Comments on: Unique Christmas Eve Tradition

By: Joanne

Joanne — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 01:25:38 +0000

We too had the new pjs on Christmas night tradition. Now my children have it but they are given by my parents. It’s always been my mother’s “thing.” Earlier today I mentioned Grandmom and Pop coming over and my daugter(5) asked why. Her older brother (7 and very wise) said “To give us our Christmas Pajamas and ornaments!” (He couldn’t believe she didn’t know!) My 16 year old nephew was insulted when someone mentioned he might be too old for this particular tradition and his girlfriend asked how long they had to date before she was considered “family” and could get her own PJs! I will tell you they don’t match. Our very introverted (HA!) little girl stripped right in the kitchen and put on her PJs then kept poking her head in every 5 minutes to ask “Who wants to see my new pajamas? TADA” She told us she was pinkalicious! I LOVE Christmas Eve!

By: julieann

julieann — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 23:51:59 +0000

How did I grow up in the Midwest and not get the pajamas thing? Perhaps I am the slow learner that your younger sister is not. For Christmas Eve traditions after church, we have nine red-ribboned nails that each represent a prophecy of the coming Messiah. The three children (teens now) each read three prophecies in turn and hang their nails on the tree. Afterwards we are allowed to open the gifts sent by extended family. I think the anticipation of the guilty pleasure of opening gifts early allows them to sit through the evening’s worship service all decked out in their Christmas finery (and by that I’m not referring to new pj’s!).

By: Leigh Anne

Leigh Anne — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:30:08 +0000

My children will be opening their “Coordinating” pajamas tonight!! Santa’s elves actually drop them by early on Christmas Eve and ding dong ditch us!! Yes, even though my children are young adults and teenagers we still do it!!

By: Ann

Ann — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:43:22 +0000

Still LOL trying not to wake up the household while looking at the pics of you and the sibs!!! Our tradition when I was a kid was that we got to open the gifts given by siblings…so my 2 brothers and I each got to open 2 gifts on Christmas Eve. Now, my husband, kids and I go to my parents’ house on Christmas Eve and gather with my 2 brothers and their families and we all open gifts from one another. The kids open first and they open gifts one at a time from youngest to oldest. We usually take a break for dinner (great food but not a fancy dinner) and then it’s the adults’ turn to open, again, one at a time youngest to oldest. The ‘must do’ tradition at my mom and dad’s house is that the kids HAVE to be measured. Again this is done youngest to oldest. Grandma has to stand on a chair to accurately measure all but 2 of the 9 grandkids! She marks their name, height, and current year on a board that’s permanently attached to the wall in the kitchen.