So we all have our own little traditions around christmas that are sort of unique or family based....and many others think are down right odd...

 

SO... time to share peeps... you can tell others if its "not how you Christmas" or "I'm Stealing it" if you want.... off the top of my head I can think of 10 to share...

 

1. Christmas Night, gathering of the clan (200-300 depending who is in couuntry, in the state etc)...

Traditional Limbo Competition... under the broom stick... to limbo rock on repeat... competing for sheep stations like your life depended on it... with sledging, and depending on the fashion trend striping to your reg grundies (underpants) to give you more flexibility.... with the uncles (not competing) running book... sledging, did I mention that.... it lasts for 10-15mins... the boys cousins and my baby sister star training in October.... and the prize.... its huge..... a toblerone chocolate bar... not even the huge one, just a snack size... and 12 months bragging rights... now all the boys are over 6ft... and the girls aren't that short either... it is impressive how low they can go... me I stand out, I've got a bone in my leg doncha know.

200-300 people!!!!!! Wittttt! That's not how we Christmas, ours is a MUCH smaller affair! 

 

2. My bro stays at ours Xmas eve and we all open the pressies in the morning. Then my bro cooks us a massive fry up! Which people think is a bit nuts before the big dinner later! What can I say...we are big eaters ?

3. Eating Like Hobbits.... we have breakfast (usually pancakes and bacon)... then we have brunch at my parents (cold meats, smoked salmon, croissants, rolls, chocolate croissants, crayfish, fruit platters)....then morning tea at the nursing home with Bird's adopt a grandparent(s).... she goes off for lunch with her dad's family and then we go to my family (cousin, parentals or one of the aunties and uncles with a big house/yard area)... where the clan gathers... dad was one of 18, 16 had 3 or more kids... lots of the kids now have kids.... one of the kids kids has a kid.... we might be spread from one side of the world to the other be anyone in melbourne pops in... and if you have friends without family in town you bring them too.... one year, two of my uncles were coaching national basketball teams and bought home american players.... lets just say it might not have been christmas like they were used to but they enjoyed it... but because of the size the only hot thing is the pudding and the custard.

We used to have a family Christmas party on Christmas Day (My mom is one of 7 and all except one lived w/i a 1 mile radius with their families...each year where it was held would change...except my Mom's sister could never host it due to her husband's disposition. One of my Uncles would dress up as Santa....we always had a buffet with each Aunt bringing her specialty...everyone loved my Mom's potato salad and my Aunt Rose's  macaroni w shrimp salad and Aunt Jean's tri-color coleslaw! My Dad's family lived in the Bronx, since that meant crossing a bridge over water from where we lived on Long Island, we never went there at Christmas....due to my Mom's fear of bridges!!

 

I have lots of great memories of those Christmas parties....but it is also a sad time now since all of my aunts and uncles except 1 are now gone...even 3 of my cousins are now in heaven...my Mom is now 85 and battling Parkinson's but even though physically infirm, she is still sharp as ever!

 

We are going to celebrate Christmas with a buffet of appetizers this year at my Mom's (cocktail meatballs, shrimp cocktail, pigs in a blanket, mussels, etc). We will reminisce, tell stories and jokes and have Christmas music playing in the background. One of my sister's and I decorated my Mom's house two weeks ago with her little fiber optic tree and little christmas houses and other long time decorations.....so it looks quite festive! She seems to be excited about it...even though she doesn't like crowds anymore! ?

Pre-Christmas ritual --- watch a version of "A Christmas Carol" and then watch a "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (I have been doing this since it first aired in 1965 and I had just turned 12, Snoopy was my hero).  This always puts me in the mood for Christmas and shows my grandchildren that I too watch cartoons/animation.

We do the buffet to @Rozuki .... we even have sushi....in Australia we call that bringing a plate.

 

 

200 - 300 family member ...good grief .....now that some serious prezzie shopping ....lol.....

I have sat and counted my family.....18 ....people ....so I would say small.....

I love Christmas eve ...All done ..relaxing in P J, s.....and a baileys at hand ....all snugged up.....and Scrooge.... Must see Scrooge......the original.....

Christmas eve in Melbourne is either watching the Carols by Candelight on the telly or going to the Carols by Candelight in the city....

11 minutes ago, Doreensfree said:

200 - 300 family member ...good grief .....now that some serious prezzie shopping ....lol.....

