Happy Holidays Everyone!
-Granny
Linda
|
|
Hi,
my name is Grandma Bushka,
Our
holiday traditions are going to midnight mass, hanging stockings
over the fire place. We have the traditional sit down dinner,
with ham, sweet potatoes,and all the trimmings. Then everyone
sits around the tree to open their presents. I love watching
the children's eyes, as they open up their gifts.
We
decorate five christmas trees, have about 20 moving dolls,
and we have Santa in his sleigh. The inside of
the house looks so good you hate to take the decorations
down. Christmas is a very special time of the year, and
I make it worthwhile. I also bake all sort of cookies, that
everyone likes. One thing I will say if you leave my house
hungry, it is your fault.
So
Merry Christmas from the Bushka family, to all of you.
-Grandma
Bushka
|
When
we were little girls, my parents allowed us to open one gift
the night before Christmas. My grandparents would always
buys us pj's and that was the gift that we would open the
night before Christmas. We
would and still have our evening meal which is tortier (meat
pie) and then have our baths and then sit around the tree
and open our gift.
My
parents who are now grandparents are now the ones to buy the
pj's for their grand kids and just bought my four month old
daughter her first christmas pj's.
-Debbysue
D.
|
Our
holiday traditions include cutting down our Christmas tree,
which is an all day affair. We head out to East Texas in
the morning, to our favorite Christmas tree farm. If we're
really lucky, Santa is there. There is always a bonfire
and hay rides, and it usually takes several hours and many
hot chocolates to find the perfect tree. Then it's off to
the cutest restaurant you've ever seen for a late lunch,
early dinner. The whole town gets together every year and
decorates every inch, inside and out, of the restaurant.
Lots of lights and animated characters, with a different
theme every year...just beautiful.
Another tradition is throwing a carrot on the roof Christmas
eve for the reindeer on their journey.
And music -- we have started going to the Transiberian Orchestra
Christmas show every year. Then, there's the annual Gingerbread
house made with the grandkids (way too much fun!).
-Grandma Kathy
|
We
don't have a real tree (tried that once), but we love to decorate
our tree with all the sentimental ornaments -- things the
girls made when they were young and now decorations from the
grandkids to add.
Prior to Christmas, we make different kinds of chocolate candies.
Our favorite (because it tastes great and is so easy to make)
is Rocky Road. We make lots of it and package it to give to
our neighbors, friends and family.
We like to attend Christmas Eve service -- I especially enjoy
singing all my favorite Christmas hymns.
The whole family gets together Christmas day -- after everyone
tries to figure out their schedule so they can be with all
family members. The girls like to tease me about my holiday
table -- I become "Martha Stewart" with my decorations
(much less work involved for my decorations, though). And,
several years ago, we all decided we wanted a change in our
usual menu of turkey and dressing (a repeat of Thanksgiving).
So we voted to make Fried Shrimp our new traditional Christmas
dinner -- along with everyone's favorite foods.
-Nana
Elizabeth
|
KISSES
FROM GRANMA
When
my 3 year old twin granddaughters' baby sister was born, our
lives became forever bonded together. I stayed with
them for the week while mom and dad were at the hospital.
We had fun tea parties, we cooked and cleaned, we had slummber
parties where we painted our toe nails and talked about our
favorite boys (daddy and Grandpa) and did fun crafts from
Granma's special bag. (I have a grandma bag filled with
construction paper, glitter pins, scissors, glue sticks and
crayons. All of my grandchildren love to get it out.)
I currently have 6.5 grandchildren. After our fun week
was done, I went to kiss the twins good-bye. They were
real upset that our fun time was over and I wouldn't be there
to tuck them in at night. I had just refreshed my lipstick,
so when I kissed them I left lip prints on their cheeks.
I told them this kiss would last 'til bedtime and I would
be there with them while they slept. Well, now every
time I leave I have to give them the kiss that lasts and they
make sure that baby sister Katie now gets her kiss too.
When their daddy asks why they want the kiss, they politely
inform him it is a "tradition." And it can't be
washed off until morning. They even sometimes have me
hide the kiss under their bangs so they can keep it longer.
--Cathy
C (Granma)
|
| |
Copyright
© 2003-2007 The BananaNana Shoppe |
www.BananaNana.com
Fun
Stuff for the Groovy Grandma!
|
|
