Family Christmas Traditions

[Colwyn]

Do you have some small thing that you buy, make or do that is always part of Christmas in your household? I make watercress soup to start Xmas lunch and never make it at any other time in the year. Just starting it off now

[Cavfan]

Yes - always forget the bread sauce! find it in the microwave on boxing day usually!

[Scunner]

We are a family of traditions (the kids and I know that to get mum to agree to anything we need to do it two year running and award it 'tradition' status).

Our Christmas Eve one is simple. No cooking, it's a chippy tea tradition

[Liz 101]

When my mum was alive, she always left icing the christmas cake until christmas eve evening & get upset when it didn't work out as she'd wanted. It was more than just the icing that was frosty one year when dad suggested that, as she'd made the cake in September, it may have been better if she'd not left it to the last minute 

What I would give to have that debate raging tonight 

[George Warner]

For the last 15 years the tradition has been going out for an Indian Curry on Christmas Eve,this year however we will be cooking and eating at home.

[Steve A]

Only tradition I have is hitting the ale as often as I can Merry hic Xmas !

[Colwyn]

The End of the Festivities
   Hilary has a very certain idea of when the end of the Christmas festivities falls. It is January 2nd. I plead, uselessly, about the "12 Days of Christmas" and that nobody else has this rule but she enforces this tradition with a rod of iron and will not be brooked on the matter. Lights must be taken down, and so must Christmas cards. And, worst of all, the tree must be thrown out - even though the Council won't be picking them up until the 11th of January.
   So this year I decided to try starting a counter-tradition. For the first Sunday lunch after New Year I would attempt rib of beef. Now this is a rare delight; it ain't cheap. But last Sunday I cooked a rib for our lunch. Hilary used up some of an elderly bottle of port and some redcurrant jelly in making the rich gravy. Absolutely superb! Now I have to establish that as our new Christmas tradition. Even if the tree is lying on our front garden.

[Stuart T]

Boxing Day tea - slices of cold turkey breast, mashed potato and pickled onions/beetroot/chutney.

Had that for as long as I can remember but I still look forward to it.