Christmas Traditions

Merry Christmas "eve eve" my friends, bloggers, and family! 

I hope your week has been as stress-free as mine.  Holiday preparations are in full effect for just about everyone who celebrates Christmas. The closer we get to the actual holiday the more it feels a little bit like Christmas. Most of the time holidays involve traditions for friends and families.  Everyone's traditions vary greatly as well as how they originated.  I love reading about what everyone's Christmas traditions are and how they compare or contrast to my own.  Today I'm here to share with you some of the traditions that occur during the holidays with my family. 

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve we usually run errands and do last minute things to prepare for the big day.  Ever since I can remember we have hosted Christmas at our house, so Christmas Eve usually entails my mom spending the day in the kitchen prepping as much of the food for Christmas Day as possible.  More times than not I end up spending time wrapping the gifts that my parents didn't have time to attend to, which I don't mind because I find wrapping to be fun.  Later in the day we go to my Aunt's house for a small gathering with lots of food (including the seven fishes). 

Christmas Day

Every Christmas morning since we were little, my brother and I were not allowed to go downstairs until my parents were ready for us (the dogs were fed and let out, the fire was started, stockings were hung away from the fire, and Christmas music was playing).  Even now that we are 18 and 21 we still have to wait up at the top of the stairs until they are ready.  

Opening Gifts

Once we are all downstairs lounging in our pajamas, we begin opening presents. We begin with our stockings.  They are usually filled with practical items (hair product, shampoo, conditioner, tooth paste, etc) and a couple of fun things too (jewelry, toys, nail polish, etc.) Then, we search for the pickle to determine who gets to open he first gift.  The pickle is an ornament that my aunt gave us when we were little. My parents hide it in the tree each year and we have to search for it on Christmas morning. You can read about the Christmas pickle here, apparently it's not as crazy as it sounds.  The first person opens their gift and then picks out a gift for each member of the family to open.  From there we take turns grabbing gifts from the tree for each person to open until there are no more left.  

Brunch

After we open gifts we hangout and watch The Christmas Story until brunch is ready.  My mom makes two breakfast casseroles that are to die for.  She makes a sweet one- french toast casserole and a savory one- eggs, cheese, and bacon or maple sausage.  We also have fruit, this year it's strawberries and pineapple.  Our brunch is complete with mimosas made with cranberry and orange juice.  This brunch is my favorite Christmas tradition combining some of my favorite things- Christmas spirit, family, breakfast, and champagne. 

Open House

After brunch we usually change into different clothes and get ready for the rest of the day. The rest of the day we have family and friends come and go. Our close friends are practically family, so we enjoy spending time with them as well as our actual family on Christmas Day.  Throughout the day we play games, take naps, and snack on appetizers.  Later in the afternoon my mom will put out dinner, but since everyone is coming and going we eat buffet style when it's convenient for each individual.  Our Christmas dinner usually varies from year to year including lasagnas or ham with potatoes. This year my mom is cooking a red lasagna and a green one (spinach lasagna). 

Specialty Drinks

Since we don't go anywhere, we like to indulge in libations throughout the day.  Each year my mom and I concoct a specialty drink to sip on throughout the day.  It's usually some type of festive sangria. This year we are changing things up.  Tune in after Christmas to read more about this.  

Today I'm participating in a link up hosted by Rachel, Christina, and Cathleen. Be sure to head over to their blogs to read the other bloggers that are linking up to chat about Christmas related things for the #galpalholiday.

Happy holidays!

XOXO