Christmas Eve Traditions
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regardless of where I was on christmas, cat stockings were hung by the fire. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)
Christmas Eve Traditions
I often hear about US Christmas day traditions but not much about Christmas Eve traditions. Are yours on this list?
Attending a Candlelight Service: Many families go to church for a special Christmas Eve service, often featuring carol singing and candle lighting. One of the favorite services is midnight mass.
Decorating the Christmas Tree: Some families wait until Christmas Eve to decorate the tree together, making it a special prelude to the big day.
Setting Up Trains: For years our family would set out intricate train tracks around the Christmas tree and spend hours trying to keep four train engines from running into each other. Cats would also chase after the moving engines, making the juggling act even more fun.
4. Preparing a Special Meal: Whether it's a feast or a simpler gathering, many families have a special meal on Christmas Eve. It could be traditional dishes or a family favorite. Our family liked to make cookies and then share them with people in our extended family.
5. Opening One Present: Some families allow children (and sometimes adults) to open one present on Christmas Eve. In our family, we loved opening a book and then spending the rest of the evening reading as we munched on Christmas cookies.
6. Reading Christmas Stories and Watching Movies: Gathering to read classic Christmas stories and watching favorite holiday movies is a cozy tradition for many. I've watched a number of movies I had never seen before visiting family over the holidays.
7. Setting out Treats for Santa and Reindeer: Children often leave out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots or oats for the reindeer. That works in homes without pets. Our Santa cookies usually had kitty nibbles before we headed off to bed Christmas Eve.
8.Family Game Night: Playing board games, card games, or engaging in other family-friendly activities is a fun way to spend Christmas Eve together. When our family gets together for the holidays, playing board games is on the agenda but usually on and after Christmas day.
9. Visiting Family or Friends: Some people spend Christmas Eve visiting relatives or hosting friends for a festive get-together. When I had stepchildren years ago, we would spend Christmas Eve visiting the special people in our lives and leaving plates of cookies as a thank you.
10. Exchanging Gifts: In some cultures, the tradition is to exchange gifts on Christmas Eve rather than on Christmas Day itself. When I was very young, gifts were exchanged and opened on January 6.
What other Christmas Eve traditions do you have?
Charlotte
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