Help me have a holly, jolly Christmas

Hi everyone,

So, Christmas was always really special growing up. Big Italian Christmas Eve feast that lasted for hours and hours. Christmas day was always a day of rest at my grandmas house with whatever family didn't go to their in-laws.

Now that I'm grown and have 2 kids - I'm not quite sure what to make of Christmas Day. We still have our big Christmas Eve with our extended family. But now, Grandma isn't around anymore. My sisters live in different states, my in-laws live in PA and aren't visiting for the holidays (they come the week after Xmas), parents are divorced- dad is doing his thing upstate, mom is going over her boyfriends house....

I'm home with my husband and 2 kids...and I'm blessed for that...but what do I do to make it special? What traditions should I start with my girls? Christmas day brunch? Make a fancy dinner for just the 4 of us? (well, 3 really - one is an infant)...

I'd love to suggestions on how to have a special and memorable, small Christmas Day.

Thank you!

Help me have a holly, jolly Christmas

I say everyone stays in their Christmas PJs and watch Christmas movies. Just have a laid back and fun day.

Help me have a holly, jolly Christmas

Stop comparing your Xmas now to Xmas-es of past. As with everything else, everything 'back then' was always so much better. Food, music, TV, family was always better 'back then.'

Enjoy what you have and that will make it special.

Re: Help me have a holly, jolly Christmas

That sounds nice actually! I would keep it cozy & low key. Mass followed by a special brunch and playing with their new toys/games all day. Maybe a stroller walk around the neighborhood looking at lights. A Christmas movie with popcorn & hot chocolate in the early evening while the livingroom is lit by just the Christmas tree lights. Relaxing & taking it easy.

Re: Help me have a holly, jolly Christmas

Re: Help me have a holly, jolly Christmas

How old is your older child?
Since you are having family visit after Christmas, maybe you could make something together that you can share with your guests when they come bake cookies, assemble a ginger bread house ( I have seen really simple kits that kids can do with assistance)

Help me have a holly, jolly Christmas

Wrap up some new games,movies, etc and use those to enjoy a relaxing day together. Bake cookies or decorate a gingerbread house as suggested, drive around after dinner to look at lights. Dd would be thrilled to stay home all Christmas day to actually enjoy her presents!

Re: Help me have a holly, jolly Christmas

For stay at home, just a special fancy xmas eve dinner with all of your familys favorites and...

choice 1:
maybe wrap some xmas eve presents (like movies and pajamas) and watch after dinner before bed
choice 2:
holiday crafts while listening to christmas carols

and after waking up to gifts, have a nice xmas day breakfast and then spend the whole day playing with the new gifts and just being lazy together!

Re: Help me have a holly, jolly Christmas

My mom always went out of her way to make it a really fancy dinner on Christmas Eve even though there were just four of us. We immigrated when I was a baby and we spent it by ourselves until I was a teen. We always had to wear our fancy Christmas clothes (a red dress). There was good food, a "champagne" toast, we danced all together and then we always had "santa" visit (my dad). We still have "Santa" visit and the youngest in my family is 22. LOL. It's tradition! :) Christmas morning was pancakes and playing with our gifts.

Re: Help me have a holly, jolly Christmas

Our Christmas Day is always big breakfast, PJ's all day, opening presents and if anyone comes over (usually my parents and sister's family later in the day) I put out cold cuts and salads and we just sit around and BS while the kids play. So relaxed and so easy! No fuss, no muss!

Help me have a holly, jolly Christmas

We start our day by opening gifts then have a big breakfast. We relax, play with dd new toys and watch movies then DH and I cook a fancy dinner--some years my parents join us for dinner.

Re: Help me have a holly, jolly Christmas

I've been going through the same thing since my Grandma died 7/15. Last year we stayed home Christmas day with the 4 of us and my parents and we will do the same this year. On Christmas eve I ordered food to heat up on Christmas day so I didn't have to cook which was awesome. We went out to breakfast at the diner which was nice and than we came home and kids played with their toys, we watched ELF, took naps, heated up food for dinner and than we made ginger bread houses.

Its very hard letting go of traditions you had for years. Its even harder missing the loved ones you shared those traditions with. I'm trying to find new stuff to do on Christmas day. I wish my DH family lived closer so we could see them on Christmas day because I feel like my kids are missing out on having a fun filled day.

Re: Help me have a holly, jolly Christmas

Christmas Eve was always the entire family-cousins, aunts, etc.

Christmas Day was just my mom, dad, my sister, and I. My mom would cook a big breakfast and we just relaxed at home all day in pjs and played with all our stuff. We had cold cuts or whatever for dinner. We were all so tired after Christmas Eve, we needed the day to rest. Those are some of my best memories. My dad would be putting together our stuff (one year I got a vanity and I swear he cursed all day long-and kept telling me and my sister he was going to throw the damn vanity out because it wouldn't stay together ).

Help me have a holly, jolly Christmas

Just wanted to thank you all for your replies. We had a great pj day, a big breakfast and lots of fun at home. I hope you all had a blessed holiday and a Happy New Year!

Re: Help me have a holly, jolly Christmas