I have so many wonderful memories of Christmas growing up. I'm from a big family of 8. My parents really made it special and it truly had nothing to do with presents. In fact we usually only got one or two and then a few little things in our stockings, which was plenty for us. We would wake up in the morning and since all of us shared room with one other person we would play games until my parents knocked on our door and told us Santa came to our house!
My mom would have the video camera going, all the lights would be out expect for the lit huge real Christmas tree in the downstairs. On the coffee table there would be all kinds of goodies like nuts, angle food candy, boxes of chocolates and other goodies. My parents would let us eat whatever we wanted...it was so rare to get candy, my mom didn't like us on a regular sugar high.
Then despite being sooo excited we would slowly open presents one at a time and all eyes would be on that person. Usually Mitchell my youngest brother would play "Santa" handing out the presents. Before Christmas we drew names for our "secret angel", you had to do special things for that person without them knowing it was you. Then on Christmas we revealed who was your "secret angel" and you gave them a small gift. We loved it because we'd share how we almost got caught making so and so's bed or leaving a candy cane in someone's backpack. It was so much fun.
After all the presents were opened usually, about three hours later, we had breakfast. We always have the same Christmas meal; croissants, fruit cocktail and sparkling grape juice. Dinner was always a feast, ham or turkey, twice baked potatoes, cranberries, rolls and more!
When our little daughter comes along I hope to carry on the same traditions at our house. What are your traditions? What's your favorite thing about Christmas?
My mom would have the video camera going, all the lights would be out expect for the lit huge real Christmas tree in the downstairs. On the coffee table there would be all kinds of goodies like nuts, angle food candy, boxes of chocolates and other goodies. My parents would let us eat whatever we wanted...it was so rare to get candy, my mom didn't like us on a regular sugar high.
Then despite being sooo excited we would slowly open presents one at a time and all eyes would be on that person. Usually Mitchell my youngest brother would play "Santa" handing out the presents. Before Christmas we drew names for our "secret angel", you had to do special things for that person without them knowing it was you. Then on Christmas we revealed who was your "secret angel" and you gave them a small gift. We loved it because we'd share how we almost got caught making so and so's bed or leaving a candy cane in someone's backpack. It was so much fun.
After all the presents were opened usually, about three hours later, we had breakfast. We always have the same Christmas meal; croissants, fruit cocktail and sparkling grape juice. Dinner was always a feast, ham or turkey, twice baked potatoes, cranberries, rolls and more!
When our little daughter comes along I hope to carry on the same traditions at our house. What are your traditions? What's your favorite thing about Christmas?
Rachel Pierce rpierce@myabc5.com
