In our home, once Santa had returned to his sleigh (or rather gone back to bed), our little feet carried us down the hall to stare at all the presents and lit tree, in the darkness of our living room. There we slept until the rest of the family awoke a few hours later.
But in other families, we've heard people wake everyone up at 12:01 Christmas morning to share in the festivities and then head back to bed! Some are late risers and can keep everyone corralled until the sun is at least in the sky, while others hear the giggles and pitter patters early like in our household.
What time do your family traditions start? Do you keep everyone up late so they sleep in? Run them around they they're sound asleep when presents appear? Or thank your lucky stars you have 8 crazy nights to get some sleep, while others just have the one with little shut eye? Share your thoughts below!
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though my dad grew up with his sisters, their families and ours have way different customs on Christmas Eve and day. They will stay up all night on Christmas Eve and open all their presents that day. My family waits until Christmas morning to do it. Not a big difference, but I always feel like I'm cheating by not waiting until the morning. As a happy medium, we'd open 1 gift in front of them, and wait for the rest in the morning.
Our traditions begin as soon as the decorations and tree go up. Here are some of our traditions and ideas to start new traditions… http://www.simplymodernmom.com/2009/12/start-a-new-holiday-tradition/
we enjoy a big meal Christmas Eve, then tuck our wee ones into bed. They never sleep in, even if they've been up late at night. They wake at 6:30 (every day!), we enjoy a special breakfast then head downstairs for Christmas morning. I hope it lasts this way, they are still very tiny!
Church has always been very important to our Family so as children we had Christmas stockings to open when we woke up, then church, then lunch and then presents from family and friends after lunch. We've continued this with our own family, it makes the day last longer
As kids, we had to stay in bed until 6am. Then we woke everyone else up and while they were gathering in the living room we looked in our stockings. Once everyone was gathered, we started passing out presents and opening them. My older brothers would usually go back to bed after that. :-) I *loved* getting up so early and hope to do the same thing with our little ones someday.
i feel like our traditions become smaller and smaller celebrations every year. the not-so-little-one has her countdown to the 25th that should start on the 1st, but we didn't start till the 10th this year 'cause there was sooooo much going on at school. letter to santa, snacks for the reindeer on christmas eve, cookies for the man in red, opening of her gifts (one santa, one mom, one dad) and lots of mellow playing at home.
and the tree. we put it up today to the tune of the chipmunks christmas album and charlie brown christmas.