So what are your Christmas/Holiday Traditions?

Thanks, I'm a bit of a black sheep in the family, so I've been standing my ground for 34 years! I've watched my wife and her husband for the past 6 years visit with my parents for 4 hours every holiday, then pack up and head to his family for another 4 hours. It looks miserable, so my wife and I decided we'd alternate every holiday and spend the full day with one family every other year. But Christmas Day, we decided that's for just us. I remember being a kid, opening your presents on Christmas morning and then having to leave them at home and head to Grandma's. It kind-of sucked lol! I know Christmas is all about family, but I gotta watch out for my own family now too.

 

OK.

New game was introduced this evening.

Buy a handful of stocking stuffer gifts; wrap them; and then roll them up in a saran wrap typ0e plastic sheeting. Start out wrapping one gift in plastic, then take a few turns of plastic wrap and stick in another gift. Repeat this until you have a continuous ball of saran wrapped gifts. It is important not to break the saran wrap from start to finish!

The first player rolls 2 dice. If a even number is rolled he passes the dice to the right-if an odd number is rolled the dice are passed to the left.

If doubles are rolled, the person starts unwinding the saran wrap and takes the first wrapped gift that is revealed/loosened up by the saran wrap being removed. Of course, since doubles are an even number roll, the person to the right will roll next.

 

My tradition, though really not my chosen tradition is spending the holidays (all holidays) alone. It just seems to happen that way, and though I don't particularly care for it, it's probably for the best.

I used to decorate, even put up a tree, and cook up something traditionally eaten during the holidays, but I quit doing that many many years ago. I also used to give gifts sometimes total value was a several thousand dollars worth. But I finally just quit doing that about 7 years ago simply because I wouldn't receive even a card or note/letter of any kind in return, least of all a gift. Even those little get together's between family and friends seem to elude me. Not having a family of any kind takes care of the family end of things. But what about friends? I'm thinking I really don't have any.

But traditionally I help many out year round providing what some might need including cash. However, I stop 2 weeks before Christmas just to see who might remember me (those that do know where I live). True to form, this year as the others have not changed. No cards, letters, invites, or visits. No calls on previous years, but this year no one could simply because I changed my number and haven't given it to anyone.

As I said, it's probably for the best anyway. And this way, I'm not disrupting anyone's lives. It's a tradition, and has been going on for better than 20 years. Nope, I'm not whining or crying about it, just stating facts as they are.

But, I do get to live vicariously through all y'all!

 

I take 2 loaves of frozen white bread dough let it rise , don't bake cut into strips fry in oil dust with powder sugar a poor mans doughnut that's our traditional Xmas breakfast , been doing that for 35 + years . The times when my daughters didn't get home for the holiday they did it for themselves .

 

Same here. Dad always enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner so he wanted to do it again on Christmas.
Dad is gone , but the tradition carries on.

 

Up here, bread dough fried that way in a pan is called Fry Bread or bannock. Tastes great.

 

Learned how to make these from my mother in law , she called them " Belley Buster's " , which I believe is a term that refers to the cartridge box that a revolutionary soldier wore . My father in law was a huge revolutionary war guy re enactments the whole nine yards .

 

There was an old indian that lived near me and would do the same. Sometimes he'd sprinkle powdered sugar on them, and sometimes smear some preserves on them. I loved both ways! He said it was Indian Fry Bread! But no matter, they are a tasty treat!

 

Fried carbs are good no matter what you call them

Might not be good for you , but it is the Holidays

 

our family tradition is weekend before Christmas thanksgiving.. etc etc is we invite nephews friends over.. and we celevate early... I mean what kid wants to drive on Christmas or other holiday to anyone's house... I recommend this to anyone that has blended family.. first what kid dosent want presents early? What parent doesn't need some time to do shopping baking etc without the kids.? then we open gifts and throw a party..

it certainly helps we have land a quarter mile drive on 22 acres and neighbors let us use there's to for example... for our wedding party had 150 some odd at the house.. wood processing area needs to be organized but parking 50 cars here is not that hard... 100 gets a little creative..

we got a hill... summer time 100 x 10 piece of plastic is a great slip n slide... got an old hose capped an end grilled some holes.. some dish detergent voilla... a few go carts and wheelers... in winter snowmobile... throw in a bonfire.. your good to go!

Star Gazer as a fellow hoarder you are welcome

 

My grandfather made ice cream for almost every family gathering when I was growing up. When he passed on I stepped into his shoes and keep the tradition going.

With several years of experimentation I came up with my own recipe for a killer Chocolate/Peanut Butter ice cream that never fails to please.

Sorry. No pics of that. We ate it all yesterday.