as tradition, most of our Christmas goes the Mexican style and so our Christmas does start very early on the 24... with the first ray of light, all of the cooking and preparations do start from scratch... and by 6 to 8pm, a lot of family has arrived and gathered...
most of the gifts which are tons, are focused on the little ones, the kids who know very well!! that those gifts have been wrapped for days, perhaps weeks and then they cannot just wait, we never waited for the next morning, lol...
our tradition is to have the Christmas feast on Christmas' Eve and also to open all of the gifts, exchange them right at midnight... but with all those kids eager, more like 11pm lmao... and then it is all party till early morning, for most...
oh yes, I forgot to add that... both of my Catholic grandma's mass and the nativity, from 8 to 10pm, and we could never ever miss that, lol... one after the other
lmfao... I had to be dragged as a kid, but once I got older... I could get out of it by telling my grandma that I had to go the one from my girlfriend's family, lmfao... and that was the only way she would let me...
When my kids were growing up, we exchanged gifts with our outside-the-immediate-family members late afternoon on Christmas Eve, and then we all went to Christmas Eve church services. After that, we returned to one of the houses and had a large meal together. We then all returned to out own homes, where we opened gifts as soon as everyone was awake, usually mid-morning on Christmas Day.
When I was growing up, we went to midnight church services Christmas Eve and exchanged gifts Christmas morning. We then went to my cousin's house Christmas afternoon, where we had a meal together and exchanged gifts.
In Poland, we open Christmas presents on Christmas Eve.
The most important part of Christmas is Christmas Eve's dinner, which, according to tradition, should be without meat and start when the first star appears in the sky. We also keep one place on the table prepared for someone we call "zbłąkany wędrowiec" - someone who is on their journey and has no place to stay; it's a reference to the Bible's history of Jesus' birth. There was no room in the inn for Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus.
After dinner, kids check presents, and there is always at least one present for adult family members. At midnight, believers attend the Christmas night mass, not believers (like me) do a stargazing.
A salad made from cooked carrots, potatoes, canned corn, canned peas, apples and hard-boiled eggs with mayo (and you can add many other things :D ), pierogi with mushrooms and/or sauerkraut, many dishes made from eggs, beetroots and fish. And homemade cakes
We always opened them Christmas Eve. We’d sit in my parents bedroom and sing Christmas songs to bring Santa. After a few minutes of singing, we’d hear the rain deer’s hooves on the roof of our house and bells ringing. Oddly, my dad and oldest brother were never in the room with us. On a side note, I thought that everyone celebrated Christmas like us, so I was actually surprised that no one I knew would sing carols to attract Santa to their house and very few would open their gifts on Christmas Eve.
@mandyfire98 Years Ago When We ALL Could Be Together, Mainly Christmas Eve and the Rest for The Ones Who Came, Again,(Grams and Gramps) for Dinner, Their Other Gifts. Now, Christmas Eve with Who I Do See. xxoo
As a child raised by my grandparents, always Christmas morning. As a young adult living with my dad and his family, one on Christmas Eve (usually pajamas or something leading to the big present), then the rest Christmas morning.
Morning of 24th: firsts it's the gift from Kertasníkir, which is the last yulelad (Icelandic version of Santa). Then open the smallest present (when younger). Then the rest are opened in the evening. After a big dinner, desert, clean up (all that could last up to 2-3 hours depending on how mean the adults where) and dancing around the Christmas tree.
We used to do that when we were younger but we just do it all Christmas day now. usually my siblings will come over first from their houses then we start opening gifts. we are all grown ups now lol
It depended on what the plans were for Christmas Eve, but I think most of the time we opened a couple on Christmas Eve and saved the rest for Christmas morning.
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