I have sat and counted my family.....18 ....people ....so I would say small.....

I love Christmas eve ...All done ..relaxing in P J, s.....and a baileys at hand ....all snugged up.....and Scrooge.... Must see Scrooge......the original.....

Yes the Alastair Sim's one is the ONLY true scrooge!

13 hours ago, notsmokinjo said:

with Bird's adopt a grandparent(s).

I'm a grandparent for adoption.  I so loved having grand kids!   Jo that is a wonderful thing you are teaching your daughter!

At max, there are twelve of us.  My son has seemed to take over having the feast at his new home.  My husband and I will still do the cooking.  Standing rib roast done on the barbecue spit, baked potato put back in the shell, grandma's sticky buns, and creamed cukes.   My son always makes some new interesting recipe with veggies and I make my Grandmother's ice box pudding recipe, which is like an ice cream cake.  Shopping was easy this year.  My grandson is a senior in high school and wants money!  My grand daughter is in college and needs money.

We did get our son gas logs for his fireplace.  We went last weekend to help him put his first Christmas tree up and install the logs.  Made sure to get him the remote.  I am hoping he will invite a cute girl over for dinner and can turn the fireplace on from the kitchen for a romantic evening.  He seems perfectly content living the single life.  

 

6 hours ago, Linda Thomas said:

I'm a grandparent for adoption.  I so loved having grand kids!   Jo that is a wonderful thing you are teaching your daughter!

 

It was something her school did when she was in Grade 3... but they only went once a week in Grade 3... when the year was up my daughter asked if she could keep going to see her 'Grandma"... so I said yes... once a week/fortnight she goes to the old folks home and has a cuppa and a chat with her Grandma Elsie.. and the croany crew... a few of the other oldies have muscled in so she has an old Italian gent she plays backgammon with... he has no English, she has no Italian... but they get by... and then there are 2 Filipino ladies who are hysterical who get out make up and teach her how to put it on and say they are going out to the bars to meet soldiers. But Elsie is her favourite and they just talk about stuff. I think its good for a kid to have friends of different ages and backgrounds.

 

OK Chrissy tradition... Santa does not wrap you presents, he artistically displays them on your chair ... I will take a pic and post it on Chrissy morning... yep even though she doesn't believe anymore she still wants the whole santa thing to happen...presents from people are wrapped under the tree (which is still not up) but presents from Santa not wrapped.

 

Santa brings you a chrissy decoration each year and hangs it on the tree. You have to find it. It is your job to hang your decorations on the tree each year. One day when you grow up and leave home you get to take your box of decos with you.

 

If you look at your presents before the sun wakes up (about 6am) they will disappear... this was originally done to avoid everyone being woken up at 4am so you got some sleep but best thing ever.

 

 

 

 

Those are all such great traditions  

So my mum's side of the family is smaller... we still get together but usually the sunday before christmas...we go to a park central to everyone, half live in the country...anyway... after we do the gift swap for the little kids and stuff our faces on the bring a plate spread.... its an afternoon of park cricket and horseshoe tossing and the of course there is the annual running of the egg and spoon handicap.... which is hysterical.... and had prizes...

7 minutes ago, notsmokinjo said:

So my mum's side of the family is smaller... we still get together but usually the sunday before christmas...we go to a park central to everyone, half live in the country...anyway... after we do the gift swap for the little kids and stuff our faces on the bring a plate spread.... its an afternoon of park cricket and horseshoe tossing and the of course there is the annual running of the egg and spoon handicap.... which is hysterical.... and had prizes.

Your holiday sounds like so much fun.  Would you like to adopt us.  My family always makes it seem like such a inconvenience to get together for the holidays!    

I agree...sounds like much fun to be had by all..... I think that much fun in my family would be fatal whaha.....

Our only tradition is that Dad has to dress up like an idiot and dive head first into a snowbank on Christmas morning before ANY presents are opened 

G’day

On my shoulders falls the duty of making the triffle. I’ll have to make it on Sunday ready for transporting 800 km south on Monday. I’ve already got a container and lid to fit in the 12 volt camping fridge. 

First layer mini chocolate Swiss rolls in 1/2s. Stand on thier ends .3/4 cup of port wine and couple of shots of expresso coffee spoon on so the sponge rolls soak it up. Then the red jelly ( called port wine jelly in aust.) pour it over sponge so it locks in the flavours when it sets. 

Next ....custard made double thick then water it back down with cream....

Then a layer of mango jelly. Made a bit thicker when set push through a open weave vegvstrainer so it comes out in little uneven pieces. Mix through canned mango it actually works better than fresh.

Top layers are put on just before serving and it’s strawberries in jelly chopped roughly and cream. 

My kids knew they were grown up when they got the bottom layer served to them 

( and didn’t pull a face)

Yes they’ll also be a tray of mangos and cherries..... always be too much but it’s christmas. 

C

Trifle has to have port wine jelly... it is the best one for trifle.

 

Always have mangos and cherries on fruit platters down here.... man we have the best fruit at crissy time... nah we have the best fruit all year round.

3 hours ago, Cbdave said:

G’day

On my shoulders falls the duty of making the triffle. I’ll have to make it on Sunday ready for transporting 800 km south on Monday. I’ve already got a container and lid to fit in the 12 volt camping fridge. 

First layer mini chocolate Swiss rolls in 1/2s. Stand on thier ends .3/4 cup of port wine and couple of shots of expresso coffee spoon on so the sponge rolls soak it up. Then the red jelly ( called port wine jelly in aust.) pour it over sponge so it locks in the flavours when it sets. 

Next ....custard made double thick then water it back down with cream....

Then a layer of mango jelly. Made a bit thicker when set push through a open weave vegvstrainer so it comes out in little uneven pieces. Mix through canned mango it actually works better than fresh.

Top layers are put on just before serving and it’s strawberries in jelly chopped roughly and cream. 

My kids knew they were grown up when they got the bottom layer served to them 

( and didn’t pull a face)

Yes they’ll also be a tray of mangos and cherries..... always be too much but it’s christmas. 

C

 

This sound a mighty fine Trifle...( hic )....

I might make loads of it  lol...

6 hours ago, Cbdave said:

G’day

On my shoulders falls the duty of making the triffle. I’ll have to make it on Sunday ready for transporting 800 km south on Monday. I’ve already got a container and lid to fit in the 12 volt camping fridge. 

First layer mini chocolate Swiss rolls in 1/2s. Stand on thier ends .3/4 cup of port wine and couple of shots of expresso coffee spoon on so the sponge rolls soak it up. Then the red jelly ( called port wine jelly in aust.) pour it over sponge so it locks in the flavours when it sets. 

Next ....custard made double thick then water it back down with cream....

Then a layer of mango jelly. Made a bit thicker when set push through a open weave vegvstrainer so it comes out in little uneven pieces. Mix through canned mango it actually works better than fresh.

Top layers are put on just before serving and it’s strawberries in jelly chopped roughly and cream. 

My kids knew they were grown up when they got the bottom layer served to them 

( and didn’t pull a face)

Yes they’ll also be a tray of mangos and cherries..... always be too much but it’s christmas. 

C

Boy, you attach this to that guy in the selfie and he sounds like the perfect Santa.  

I guess you can say this is tradition.  For 35 years, I have attended my children and grandchildren's Christmas programs.  From standing on stage, in kindergarten,  and picking their nose, playing a nativity character, singing holiday tunes to playing wonderful music in there high school bands. I have sat through 2 generations now and have cherished watching  God's most precious gifts grow into adulthood. 

Last night was bittersweet, as my youngest grandson is graduating this year.  I sat there last night wondering if I was going to get to see another generation grow.  Then it struck me.  Why yes there is a possibility because I might have the opportunity to live longer for I am no longer a smoker.    

@Cbdave I just jerried you are driving 800km south for chrissy... you heading into Cockroach territory for the festive season?? Don't succumb, don't drink the Toohey's.

 

G’day Jo

Thanks I’m so going to use that on the Bro....

 

14 hours ago, Linda Thomas said:

I guess you can say this is tradition.  For 35 years, I have attended my children and grandchildren's Christmas programs.  From standing on stage, in kindergarten,  and picking their nose, playing a nativity character, singing holiday tunes to playing wonderful music in there high school bands. I have sat through 2 generations now and have cherished watching  God's most precious gifts grow into adulthood. 

Last night was bittersweet, as my youngest grandson is graduating this year.  I sat there last night wondering if I was going to get to see another generation grow.  Then it struck me.  Why yes there is a possibility because I might have the opportunity to live longer for I am no longer a smoker.    

You've given yourself the best shot possible at making it through another generation of Crissy plays/concerts