I am so excited for this! One of my favorite activities the ladies at church did was we all sat in a big circle while eating yummy dessert, and told each other about our family traditions. It was so special. I think that no matter what the tradition is, the simple fact that you do it with your family every year brings you close and it creates lasting memories.
Right after I started my blog a couple of years ago I shared my all time favorite family tradition involving this little fireplace. You can read about it here:https://www.notjustahousewife.net/2010/12/my-favorite-christmas-tradition.html
But like I said before, your traditions do not have to be big things and they don't need to be something that has happened for generations and generations. One of our little family's favorite traditions is to watch ELF while snuggled up eating candy canes and popcorn. While we are getting blankets out, bean bags, and everything else ready we quote our favorite parts. I think we laugh harder at that, than we do during the movie :)
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So here we go! Just link up your post about your traditions and we can all grab some dessert and enjoy reading the stories :) If you do not have a blog, simply leave your tradition story in the comments. That way everyone can participate!
Thanks so much for hosting this link party! I'm excited to look through and see other people's traditions...should be fun!
KC
Hi Stacy!
Thank you for hosting this party!
I have decided to link up our traditional table cener piece in Croatia – Advent Corolla. It has 4 candles – symbols for 4 Sundays prior to Christmas. At every Sunday dinner, family lights up candles; this Sunday we will light first candle, next Sunday two etc… These candles are put out not by blowing but with piece of bread dipped in wine, usually done by the youngest in the house.
I also link traditional Nativity scene placed under the Christmas tree. It is assembled at Christmas Eve by whole family. The figures of Three Wise Men travel slowely toward Jesus' crib untill Epiphany (Jan. 6th) when they meet Jesus.
I hope you will like it!
Ana@carpe_diem
another Croatian pre-Christmas tradition - St. Nicholaus has arrived!
Hi Stacey! Thanks for hosting a fun and inspiring party. I love learning about everyone's traditions. I didn't realize how important they were until having children of my own. Now I know how much it means to them!!!
Love this idea Stacey! It's going to be so fun to see what everyone else does over the holidays. I linked up a Finnish recipe that I make with my mom every holiday season. I look forward to it every year.
Wonderful linky party! My family just loves Elf, the movie, too! One of our favorite traditions is having the kids sprinkle "magic dust" on the driveway to help Santa find our home. We videotape it every year. This year, I'd like to start a new tradition: I've ordered them eachof my daughters a new pair of winter pajamas to open and wear Christmas Eve and morning. I would also like to get a new family board game that I can wrap and they can open Christmas Eve. So I am looking for great family board game suggestions!
Oh my word! Magic dust on the driveway? That is adorable!!! I love it :) We do the PJs on Christmas Eve too. And an ornament. I don't know what ages your kids are but our favorite game to play as a family is Sequence for Kids. We play it the regular way but we also play it where you just pick a card of an animal and then put your token on that animal. It simplifies it to the point that even my 2 year old can play and understand. Thanks for sharing!
We have a few traditions that we started when our 2-year old was born.
Mom gift - ornament
Dad gift - nutcracker
(She'll have a little piece of home when she moves out on her own.)
Christmas Eve gift - PJs and Christmas book
We also put out the nativity and advent wreath. This year she's excited to blow out the candles herself. Finally, we wait until Christmas morning to put Baby Jesus in the manger. She keeps saying "I find Jesus!" It's too cute.
"I find Jesus"...Oh that is precious! Melts my heart :) We got a new ornament every year and I love having them on my tree now as an adult. SO many fun memories!
I love this idea, we are still starting out on the traditions, my daughter is one, so we haven't really done too many traditions. But I have really wanted to start a bunch, so this year is the year we are starting them all. We are doing the 'Keeping Baby Jesus Warm' thing where you have Jesus in a manger (like a popsicle stick one) and add a piece of yarn when you do an act of service. Also I like to do a family board game each Christmas we get a new one. And I am going to buy the kids a children's book each year to open on Christmas. This year we started with A Bad Case of Stripes. We are also doing the Elf on the Shelf, watching all the children's classic Christmas movies. And I want to start the 12 days of Christmas. We also have a book of christmas stories, some religious, some fun, that we read every night. I want to start the tradition of going out to breakfast on Christmas Eve.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the keep baby Jesus warm idea! What a wonderful way to focus on service. I think we will do that :)
What a fun linky party. Thanks for hosting. I am looking forward to seeing everyone's traditions!
Stacy, Thanks for hosting another great party. We appreciate all the hard work you do so we can show off!
Linda and Jeannie at The French Hen's Nest
This is so sweet! Love this party! I also just had to say that we also LOVE the movie Elf!!! :)
Shelley
http://www.piggyinpolkadots.blogspot.com
Great idea! Thanks for hosting! Happy weekend! :)
http://dixie-n-dottie.blogspot.com/
What a great link party idea!! Our Salt- Crusted Mini Beef Wellington is always a request at our home during the Holidays. This is usually a favorite appetizer on Christmas Eve and they are all eatten up incredibly fast! The holidays just aren't complete without these tasty bites!!