What are your Christmas traditions?

[Italianbratxoxo]

I’m Italian American and my dad’s family is very Italian. We have seafood for Christmas dinner and I know the British pull these things called crackers and you get a little funny gift. I remember doing them with my parents. I’m British on my mom’s side. What cultural traditions do you have in your family?

 

[FayetheAspie]

Christmas tree, wreath, nativity scene, lighted garland, getting each other gifts, reading the story of Christ's birth on Christmas night.

 

[Misty Avich]

An atheist Christmas really, which is celebrated as a means of tradition more than religion or nativity.

 

[Misery]

Mostly my tradition is avoiding going to family parties and whatnot.

Used to have a ton of traditions as a kid, but those all faded really. I try not to think about it, it's depressing.

We exchange gifts and whatnot, but of course that lacks the same spark that it has when you're a kid.

Other than that, there's the tree, I guess.

 

[Shevek]

Put up some outside lights with a stingy timer and try to ignore the lack of visitors.

 

[Outdated]

Most Australians aren't very religious but Christmas is still a big deal. Here it's mostly about families and sharing, and of course happy screaming kids every where. It's our longest day of the year here today, it's the beginning of Summer. The Summer School Holidays started last week.

It's hot here at Christmas, most families will celebrate somewhere where there's water, either at home in their own swimming pool or at one of our many parks and beaches. The tradition here is for a big Christmas Lunch on the 25th, a lunch that quite often goes on until well in to the evening, a day of gluttony. Children get their presents on the morning of the 25th, that hopefully keeps them quiet and out of the way while the adults prepare food and get ready to relax for the afternoon.

We also have another public holiday on the 26th - Boxing Day. This gives the adults that have to go back to work a day to recover from the festivities of the day before. We're a very civilised society.

For myself, I haven't celebrated Christmas in over 30 years, it's a thing for children and families and I have neither. I always looked forward to it as a day when I can guarantee that people won't come knocking on my door because they're all too busy with their families.

Here's a Christmas song from one of our well known musicians, he sums up nicely what most Australians think of Christmas. There's another version of this song recorded in 2021 where he breaks down for a moment because just two weeks before his mother had died from Covid.

 

[Dillon]

Not much of a tradition me and my family have. Years past me and my family that includes my Mom, Sister, Brother, grandparents gather with other distant relatives just hang out, eat and what not but we aren’t festive or anything. This year though it’a only going to be my close family and grandparents as other people like cousins aunts and uncles just don’t have contact with us anymore and honestly that’s fine with me as that means more grilled food for us.

 

[Metalhead]

Watching Die Hard.

 

[Jonn]

Almost bought a "Merry Christmas" sign for the house front.
Motivation: To annoy those who want to restrict our freedom of expression.

Not sure if it is worth worrying about so close to Christmas.
I might prepare better for next year.

 

[Jonn]

My Family came from Europe.
Christmas Eve was/is the special event for me.

Strange that I am thinking more about it these days.
"Interesting."

 

[Xinyta]

A side from a tree and gifts. I really don't have alot of traditions I follow. Though my grandparents, on my bio-mom's side of the family, had a tradition of watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation every December.

My Uncle does make some good food for Christmas though. This year we will do some stuff with Lamb.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

I listen to the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols broadcast live from the Kings College Cathedral.