John and I have been married for 3 years now and together for 5 but this year is the first that we’re really starting to put down some family traditions.
Christmas day
Although we have lived in together for most of this time and owned our house for the last 3 Christmases, this is the first Christmas we are actually spending at home. Other years have been spent elsewhere. Sometimes we were at a family member’s house for a stupid amount of hours. Another year we went to stay with my mum because she lives so far away.
This year is completely different though. I put my foot down and said that when we had children we would be staying at home for Christmas. I never had a Christmas at home as a child because we were pretty much forced to go elsewhere. This is not something I want for Erin. From now on, Christmas is at home and if people want to see us, they know where we are.
early christmas/ christmas meal
This tradition is kind of new and kind of not.
A few years ago now we decided as a family (before I met John) that we would go out for a meal on Christmas Eve instead of having a Christmas dinner. (Don’t ask) This happened for so many years but then my sister and I moved away to go to university and then I never went back. My mum lives in Grimsby, my sister in London and us in Norfolk. My sister and mum always work over Christmas so we can never spend it together. Now, they come to stay with us for a few days the weekend before Christmas and we have an early family Christmas then.
Erin gets so excited when her Grandma and Auntie Natalie come to visit. Me and John might as well not exist for a few days because all Erin wants to do is play with them. She does it so much that she doesn’t want to sleep, exhausts herself and then crashes!
Our early family Christmas involves a meal out somewhere instead of it being on Christmas Eve and also opening presents from each other. This year we did this last weekend and it was amazing! We went for an amazing meal (full review in a few days) and opened presents later that night.
other traditions
Although these are now our main traditions there are a few more that I’m hoping to keep:
Champagne on Christmas Day
Erin’s Christmas Eve box (blog post to come)
Christmas Day walk
Do you have any Christmas traditions? I’d love to know in the comments!