Christmas is a time for family and friends, a time to eat, drink and hopefully be merry and this is the same for most people around the world. We all have our own traditions within our families, whether that be certain foods eaten, books read by various family members or visiting a meaningful place, these traditions make our festive period what it is today.
Now that big man in red is known to all of us, I myself call him Father Christmas or Santa but he is called many different names depending on where in the world you live and I was actually surprised to discover that in other countries it might not just be Santa Claus who pays a visit.
The infographic below which Stay Sourced have kindly put together below shows an abundance of varying names for Santa, some you'll recognise, others may surprise you. And then there are the somewhat quirky visitors like the "poo log" in Cantalonia, I have to admit I laughed at that one.
Showing posts with label traditions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label traditions. Show all posts
Tuesday, 22 December 2015
Monday, 16 December 2013
My Traditional Christmas
The Christmas season brings with it lots of festive traditions but I don't think there is such a thing as a traditional Christmas anymore.
There used to be the 12 days of Christmas and if I am honest, I am not even sure when that is supposed to start. A traditional Christmas dinner is Turkey but I've heard people having things like salmon instead.
People nowadays take parts of some traditions and mix it up with some of their own and we are no different in the Hazelden household, so I thought I would share with you a little bit of what a traditional Christmas is like in our home.
1. Start watching Christmas films on the 1st of November.
You probably all think I'm mad but I love a good festive film and seen as I buy atleast one new one every year, we have alot to watch and you can't watch them just once you know!!
2. Decorations go up on the 1st of December.
I like to make the most of having our decorations up, 12 days to me just isn't long enough and I think having the Christmas tree, the paper chains, the tinsel etc up makes the place feel more cosy.
4. When wrapping presents Christmas music must be played and a little mulled wine helps too.
If you are like me, you probably find the idea of wrapping a mound of presents a rather daunting task. I admit I am awful at doing it, you would definitely be able to pick put which present was from me and no it isn't because I'm a tad tipsy from a glass or three of wine whilst attempting to wrap ;)
5. One sweet can be eaten Christmas eve.
I always see alot of people saying that they have bought the sweets for Christmas only to go and eat them all and need to buy more before Christmas has even arrived. In our house the sweets get bought and hidden and do not under any circumstances get opened until Christmas eve, of course after that they don't last very long at all.
6. Read the Night Before Christmas to the children at bed time on Christmas eve.
Now this is a tradition I have carried on from when I was a little girl, my daddy always used to read it to me and it is something that I have carried on with my own children, thanks to my dad buying me my own copy when I moved out. My little brother can recite the whole book without even looking at it!!
7. Open stockings on the bed before we go downstairs Christmas morning.
When I was younger we didn't have stockings, we got one present at the end of our beds, I always felt like I was missing out somehow so even before my eldest daughter was born, I had bought her a stocking ready. The trouble is I always seem to buy too many stocking fillers as the stockings are normally overflowing with gifts.
8. Presents are left on the Christmas tree to open Boxing day.
We have what are cleverly called Christmas tree presents, see what I did there! There is one present for each member of the family that is placed on the tree and left there til boxing day, just makes the fesitivities last a bit longer.
So what is a traditional Christmas like in your house?
xxxx
There used to be the 12 days of Christmas and if I am honest, I am not even sure when that is supposed to start. A traditional Christmas dinner is Turkey but I've heard people having things like salmon instead.
People nowadays take parts of some traditions and mix it up with some of their own and we are no different in the Hazelden household, so I thought I would share with you a little bit of what a traditional Christmas is like in our home.
1. Start watching Christmas films on the 1st of November.
You probably all think I'm mad but I love a good festive film and seen as I buy atleast one new one every year, we have alot to watch and you can't watch them just once you know!!
2. Decorations go up on the 1st of December.
I like to make the most of having our decorations up, 12 days to me just isn't long enough and I think having the Christmas tree, the paper chains, the tinsel etc up makes the place feel more cosy.
3. Change my ringtone to something festive
Every year on the 1st December I pick a new Christmas ringtone, this year I have Elton John's Step into Christmas. Cheers me up everytime my phone rings :)
4. When wrapping presents Christmas music must be played and a little mulled wine helps too.
If you are like me, you probably find the idea of wrapping a mound of presents a rather daunting task. I admit I am awful at doing it, you would definitely be able to pick put which present was from me and no it isn't because I'm a tad tipsy from a glass or three of wine whilst attempting to wrap ;)
5. One sweet can be eaten Christmas eve.
I always see alot of people saying that they have bought the sweets for Christmas only to go and eat them all and need to buy more before Christmas has even arrived. In our house the sweets get bought and hidden and do not under any circumstances get opened until Christmas eve, of course after that they don't last very long at all.
6. Read the Night Before Christmas to the children at bed time on Christmas eve.
Now this is a tradition I have carried on from when I was a little girl, my daddy always used to read it to me and it is something that I have carried on with my own children, thanks to my dad buying me my own copy when I moved out. My little brother can recite the whole book without even looking at it!!
7. Open stockings on the bed before we go downstairs Christmas morning.
When I was younger we didn't have stockings, we got one present at the end of our beds, I always felt like I was missing out somehow so even before my eldest daughter was born, I had bought her a stocking ready. The trouble is I always seem to buy too many stocking fillers as the stockings are normally overflowing with gifts.
8. Presents are left on the Christmas tree to open Boxing day.
We have what are cleverly called Christmas tree presents, see what I did there! There is one present for each member of the family that is placed on the tree and left there til boxing day, just makes the fesitivities last a bit longer.
