Christmas Eve traditions

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house…

In a way, I probably enjoy Christmas Eve more than Christmas day itself, which sounds like a bit of a weird thing to say, but bear with me on this.

Christmas day starts with a ripped wrapping paper rampage, a cooked breakfast…and then stillness. Sure we have all our new gizmos and gadgets to play with and yes, it is perfectly acceptable to eat half a selection box with breakfast but between breakfast and Christmas dinner, not much else happens! So we’re pretty much just waiting around for Christmas dinner, maybe we’ll watch some Christmas specials on tv or a Christmas dvd, but we’re just waiting. Dinner is finally served, we eat until we can’t eat any more – and then we have dessert and After Eights, wine and brews, we pull crackers and tell really bad jokes, then complain about the mountain of washing up and how we really shouldn’t had had that last roast potato.

And with that, it’s done. Christmas is pretty much over once dinner is finished with and the last of the dishes has been put away. Done, dusted, months of shopping and planning and it’s over with in just a few hours. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still the Downton Abbey special to look forward to!

Christmas Eve…that’s a different story. Christmas Eve is all about the build up and excitement. I’ll be in work during the day but it’ll be quite, we’ll have a good laugh and just watch the minutes tick by. Maybe an early finish, a quick drink to toast the festivities, a battle with public transport to get home. Once I’m home I’ll wrap some last minute gifts, maybe prep some food for the next day. Then, once we’re all home from work we’ll get changed and head out to the cinema. We’ve done this every year since I was old enough to sit through a film and I love it. Usually we see whatever is the most Christmassy film out but pretty much anything will do. Afterwards we’ll pick up a take away or cook up a massive pizza feast once we get home. Then there’s the ‘Christmas shower’, you know what I’m talking about! You pull out your favourite toiletries that you’ve been saving especially for this night, maybe jump in the bath with a Christmas Eve Lush bath bomb! Of course, no Christmas Eve is complete without new pjs!

The night will usually end with films, board games and a few drinks, all still filled with the excitement that only Christmas can bring. This is why I love Christmas Eve, it’s about as Christmassy a day you can get but it isn’t over in just a few hours, it lasts the day through and you still have so much to look forward to the next day.

Our Christmas Eve has been a long standing tradition for years in our house, and even when I finally fly the nest and get my own place I can still see me coming back every Christmas Eve for the same traditions, then carrying on them when I have a family of my own someday.

What’s your Christmas Eve tradition?

Happy Holidays!

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