Your Christmas family traditions, customs and memories

[quit yo jibbajabba]

Where do we all stand  on  having Christmas crackers at  the dinner table?

And more importantly, do  ye wear the paper hats?

I always do, even  if I'm the  only one wearing one. What's  the point in having them otherwise?

Mandatory. I have a large head and I'm from a long line of large headed people, so more often than not they're ripped. Still maintain that competitive edge with the crackers and sneak a grip of the "barrel". Usually a row over it.

There are people who don't adopt this approach out there?  Absolutely hold the barrel and definitely wear the hate! 

1 present on Christmas Eve is a something that has developed in recent years.

We've been doing it 40yrs plus. Always said I was ahead of my time 😜

Least I don't have a big head like Tony 😆

[Orior]

Having read both your posts on this thread I'm convinced you are me.

That sounds like  something I would have said.

lol

[Puckoon]

We always had a great open house after morning Mass for the neighbours in the park. We were allowed open Santa Claus before mass, one present from under the tree after mass - but everything else had to wait until after dinner (about 4 or 5pm). Was torture but looking back now it was a nice stretch of the day.

In later years I loved being allowed to stay up with Dad to set up Santa for the younger brother and sister.

I do remember Santa forgetting batteries one year and on the drive home from Mass, Mammy lambasting the shite out of Santa for being a silly auld ballix that couldn't do one simple thing like remembering the batteries. Was a decade or so later that I laughed my ass off at that as poor Santa was driving the car.

[Tony Baloney]

We always had a great open house after morning Mass for the neighbours in the park. We were allowed open Santa Claus before mass, one present from under the tree after mass - but everything else had to wait until after dinner (about 4 or 5pm). Was torture but looking back now it was a nice stretch of the day.

In later years I loved being allowed to stay up with Dad to set up Santa for the younger brother and sister.

I do remember Santa forgetting batteries one year and on the drive home from Mass, Mammy lambasting the shite out of Santa for being a silly auld ballix that couldn't do one simple thing like remembering the batteries. Was a decade or so later that I laughed my ass off at that as poor Santa was driving the car.

a lot of pressure on oul Santa! Having all boys I was saved from building dolls houses!

We also do the 1 present on Christmas Eve and have done since I was a wain. The children are big now and the number of presents is way down so maybe it's a dying tradition in our house!

[lurganblue]

Paper hat is a must! Dont trust anyone who doesnt partake.

My ones are now at the age were the presents get smaller and require less building but the prices go up   I wont miss building things into the wee hours.

Tradition in ours now is that everyone comes to our house on the big day for the feed. It puts a bit of pressure on, but it's worth it, especially now that I'm at the age of knowing that every year of this company is a blessing.

A few beverages and a few tunes to complete the day.

It's round 2 of man versus food on Boxing day at the in-laws.

[weareros]

We always did the ham late on Christmas Eve, flavoured with cider, cloves and mustard. The Brandy butter was also made in advance (which would take its place with the plum pudding and custard for desert, and get doused again with whiskey or more brandy on Christmas Day). When young we were always told the animals were given the gift of speech for one minute at midnight, and the Da would ask if we heard the cats asking for ham (which at that stage was wafting all the over the house). Everyone was asking for ham, man and beast. Two glasses of whiskey and Christmas Cake and biscuits were left on the mantlepiece for Santa. We never thought to ask why two glasses of the good stuff. I must say that was a tradition I maintained myself. It was indeed a deserved reward at 2 or 3 in the morning.

[Norm-Peterson]

Christmas doesn't mean much if you don't have kids although you should never make it known to your bosses that you are childless as they would take advantage of childless men expecting them to work extra hours.

[Jeepers Creepers]

Real men wear Christmas cracker hats !