~*~*~NWQOTD 12/22/10~*~*~*

Christmas is my favorite holiday, so my questions are probably going to be a little biased and holiday geared for the rest of the week.

For you, what is the point of holiday (any holiday) traditions? Why do you carry them on, or why do you choose to leave them behind? You can talk about some of your favorite/least favorite too if you like!

I feel like there hasn't been much tradition in my immediate family since my Grandparents passed away. I mean, we eat together on Thanksgiving and on Christmas, but there is nothing specific necessarily. I really miss that. Therefore, DH & I are really happy that we are able to host holidays in our house now and start traditions for ourselves. I am sure we will add more as the years go on, since we are just starting out.

One tradition that I LOVE is Christmas Eve at my Mom's cousin's house. I have only missed that once, as far as I can recall, and the reason that I missed it is because I was being a punky rebellious teenager.

On Christmas Eve, DH & I go to Christmas Eve Mass, then to my Uncle's mother in law's house, and then to my Mom's cousin's. Santa Claus comes (my brother this year!), there is a Nativity pageant, and we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. The party usually lasts until midnight, if not later.

Re: ~*~*~NWQOTD 12/22/10~*~*~*

i like traditions but im not opposed to changing them...

my parents hosted Christmas Eve every year when i was growing up... it wasnt until about 10 years ago that they stopped and it switches to a different house every year...

we do a Chinese Grabbag every year now which is fun...


with Shauns family we rent out the community room in his Aunts Bld ... everyone pretty much has an apartment and cant fit us all and it tends to get super hot in their apartments...

id like to host one year for his family but i think they like using the community room tho... we do a kris kringle with his family

Re: ~*~*~NWQOTD 12/22/10~*~*~*

My mom's side of the family is all on LI and for as long as I can remember through 2 years ago my Grandma would host Christmas Eve! I have the *best* memories of xmas eve with all of my cousins! My mom has hosted since my grandma passed away (I get so choked up thinking about this...her birthday was yesterday). My mom is a world class entertainer! The house always looks so beautiful and cozy - always a fire on and beautiful decorations everywhere! My dad is a master bartender so everyone is always a bit tipsy and merry!

My husband's family celebrate on Christmas day (and thank goodness because I would be miserable if we had to alternate - they live too far to do both in one day). They do Secret Santa for the adults. It is a much more subdued scene.

Not much in the way of traditions besides grace at the dinner table and midnight mass on christmas eve. Overall, its just a really merry jolly 2 nights in a row!

Re: ~*~*~NWQOTD 12/22/10~*~*~*

we have a huge change in our christmas this year....3 babies (ava & my sis twins). so things are going to be very different.
a new years tradition that we never miss is going to the millridge inn every new years eve, my parents started this tradition when they started dating.

Re: ~*~*~NWQOTD 12/22/10~*~*~*

I'm not sure if this tradition will continue but ever since we were 7 and moved to li, xmas day has always been at my parnts house with both sides of the family celebrating together. My dads sis, brothers and their families, as well as my moms brothers and their kids/wives, 1st cousin and his kids/wife and my sisters in-laws and now we have added mine. It is appx 35 of us in one house and it is complete chaos but its SO much fun and I hope the tradition always remains. Its so nice to be with our entire family and it keeps growing every year. Its so fun to see 15kids tearing through alll their gifts and seeing their excitement.

Xmas eve was always us preparing for xmas day (cooking, baking, wrapping, etc) and staying up until 2am w my mom. This year and last I spent w dh family doing the traditional 7fish meal. Oh well, atleast xmas day is still a tradition and I can't wait!!!!! :)

Re: ~*~*~NWQOTD 12/22/10~*~*~*

i have very happy memories of holidays as a kid. i want my children to have the chance to have their own happy memories.

they dont have to be the same as mine and likely wont since we live by DH's family.

i'm interested to see how things will change when we have kids .. .we will more than likely be the first to give these a-holes grandkids and so far they are very hands off with us...

i honestly dont think we're stay living here because MY family is SUPER hands on (not to mention its cheaper to live there) and i'm way tighter with my family unit all around than he is with his...

but anyways.

i try to keep my favorite of the traditions going as well as form our own.