Christmas Traditions

We all have great memories and traditions in our families. Christmas time was full of "family traditions" and memories for me while growing up.

Here are a few of the family Christmas memories and traditions I had while growing up:

1. Making candy cane sugar cookies that nobody liked to eat after they were baked.

My mom would make a large quantity of sugar cookie dough and then divide it into thirds. She would die two portions of the dough red and green and leave the third the manila color. She would then roll the dough out and cut them into 1/2-inch squares. We would then be able to take whatever square we wanted and roll them out into a worm length size then add the crook to one side to complete the candy cane. They were so fun to make but sure were the pits to eat--they were very dry when they came out of the oven!

2. Mom getting the house ready for Christmas.

Meaning a completely rearranged home with it decorated to the hilt (we even had special Christmas light covers in the kitchen. Santa balls were a big hit as well)

3. Mom spending hours in the kitchen baking...

Cherry chocolate chiparoons (our favorite cookies), peanut brittle, chocolate covered pretzels, cherry chocolates, chocolate covered nuts, chocolate covered raisins, fudge, Chex Mix, gingerbread cookies, cranberry bread, fruit cake, and who knows what more.

4. Dad swearing in the garage when trying to get an old strand of Christmas lights to work.

Mom had purchased an outdoor set of lights to put on the house and put my dad in charge of stringing them up. Well, when they were plugged in there were many bulbs out. New bulbs retrieved and my dad started the process of replacing the bulbs. As he was towards the end of the strand, he replaced a bulb and then they all started to explode back to the beginning of the strand. To say the least after the swearing died down no stands of lights were ever placed on that house!

5. "Picking names."

We would all pick a sibling's name, to buy a Christmas gift for, from among little pieces of torn paper (having 5 siblings it was "too" expensive for us to get a gift for everyone---it is also a Thompson & Winward tradition as well).

6. Having to sneak out to buy a present for a sibling whose name was picked so no one "knew" whom each other had.

The problem that always occurred (until we got our drivers licenses) was that usually our dad would take all of us together to the local store (normally KMart when we were little) so that we could do our "secret" shopping.

7. Christmas Eve having a fire lit in the fireplace

Sometimes it would have been better had it not been lit since we were living in Southern California--too hot! Often times we would come down in shorts to participate in our annual Christmas Eve traditions.


8. Always coming together with our scriptures to read the Christmas story by the fire Christmas Eve.

This was always a special time for me. I always looked forward to this chance to have the whole family together....usually us siblings bothering one another by touching each other with our feet or what not.....and feeling the special spirit that comes when reading about Christ.

9. My dad sharing his testimony and thoughts about the true meaning of Christmas after reading the scriptures.

My mother would also share her feelings (this is one tradition I would love to have with my future family...if that ever occurs. It was such a testimony builder for me growing up and learning about my Savior).

10. The annual opening of one gift on Christmas Eve

Of course from the secret sibling.

11. Placing our Christmas stockings around the front room

Even though we always placed our stockings in the same place our parents would always ask, "Where do you want to put your stocking?"

12. Toasting Christmas and the holidays on Christmas Eve.

After opening our one gift on Christmas Eve and arranging our stockings, my mom would fill the glass poinsettia mugs to the brim with eggnog, ask if anyone wanted nutmeg added and then we would all clink our mugs together to toast the season. Boy did we all think it was so cool to be able to toast glasses!

13. Dad blasting Christmas music throughout the home.

Favorite 3 records that were blasted:
Tony Bennettt & His Friends 'Over the Holidays'
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings Christmas Carols
The Joy of Christmas

14. New pajamas made by my mom were worn to bed on Christmas Eve.

My favorite memory was waking up Christmas morning to numb arms. One Christmas my mother accidentally sewed the arm elastics too tight so that by the morning my arms circulation had been cut off and I had purple rings for the rest of the day.

Or the year John asked me to cute his favorite candy cane PJs into Bermuda shorts.... I didn't realize the fabric was like a barber's pole and ended up following the red line until John had a pair of Daisy Duke shorts--sorry John!

15. The Christmas villages painted by my mom

One village had a western theme while the other was more of a Santa's village, with my dad's old train (he got when he was a boy) circling a mirror that acted as a frozen pond (it sounds weird but it was very pretty!

16. Christmas dinner was always on Christmas Eve

This was so my mother had Christmas day off from any major cooking or dishes to clean (what a smart tradition I think!)

Christmas Eve dinner was usually ham, scalloped potatoes, homemade rolls, green beans and I am sure other things but I don't remember...the list above was the traditional Christmas Eve dinner staple.

17. Us kids having to get up and eat breakfast before seeing our presents so that my mother knew we had all eaten a decent meal on Christmas day

Christmas dinner was leftovers from the night before...also to ensure my parents were able to see us when we saw our gifts.

18. Having to go in to the front room to see our presents one at a time...

Of course it was done in age order starting from smallest to largest...sure stunk to be one of the oldest!

19. Presents arranged by our stockings.

While growing up Santa didn't bother to wrap any presents. They were arranged like a store window around a stocking. I always remember loving to see all the presents at once and hating to have to move them from where Santa had put them.

20. Having our picture taken with our gifts

Later, when the camcorder was purchased we would record what we got for Christmas as well as have our pictures taken.

21. John giving my mother a D- in Christmas decorating....

One year my mother decided not to put out the Santa balls---the entire house was covered with decorations and since the Santa balls were old decorations she felt they didn't need to be pulled out.
Well that Christmas Eve, after reading the Christmas story next to the fire and preparing to place our stockings, my mother decided to ask each one of us what our favorite Christmas decorations were....which Christmas decorations we remember most, etc. Well, when it was John's turn to share his feelings he brought up the Santa balls and started to look for them. When my mother finally confessed that she left them packed away we all became upset..."What about tradition?" John then replied, "Mom, you get a D- in Christmas decorating this year." We all busted up laughing! Needless to say, not only were the Christmas balls retrieved but also Mark finally got his very own ball (Mark wasn't born when mom made a family of Santa balls...so he never had one until he was 18 or 19).

This year....the only Santa ball out was Mark's Santa ball....when I questioned my mother about the others she indicated that she has given them to my siblings and me and that they should be at our current homes.....so siblings if I visit your home during Christmas I will be looking for your Santa ball ;-)



Christmas memories and traditions have been special times in my life.....

What fun Christmas tradition or memories do your have or remember?