Holiday Traditions

[DD]

Now that the radio stations will begin playing Christmas music on Tuesday (at least they did last year), it made me wonder what Holiday Traditions you guys have that you might want to share.

My daughter, her best friend, her friends mom, and now their kids and my other grandkids go "light lookin" every year. We have a designated driver and we take along some "hot toddies" and junk food. It's gotten to be quite an adventure and boy, do we have some stories to tell. We have other traditions, but this is the most fun.

 

[BeachDreamer]

We go to the American Rose Gardens in Shreveport every year. hey have Christmas in Roseland and dress the place in lights. The area schools do concerts and the roses often still have blooms on them.

Our church holds a Christmas Carol Hayride, and we all pile on and drive through Marshall (wonderland of lights) singing carols. The kids love that.

Last year my hubby was laid off from work, and we didn't do presents at all. I think that was the most special Christmas we have ever spent. Since then we've decided to cut back on gift giving drastically (not that we ever went crazy with it), and concentrate on the true reason for the season.

 

[iwishiwasthere]

The favorite tradition is to have fresh shrimp on Christmas Eve instead of the usual ham or turkey. Last year we started a new tradition on Thanksgiving. After the meal, we normally sat around and watched tv. I made gingerbread and my sister brought tons of candy. Each of us made our own gingerbread house. It was hysterical. We laughed until we cried. One looked like a barrio. Another fell apart and wound up being a stable. Everyone agreed that it was wonderful and want to do it again this year. I will purchase premade houses this time and make tons of icing. Last year I gave a gingerbread ornament to remember the occasion and have started looking for this year's ornament.

 

[DD]

:clap_1: I LOVE these! BD: I have always wanted to go to Marshall during the holidays. Your description makes me really want to go! I'm going to Canton next weekend....me and about 50 million other people I'm sure, but it will be fun.

iwiwt: LOL! Your gingerbread story reminds me of the year my two friends and I made LOTS of peanut brittle. It took all three of us to stir the stuff and then we had to pour it so fast, some ended up on my friends shoes...guess you had to be there, but it was quite comical.

 

[Jdarg]

We watch "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation".

I need to laugh every year after coordinating what family members can do what and when, which starts with finding out what parents have custody of what kids on what night, work schedules, in laws, etc.

My family is the little nucleus in the middle and everyone spins around us- so technically, as the only "whole" family in our family, the world actually does revolve around us!

A tradition started last year is going to a friend's house for Christmas Eve. My immediate family is really small now, so we don't do much on Christmas Eve anymore. It was a lot of fun last year- none of the family drama stuff- a nice change.

A new tradition I am starting this year is a gift to charity on behalf of the niece and nephew that have never written me a thank you note in 14 years.
I am taking the money I would have spent on them and buying a chicken or half a goat from the Heifer International Project, which is a really neat group that helps families in Third World countries feed and support themselves. I feel it is a better use of my money! This is a great project for school classes and churches too. www.heifer.org

 

[iwishiwasthere]

I have donated to that group before and am amazed at how much the money buys. Really good cause.