My Christmas Traditions

_{Photo taken on 2018/12/19 by @gaby-crb. Our house with colourful christmas lights decorating the front, courtesy of my mum.}

Christmas Eve

It’s the same thing every year, Mum and dad spend the whole day preparing the food for Christmas day and I usually help setting the table. There's going to be eight of us this year so the table has to be opened up and the chairs spread out. Mum has fancy placemats and wine glasses that are placed on the table, with matching napkins and crackers. Everywhere gets vacuumed and dusted.

In the afternoon we watch films, usually those playing on the TV. The biggest tradition we have goes back to before I was born: we have Chinese take away for tea (evening meal).

When we were kids we used to have new pyjamas to sleep in. I remember being so excited when I was really little, I struggled to get to sleep. I would wake up with a stocking on the end of my bed. It would be full of chocolate and games and for many years there would be a full outfit to wear on the day.

_{Photo taken on 2018/12/19 by @gaby-crb. Our optical tree, with pile of wrapped presents underneath. String lights above read Merry Christmas.}

Christmas Day

I used to wake everyone up by yelling “It’s Christmas!” or “Santa’s been!”, usually at 5 in the morning, and I would run downstairs to look at the pile of presents. My brothers, being 9 and 7 years older than me, didn't have much enthusiasm for it, they always found ways to make me upset before breakfast.

Nowadays it’s all about the lie in. We no longer have stockings on our beds but we still have breakfast together (which is unusual for our family). Another family tradition is to have oven-warmed croissants with orange juice for breakfast. Once everyone has eaten, the presents get opened.

I remember it being such an exciting time, all the colourful paper hiding more toys than was good for me. Now we receive an assortment of socks, toiletries and chocolate.

Christmas dinner (lunch) usually starts at 1.

Starter: We have always had prawn cocktail to start, with the occasional option of soup or melon depending on the guestlist.

Main: We are not turkey people, we are beef people. Well done, with an abundance of gravy. There is a mountain of veg even the green stuff that my brother’s girlfriend dislikes. Roast potatoes, roast parsnips and of course the almost forgotten yorkshire puddings. I don't know how my mum pulls it off every year. It is always amazing.

No one in the family is really a drinker so we wash everything down with light white and rose wines.

_{Photo taken on 2018/12/19 by @gaby-crb. A set of indoor fireworks.}

Intermission: A rather recent tradition has been to set off some indoor fireworks. Before you all try to set off a roman candle in your house. Indoor fireworks are designed specifically for using inside (smoke may set of fire alarm). There are a few different chemical reactions, some that grow, some that burn a different colour. Just like normal fireworks.

Sometimes we play a few games or there will be a Christmasy film on the TV.

Desert: There is always a choice between something chocolatey or something fruity, mainly in the shape and size of a gateaux.

Boxing Day

We don’t have any traditions for boxing day. My mum sometimes works so my dad and I watch more films. We eat any food leftover from the day before and have a ‘picky tea’ that involves lots of nibbles and snack foods.

---

That all sums up my family’s christmas traditions.

What are your traditions? Not just for christmas but for any religious celebrations and holidays. Do you have any?

Have you noticed any wider traditions that are regional or national?