So what is a traditional Christmas like in your house?
xxxx
Wednesday, 18 September 2013
Holidays Traditions
I hate to remind you all but since school is now back in session, this means that the Summer is over, which in turn means that Christmas is in sight. I mean you must have seen the Christmas aisles in all of the supermarkets, no time like the present to get prepared I say :)
This got me thinking about holiday traditions, not just for Christmas but for Halloween and Bonfire night too.
I think in recent years, Halloween has become more popular over here, we have taken on the ideas of the Americans and trick or treating is becoming a traditional thing to do over here too. I try to take the kids out early afternoon as I don't think they are old enough to be walking around in the darker evenings. If the weather is bad then I always organise a type of treasure hunt indoors for them and they then go around the house with their pumpkin buckets collecting the sweeties that they find.
Anyone who knows me will also know that I am a sucker for costumes. Not only do I love dressing the kids up, I have also been known to put on a Witch costume myself.
Just take a look at this post from 2 years ago and the picture on the left is from 3 years ago, scary how time goes by so quickly.
I couldn't find the pictures from last year so I can't remember what the kids were wearing.
My 3 year old has already informed me that she will be dressing up as a cat and I am tad excited about dressing Layla up in a teeny tiny costume.
I wonder if this year's costume picks will be anything like the Halloween costumes predictions in this infographic from fancy dress ball? I'm thinking maybe we could choose a theme for the whole family this year.
Bonfire night isn't a time that I particularly like, I am not a big fan of fireworks, as a little girl I was extremely scared of all the banging and even now I refuse to hold a sparkler. My kids on the other hand love it. We don't have any traditions really, I think we try and go to a different fireworks display each year. Last year because it was raining, so we decided to drive the car to the top of the cliffs and watch everyone else fireworks, meant we got to stay warm and dry and an added bonus for me, it wasn't so loud!!!
Christmas is my favourite time of the year. I am one of those people that wishes it could be Christmas every day. I have even started a board in pinterest to show just what I love so much about it. Christmas for me starts in November, this is when I break out all of the Christmas films and it is also a tradition to buy a new Christmas film each year to add to my collection. My favourites are Elf, The Snowman and Santa Claus the Movie.
Of course there is the traditions of leaving a carrot for rudolph and whiskey and a mince pie for Santa, as well as stockings at the end of the bed and the massive Christmas dinner which has to include brussell sprouts!!!
Every Christmas Eve I read The Night Before Christmas to my children as this is also what my dad used to do for me and I think it is nice to carry that tradition on.
Oh and not forgetting the costumes!!!
Each year I buy the girls new costumes to wear on Christmas day and sometimes I may go a little over board and they get costumes for Christmas Eve and Boxing day too.
I wear the same Mrs Santa outfit every year.
And last but not least we leave a key outside to make it easy for Santa to get in because we don't have a chimney for him to climb down, got to make sure he can deliver all of those presents ;)
So what are your traditions for the holidays?? Are their family traditions that you have carried on?
xxxx
*This is a PR collabaration*
This got me thinking about holiday traditions, not just for Christmas but for Halloween and Bonfire night too.
I think in recent years, Halloween has become more popular over here, we have taken on the ideas of the Americans and trick or treating is becoming a traditional thing to do over here too. I try to take the kids out early afternoon as I don't think they are old enough to be walking around in the darker evenings. If the weather is bad then I always organise a type of treasure hunt indoors for them and they then go around the house with their pumpkin buckets collecting the sweeties that they find.
Just take a look at this post from 2 years ago and the picture on the left is from 3 years ago, scary how time goes by so quickly.
I couldn't find the pictures from last year so I can't remember what the kids were wearing.
My 3 year old has already informed me that she will be dressing up as a cat and I am tad excited about dressing Layla up in a teeny tiny costume.
I wonder if this year's costume picks will be anything like the Halloween costumes predictions in this infographic from fancy dress ball? I'm thinking maybe we could choose a theme for the whole family this year.
Bonfire night isn't a time that I particularly like, I am not a big fan of fireworks, as a little girl I was extremely scared of all the banging and even now I refuse to hold a sparkler. My kids on the other hand love it. We don't have any traditions really, I think we try and go to a different fireworks display each year. Last year because it was raining, so we decided to drive the car to the top of the cliffs and watch everyone else fireworks, meant we got to stay warm and dry and an added bonus for me, it wasn't so loud!!!
Christmas is my favourite time of the year. I am one of those people that wishes it could be Christmas every day. I have even started a board in pinterest to show just what I love so much about it. Christmas for me starts in November, this is when I break out all of the Christmas films and it is also a tradition to buy a new Christmas film each year to add to my collection. My favourites are Elf, The Snowman and Santa Claus the Movie.
Every Christmas Eve I read The Night Before Christmas to my children as this is also what my dad used to do for me and I think it is nice to carry that tradition on.
Oh and not forgetting the costumes!!!
Each year I buy the girls new costumes to wear on Christmas day and sometimes I may go a little over board and they get costumes for Christmas Eve and Boxing day too.
I wear the same Mrs Santa outfit every year.
And last but not least we leave a key outside to make it easy for Santa to get in because we don't have a chimney for him to climb down, got to make sure he can deliver all of those presents ;)
So what are your traditions for the holidays?? Are their family traditions that you have carried on?
xxxx
*This is a PR collabaration*
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