CHRISTMAS - Do you celebrate the Eve or the Day??
By nica269
@nica269 (1395)
United States
November 22, 2007 1:56am CST
When I was growing up, in a Argentinian home, we always celebrated Christmas Eve. We celebrated until the stroke of midnight and then we opened our presents.
Now as adults with my own family and extended family we get to celebrate both, Eve with my family and Day with my in laws, and it's pretty cool, it's like having two Christmases!
1 person likes this
5 responses
@patgalca (18394)
• Orangeville, Ontario
22 Nov 07
Growing up, the only thing we ever did on Christmas Eve to celebrate Christmas was to go to midnight mass. Perhaps a neighbour had an open house that we may have dropped in on. Christmas was always celebrated on Christmas Day and with extended family on Boxing Day. But I have now made my Christmas Eve traditions with my husband and children - mass at 6pm at which I usually read and my daughter(s) altar serve, a walk through Christmas in the Park (decorations and lights galore!) and home for the hunt for the Christmas Eve box. The box always has pop, chips and a movie in it so then we settle down to watch the movie. I love Christmas Eve more than Christmas day now.
For more about the Christmas Eve Box, see the discussion I posted on it.
@patgalca (18394)
• Orangeville, Ontario
28 Nov 07
Boxing Day is December 26th, the day after Christmas. It was given the name Boxing Day because that is when you box everything up and get rid of your old stuff to replace with the new. It is a day of big sales as well, but still a civic holiday.
@marinarovi (1318)
• Argentina
29 Nov 07
Wow, never heard of boxing day before.
In spain december 26th is Saint Stephen, which is quite important and non laborable day.
@marinarovi (1318)
• Argentina
22 Nov 07
Here in Argentina we celebrate Christmas Eve, and open our presents at midnight. I don't know where we got that tradition from.
If I moved to another country I would have to wait un til morning, grrrr
It's great that you have two christmas, pass that on to your kids!
LOL
@nica269 (1395)
• United States
28 Nov 07
I think if you were to move to another country you'd keep your tradition, my family did. I think it's great that we get to celebrate twice the birth of Christ...and our kids will just LOVE celebrating twice...twice the presents. At least they'll think that. LOL
1 person likes this
@marinarovi (1318)
• Argentina
29 Nov 07
Well, my family, in Spain, actually celebrates the 26th as well, so is like a huge holiday!
but when my mom got here with her parents, they had no family and she made friends with another immigrant family, and together started celebrating the 25th but in the evening, so this is kind of a private tradition we have with this family, which now is the 3rd generation (and the little one is my godson, I love him so much)
Love traditions, old or new, it's good to have meaningful moments in life, I guess.
@marriedman111399 (1207)
• United States
23 Nov 07
When I was younger we always celebrated Christmas on Christmas eve. We would always bug our parents and ask them if it was time yet to open presents. Now that I am older and married every year is different. This year I am going to celebrate Christmas with my in-laws on the 26th and with my side of the family on the 27th. It changes every year because alot of my family live out of state.
@chubibo (294)
• Philippines
17 May 08
it is a tradition here in the philippines to celebrate christmas a month long..we do evening mass( early in the morning around 3 AM) for 9 days before christmas..and we celebrate christmas at the evening, families and relatives gather together to celebrate Jesus' birthday!
