When I was growing up we always celebrated Christmas Eve as is the Italian tradition. I was surprised when I grew up and saw that many if not most people celebrate on Christmas Day. That was kind of after celebration day for us.
When my son was growing up we celebrated Christmas on Eve and celebrated his birthday on Christmas Day while he had a party with his friends a week or two before. (his birthday is actually December 25).
My husband and I celebrate with our big meal and gathering if any that year on Christmas Day however sometimes we open our presents on Eve.

What about you?

__________________
The political system is broke and it's a joke.

When I was a kid we had family gifts on Christmas eve. We would pick up my grandmother(mothers mother) at her house then my great aunt(fathers aunt) at her house then go out to dinner. When we got home we opened the gifts with them. On Christmas morning Santa had come so I got those. My uncle would come to pick up my grandmother to bring her to their house and my aunt would go to my other uncle's (fathers brother) with us. Now that it is just DH, kids and I we open on Christmas morning.

Scared to respond... Might get sued for Libel...

__________________
Be careful what you wish for.....

Anna we celebrate both always christmas eve was with my family and christmas day was with my husbands family. However since the passing of my mother in law and all the kids growing up things have changed however we still manage to see all. This year I am having my parents and one brother and his family and then my husbands only sister and her husband. Also having my father in law . Christmas day we are going to my younger daughters boyfriends mom and dads house. Peace and stay safe in this holiday season. Catherine

Buon Natale a tutti! ♥ Merry♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Christmas ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪...And A Happy New Year! ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪...

__________________
The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Always Christmas Day here.
I was wondering though,for those that celebrate on Christmas eve,how does Santa manage to get all the gifts and toys that aren't wrapped under the tree while the kids are awake?Does Santa just come on Dec.24 in the afternoon while kids are out sled riding or something?How do you manage the whole Santa Claus picture.

__________________

The presents just showed up under the tree and my parents told us there is no way Santa can do the whole world full of children in one night. One year we were at the dinner table my Dad was in the hall bathroom and while he was there the presents showed up under the tree. We were amazed!

__________________
The political system is broke and it's a joke.

My family's tradition is Christmas Day. We typically got to open one gift (usually from grandma - usually something crocheted with loving care ) on Christmas Eve. We do the same thing with my family now, although none of my kids' grandmas crochets.

DH had a party and opened gifts on Christmas Eve. If we get together with them, we follow their tradition, but they are very difficult to pin down, so that doesn't happen that often.

cj/

__________________
I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

We celebrate our Christmas with DH family on Christmas Eve and my family on Christmas day.

Cj- when I was a child, my great-grandmother would make us open our Christmas gift from her on Christmas Eve. Each year it was something that was knitted...booties, hats, scarves, blankets or shawls. I have several of them and still cherish them till this day.

When I was a kid, Christmas Eve was *the* day. We spent the day at my grandparents house,ate, played games and opened gifts. Back then, we exchanged gifts with the whole family (grandparents, my parents, 2 aunts, 1 uncle, 2 cousins and their SO's). It was a tiny full house Now, my grandparents are gone We are in a different state from one cousin and his family so it's smaller. With money tighter these last few years, we decided that only immediate family should buy for each other (so I don't have to buy for 7 people I used to) but everyone buys for the kids (I have two). We have the family come over at 5:00 (some have to work...bummer) and we eat, play games and the kids open their presents.

Christmas Day we have our morning opening of gifts then head to my parent's house for their gifts, my brothers gifts and then everyone else comes over for "the big meal" of Prime Rib and Dad's famous eggnog. We then play games, watch movies, share stories and have fun.

Merry Christmas!

__________________
Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

We've always done it on Christmas Eve, since I was a kid. Santa brought some stuff on Christmas Day but our big deal is Christmas Eve. This year though we did Christmas on Tuesday night because my ds and dil work on the 24th and 25th. We were going to do it on the 23rd but ice was predicted. My mom is 85 so we can't have her out in ice. It was nice and relaxing and fun. First time we've ever not done it on Christmas Eve.

Growing up it was Christmas Morning, as we all got married and had children, it was Christmas lunch and then opening presents. When I had a child it was Christmas morning, then RUSH to my mothers for lunch, then back home around dark too exhausted to breathe. A couple years ago I decided I didn't like all the rush on Christmas day and then the kinda let down feeling when we got home, so we took to waiting for HOME gifts till Christmas night. That way all the whoopla of running to family parts was gone and we could sit down and open our presents and enjoy them, I found that we all like that idea. I know it wouldn't work for families with small children, mine was in her teens, but she enjoyed it also.

Unfortunately, as a teenager, I did not have the foresight to either save or cherish those items. I couldn't get rid of the potholder purses and vests, etc soon enough.

I do have lots of afghan blankets that we have saved and still use - both grandmas have been gone for 5 years or more and stopped crocheting well before that (they were 90+ when they passed away). My 20yo DS cannot live without a red, white, and blue afghan that I got as a HS graduation present and used in my college dorm. He took it off to college with him some 30 years later...and get this, brought it home with him for Christmas last week!

cj/

__________________
I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

When I was small, we got to open one gift on Christmas Eve, then celebrated the holiday on Christmas Day.

This year we are going to my sister's tonight. It is a bigger gathering of both of their sides of families. Tomorrow morning, we will open gifts with the kids, then go to my Dad's for breakfast. We are doing this since his GF has to work Christmas Eve, and we will not be able to see her then. Later in the day, we will go to DH's sister's house to celebrate with them and MIL.

Back to work Saturday.

Up until about five years ago we we had a two day celebration. DH would work until noon Christmas Eve. When he got home we would have a nice lunch. Then open family gifts. In the evening we would go to church and then to BIL and SIL's house for DH's family party. After the kids were in bed "santa" came. We had the stuff hidden in the basement. Now that the kids are older and the families are spread out the five of us will be home for dinner. I'm sure the kids will visit with friends later in the day. DH and I will probably find something to do. Getting together with family will be on News Years Eve. We see them all the time anyway. It will be nice to have a quiet evening.

When I was a kid we did the same as you Anna. We celebrated Christmas Eve, with family gatherings and presents and we always had Spaghetti for dinner that night.
Christmas Day.. we had the traditional Turkey/Ham dinner and of course Santa had come.
For me now. I don't really celebrate Christmas anymore. I much rather not have the stress.

__________________
Support bacteria -- it's the only culture some people have!

If Vegetarians eat Vegetables. Do Humanitarians eat Humans?

'Vegetarian' is an old Native American word for bad hunter.

Ahhh, that brought a tear about your son! My youngest actually LOVES wearing a pair of the slippers my Gram made. I'm trying to hide them from him, as I think I got them when I was like 5 (small feet!) and this child is 15 with HUGE feet (mens 12!)!!!! We still use 2 of the afghans she made also.

Yeah, there is something about a 6' 200lb kid that needs his blankie that is heartwarming.

__________________
I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips