Just thought it might be interesting for us to share
HAPPY Christmas traditions that we and our families may have developed over the years.
For me it was a few years after I became a parent, we didn't go out Christmas eve we'd be preparing the big day for the kids.
I would take over the kitchen and start baking tray after tray of mince pies, not, because my mince pies were of exceptional quality often they were mishapen lumps of either undercooked or over cooked dough. The reason I would do this was simple, it kept the kids entertained as they attempted to assist in rolling the pastry, cutting the shapes, filling the trays and fitting far too much mince meat into them.
It didn't matter that when we'd finished the kitchen looked like a snow storm after all we wanted a white Christmas and this way it was guaranteed!
The very last tray would have the special pies, one each with the childrens names on, one for Mum, one for dad AND a very important one for Father Christmas.
One year we experimented with one filled with grated carrot for Rudolph it was awful never to be repeated.
While the last tray was cooking their Mum would take them for a bath and to change into their Christmas Pyjamas then kids would get the place ready, mince pie and a large shot of Brandy for the night time visitor (no namby pamby Santa will have milk he's driving in this house, after all, he's in a magic sleigh and already flying so one little drink won't make any difference).
I knew my children were growing up when making the mince pies gradually became a chore rather than an excitement, "at last", I cried, "we are free to once more go and share Christmas eve with the revellers", though every Christmas since then has had a slightly empty feeling about it, No it hasn't I now see my kids creating their own Christmas traditions that are guaranteed to keep my Grandkids happy.
If you have a miserable tradition feel free to post it in here:-
http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...ord-67786.html
Though I have to warn you the thread starter has made himself the centre of attention on that one so don't expect a great number of comments about it.