Most families will make their own Christmas traditions.
When I was a girl living at home with my parents and 2 sisters we didn’t put the tree or other decorations up until a few days before Christmas: Now I am living in my own home the tree goes up on December 1st, usually, however, this year we put it up towards the end of November as a way of cheering everyone up after the strange year we have had.
As children our presents were loaded into pillowcases and brought into our bedrooms by Father Christmas while we slept; in the morning we dragged them into our parents bedroom where we all piled into bed with mum and dad to open our gifts. Grandparents would usually come over for Christmas lunch.
I don’t remember having an advent calander to open as a child, but my own children had one each.
When my own children came along their presents were put under the tree to be opened on Christmas morning while we sat and watched, We stayed at home on Christmas day having visitors come to us so the boy’s could enjoy their gifts.
On Boxing day we would go out to lunch then went to the local pantomime in the afternoon.
I was super organised and liked to get everything ready for Christmas by the end of November so I could enjoy the Christmas month with my children, We made decorations from marzipan together to decorate the Christmas cake.
Of course the children would leave a mince pie under the tree for Santa amd a carrot or some hay for the reindeer.
On Christmas eve we would walk into town as a family and enjoy refreshments while sitting in a café in the shopping centre surrounded by festive decorations watching shoppers dashing around like headless chickens!
I also had Christmas traditions for the children who I looked after as a registered child minder:
At the beginning of December we made Christmas treasure boxes by covering empty shoe boxes with pictures cut from last year’s Christmas cards, stickers and glitter then the children would fill them with their Christmas crafts and take them home just before the big day.
I also made marzipan fruits and Christmas cookies with the children which we all enjoyed doing.
I always took the children along to any Christmas parties at the toddler groups we attended and to Christmas activities taking place at my children’s schools; one of the benefits of being a registered child minder means that you can attend such important events in your own children’s lives.
Why become a child minder here
Please share your Christmas traditions with me.
As always questions and comments are welcome.
Until next time.
Merry Christmas to all my followers,
Karen
x
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Some lovely traditions, great to read of some you had when you were a child. I really like the sound of the shoebox you do with the kids.
Thanks Eddie merry Christmas
As a childminder ( my own children are grown ups ) I love the magic of Christmas with the mindies, I send them home with a bag for Christmas Eve, with reindeer food, hot chocolate cone, chocolate coins, a certificate from Father Christmas letting them know they’ve made it onto the ‘nice’ list, and this year we’ve added jingle bells to join in the Christmas Eve door step jingle
Oh, that sounds lovely, thanks for taking the time to share with me, I appreciate it, Sue, merry Christmas
Ahh what a collection of traditions. It’s always interesting to read about what everyone else does. We had stuffed pillowcases too from Father Christmas when we were growing up. How times are changing. Thank you for bringing lots of Christmas spirit to the #DreamTeamLinky this week. Wishing you all a very Happy New Year.
Thanks for having me a part of the linky, Annette, happy new year to you too
We are developing our Christmas traditions, trying to mix some from my husband’s childhood and my own as well as making our own new ones (like a Christmas Eve disco!) Thanks for linking up with #dreamteamlinky
That’s lovely making a mix of traditions, thanks for sharing with me, Laura
My daughter is 3 so I feel like this Christmas was the first one where we have been able to create some of our own family traditions. That, and we are normally travelling but were grounded this time around. We started advent calendars with her and Elf on the Shelf. Treats were left out for Santa and he delivered LOTS of presents under the tree. She absolutely loved it and I enjoyed preparing it all for her. I imagine it will take a few years for us to properly develop all of our own traditions though 🙂 #MischiefAndMemories
Ah, that sounds lovely, thanks for sharing, Shelley
Love this! Sounds like the perfect Christmas.
I hope to be organised by December by the 1st for at least one year so I can sit in a cafe watching the mad rush! I have really missed all the kids school, nursery and church activities this year, I think that part felt like a really sad gaping hole this year. Let’s hope for a better one for the kids next Christmas x x #mischiefandmemories
I hope that we are all able to have a traditional Christmas this year too! Thanks for sharing your thoughts
Popping back again but this time with the brand new #MischiefAndMemories linky. Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas break and enjoyed some of your traditions.
I did have a lovely, but different Christmas thank you, Annette
We mostly follow the traditions that I grew up with, but my husband and I have also tried to adapt our Christmas too and create some new traditions for our not so little family. Great to have you with us on the #MischiefandMemories linky
Thanks for stopping by and for having me a part of the linky
Christmas traditions really make Christmas magical for children AND adults! Thank you for linking up with #MischiefAndMemories. Please remember to comment on other posts by 9pm on Fridays
Absolutely, Laura, I will leave comments on the other posts, Thanks for having me
Lovely traditions, we do lots of these too 🙂 #kidsandkreativity
That’s great, thanks for stopping by, Hannah
It’s interesting to read about other people’s Christmas traditions. I like the idea of a Christmas treasure box and filling it with the Christmas crafts. We have a book advent each year where I wrap up the Christmas books we have and we read one of them each night in December. #KidsandKreativity
I have heard of a book advent calendar before and think it’s a great alternative, thanks for your comment, Louise
This is so cute, I love learning about other people’s traditions. #kidsandkreativity
Thank you ,that’s lovely
I love Christmas traditions! We have lots but introduced a few new ones in tthe last few years like the North Pole Breakfast, it was a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing at #KidsandKreativity x
The North Pole breakfast sounds great, Thanks for sharing, Kerry
The North Pole breakfast sounds wonderful, thanks for sharing, Kerry