Special Christmas Traditions

I grew up in one of the southern provinces in the Philippines and as Catholics we are strictly observing the Christmas traditions based on Catholic traditions and from our ancestors. We have a very long Christmas celebration in the Philippines. The start of Advent season (first Sunday of December or last Sunday of November)is the signal of the Christmas season where we have to decorate our houses with lots of Christmas symbols. On the early dawn of the 16th of December we have to start attending the Early Dawn Mass or "Mesa de Gallo" in Spanish term. It is also called the nine morning masses in a Philippine Catholic tradition. It's quite interesting in the province because the people there will prepare native food and delicacies to eat after the mass with hot chocolate. Then on the Christmas eve we have to gather as a family in the house after attending the mass and share the food we prepared, we call this "Noche Buena" then there's party or singing in the house where relatives joined together. Then after sharing meal we have to go out and have Caroling in the neighborhood until early morning of December 25. It's a cherished memory back then when I was still young that me and my friends roamed around our small place singing old Christmas songs in the neighbors in exchange for food and money. It was very memorable and wonderful. The feeling was great.

Good morning, how exciting for you. We started celebrating the holidays in our house 3 years ago - we always went to someone else's house... In some ways, it was great, but in others, it wasn't so great... When we had my son, we started doing things at home - I felt with the arrival of my son, it was time to start my OWN family holiday traditions. Even though he's only 4, he is starting to get the holiday thing now... So the first thing we do, is this weekend, we will sit and write our letter to Santa. (This will simply serve us as his wish list!) Then next weekend, we will put up the tree. I also got some craft kits, for gifts to his friends/family, and we'll do that together. On X-Mas eve, he'll right another letter to Santa, telling him Thank you for XXX and we leave that on the table for Santa... Then of course, the melee starts at sun-up! LOL Sounds kind of simple, but it's early yet and as he gets older, I'll allow him to come up with this own ideas for the holidays. When I was growing up, we always got to open a gift on X-Mas eve, but I'm not sure if I'll carry that on with my son... Maybe next year... Also, and this will have to wait another 2 or 3 years, but I've always served holiday dinners to poor/homeless on the holidays, and I want him to see this, but he's still too little... I haven't done it for X-Mas for 3 years now - I think it would be murder for him to wake up, see all his presents and have to wait to open them while I'm volunteering!

Congratulations! It's wonderful when you have your own home and can start your own traditions. One tradition that I started when my children were very small is the birthday cake. They got to help me make it and decorate it then on Christmas day we would put a candle on it, sing happy birthday, make a wish and blow out the candle. Of course, then we got cake and ice cream! I like your idea about the ornaments. They would also show you how your children grow over the years, how their interests change. How about a Christmas eve tradition like making pizzas for dinner or stringing popcorn and cranberries for the tree?

Hi Dorann :) Whey my girls were kids, they had a special manger scene they'd set up each year, and as they did, we read and talk about the story from the Bible about Jesus's birth. Other favorites were the reading of the night before Christmas, baking and decorating cookies together, watching or being part of our town's annual Christmas parade, and leaving cookies and milk for Santa, and carrot sticks for Santa. And then there was their advent calendar :)) Those things were mainstays each year! I miss it. Karen

I remember growing up my grandmother, my mom and I would bake cookies, cakes, cany and fudge. Even when I was three years old my mom or grandmother would measure the ingredients that were needed and then put the contents into a paper cup so I can pour them into the bowl. I also had plastic cookie cutters and I would make shapes with the cookies. Also, I would make crafts and make home made gifts to give to my grandmother, my mom and my teacher. I also remember donating an unwrapped toy to the church each year. Now that I am an adult I donate to the toys for tots drive and give to the Salvation Army. I also remember reading 'Twas the NIght Before Christmas. I love the idea of having your kids pick out ornaments. It does build their ornamnet collection when they do eventually move out.

Im sure you and your family will have a great christmas as long as you spend lots of time together.And be sure to buy them lots of present!!!

As the first responder said, baking and crafts are always fun for children. I've always enjoyed making decorations. I don't know what kind of store you will be taking them to, to pick out their ornaments (hopefully they will have many different styles to chose from) but if you are like me and don't have a place like that around you could have them make their ornaments. I know the traditional kids ornaments don't always last very long and once they get older they may think of them as too "childish" to take with them. My favorite are the clear glass ball ornaments, you could paint them and/or fill them with memorable items. I just gave birth to our first son last year and I can't wait until he's old enough to really enjoy the traditions of the holidays. I want him to have a giving heart like I did as a child so our traditions will be based around serving others I'm sure. But we'll do lots of fun things that he enjoys as well. We'll celebrate Christmas in 3 houses every year I'm sure for a while. Our home, my mother's home, and my husband's mother's home. I love spending time with family so going to the different places will mean different traditions for him at each home that we can look forward to. I hope you have a Merry Christmas!