Christmas gift traditions

[Ambrosia Hino]

When I was little, my great-grandparents always bought me and my cousins matching Hallmark Christmas ornaments every year. When we moved away, they started sending money for me to pick out my own ornament instead (not as much fun, because now mine didn't match). I think that continued until around when I turned 18? I know it was after I started driving, because my ornament money ended up in my gas tank at least once.

That's one I need to figure out how to start up again, at least for our house.

[RebeccainGA]

When I was little, my great-grandparents always bought me and my cousins matching Hallmark Christmas ornaments every year. When we moved away, they started sending money for me to pick out my own ornament instead (not as much fun, because now mine didn't match). I think that continued until around when I turned 18? I know it was after I started driving, because my ornament money ended up in my gas tank at least once.

That's one I need to figure out how to start up again, at least for our house.

DP and I do it together, 1 ornament every year, dated. It's kind of cool to see how our tastes change. We used to try to get ones that reflected our family at the time (DD, and us, living together). This year, our first Christmas without DD, we got one that just was two doves, and said "Our Christmas Together". Was bittersweet, but certainly reflects our household!

[LilacRosey]

All the women in my families beed so we pass on necklaces and earrings to eachother every year. We all have different styles so it's pretty fun!, LilacRosey

[gmatoy]

I always sew for my family and recently I made PJ's for everyone and my family announced that was the best ever and should be a new tradition. (And does anyone else's family sing, "Tradition!" from Fiddler on the Roof? Because that is part of the tradition at our house!)

[Library Dragon]

Several years ago DH had neck surgery.  He was just driving again the week of Christmas.  He went to the local drugstore and shopped on the As Seen On TV aisle.  It's now a tradition that he buys us, DSs, DIL, and me, the cheesiest gifts he can get from this area.  It's funny, but some have turned out to be handy.

[StoutGirl]

Every year, my Dad has to get the annual John Deere ornaments, along with some black bear ornaments.

[Waterlight]

Since my parents were divorced and had each remarried, but both lived in the same town and were on speaking terms (from coolly civil in my high school years to genuinely friendly in the last few years before Dad died), I ended up getting TWO holiday celebrations:  one on Christmas Eve, the other on Christmas Day.   I alternated spending one with Mom and one with Dad--and now that Dad is gone, I alternate spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my stepmom and with my mom and stepdad.  That's a tradition 

Another tradition is that my stepdad--who LOVES candy--always gets at least one big Whitman's Sampler box.

When my dad and stepmom's two cats were alive, I got presents each Christmas from "The Boys" with "love and pawprints."  Usually it would be something small, like socks.