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Post by Kim on Dec 13, 2003 20:46:44 GMT -5
What sort of Christmas traditions do you all have?
My boyfriends parents and my mom and sister are very good friends, which makes things nice.
Both families have appy's on Christmas Eve at either my moms, my or my sisters place then we all (his family and mine) have Christmas dinner at his parents.
My sister and I exchange ornaments every year - I started doing this when I was about 8. If I've been somewhere that year, I will get an ornament from that place and save it until Christmas. She has little Delft clogs from the Netherlands, a mirrored ball from Bangkok, a surfing santa from Hawaii and this year, although not that foreign, a snowman from Whistler.
Kim
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Post by jennifer on Dec 15, 2003 19:41:29 GMT -5
That's a great idea!
I don't have much tradition, besides getting together.
On Christmas eve my dad's family, my parents and I get together at one of our houses, this year it's at my parents' country place. We have a great supper, feel filled up for hours, then we unwrap gifts at midnight. It takes hours cause we do a gift exchange so everyone has about 20 gifts or more! It's sooooo fun! And as I am the youngest one even if I'm an adult now, I still get the most...hahaah! ;D
Then we spend christmas day playing in the snow, walking around, playing games and having fun! Eating of course!
Then back to usual until New Years where I visit my mom's parents 3 hours out of town in the countryside! ITs a really big family so it's a real party! Not much tradition though!
That's that!
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Post by Cat on Dec 19, 2003 2:37:51 GMT -5
Wow, snow on Christmas day, Jennifer, 'm sooo envious! It must have been about ten years ago we had a bit of snow for Christmas! We don't really have traditions as well. Ususally on Chrismas eve I sing with my choir in the Night Mass. My parents attend mass as well and we get back around eleven and spent some time together with hot chocolate and some snacks. In the Netherlans, we have a tradition of giving presents on the 5th of December. On that date 'Sinterklaas' is in town! I'm told Santa Claus is named after him by the first Dutch inhabitants of the States. Anyway, especcially for children, Sinterklaas is all about exitement and presents. Even when the children have grown up, most people keep exchanging gifts at the 5th of December. Usually, we did as well, but this year my nephew was born in that period, so now we will exchange gifts on the first day of christmas. We dont just wrap them up, about two months in advance the five of us (mom-dad-brother-sister in law-myself) have all drawn one ticket with a name. We make a big present for that person, with has to do with an event last year, his of her habits etc. It also includes a poem about that person. It usually is quite a bit of work, but it's great fun unwrapping it! A great way to tease someone (in a good way of course  ) Afterwards we'll have dinner with the whole family. On the second day of Christmas (is a holiday in the Netherlands as well) I was supposed to sing at a christmas dinner. Sadly, this dinner has been cancelled. I haven't made any plans for that day yet. We'll see. Well, that's my bit, I hope I have given some insight in the Dutch traditions (in my family, anyway.) |
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BARATIER
Senior Travel Member
Viva la Revolucion!
Posts: 118
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Post by BARATIER on Dec 22, 2003 19:22:05 GMT -5
I am not too sure about it, since I have negelected to research it, but In Spain, they don't celebrate Christmas like we do over here. For them, I believe, it is just a holiday like any other.
What do little Spaniard rascals have to look forward to. you ask? Well, that will be January 6, otherwise known as "Dia de Reyes" (Day of The Three Kings) because that is when they get the gifts!
I happen to come to experience this by chance last year when I spend the January 6th of 2003 in Madrid and the nice people at the hostel where I stayed at, embarqued on a midnigte mission and hanged a nice neck-wallet on each bed with everybody's name in it. Of course, me and a bunch of others, were intrigued -if not confused- by it the next day and when we asked them, they kindly explained it to us what and why.
It just makes sense, religiously speaking of course, because the Three kings are the ones who brings the gifts to the Child Jesus on his birthnight. That way, when you grow up, you dont get disappointed when you come to the realization that Santa Claus is an entirely fictional character that came out of nowhere.
;D
Bara
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