Christmas Traditions...

[nvanprooyen]

Realize I am kind of right in the middle of it, but curious what everyone does for Christmas (or other holiday) with your families, children, significant others, alone etc.

Our kind of annual thing has been eating a bunch of snacky stuff (crackers, cheese, dips, olive tray, shrimp cocktail, sometimes we do fondue etc) instead of a real meal on Christmas Eve and letting the kids open 1 gift each. Just kind of hang out, maybe watch a Christmas movie or two. Christmas morning kids open all their gifts. Usually we get together with other family to open the other gifts (grandparents, aunts / uncles, cousins etc) after that and then do a dinner or something. That's what we are doing tomorrow.

Just finished round 1 of all that and having a few drinks now.

What about everyone else?

 

[Crystallas]

I shared my Christmas tradition here, but I'll do it again.

I volunteer with charities throughout the year, and spend Christmas eve and sometimes Christmas day at a somewhat local shelter. We run a soup kitchen just for holidays, and every year it has gotten more and more packed with people. I was homeless for about 7 months as a little kid(and that included the winter holidays), so all of this hits home for me, and I will probably continue to do it, as long as we can afford to keep the operations going. We took in about 2200 today, which is up from last year. In 2006, we took in a hair over 250, and it went up a little at a time, but the last two years, it went up a lot.

As for family traditions, we broke all of them. Now, I put the aluminum pole away on Christmas eve, and that's about it. We used to do Polish traditions, but all of that stopped. The food is there still, and IMO, health is all that matters.

 

[nvanprooyen]

I would like to talk to you more about the volunteering thing, via PM or something if you wouldn't mind. Something I've been giving a lot of thought to over the last several years, but haven't taken any action on.

 

[BNB]

semi-depressing post hahah

I don't really do anything on Christmas. I don't talk to my dad or anyone from his family and I don't know most of my mom's family... the one's I do [or did] know are dead or live in Europe. Really, the only people I'm currently close to from my family include my brother, sister and mom.

It was better when I was a kid. Opened presents in the morning, then visited my grandparents house on my dad's side and spend a couple of hours with his family, then did the same with my mom's side. Haven't done any of that in like 7-8 years though.

Now it's pretty much like every other day.

 

[BNB]

health is all that matters.

agree 100%

 

[Crystallas]

I would like to talk to you more about the volunteering thing, via PM or something if you wouldn't mind. Something I've been giving a lot of thought to over the last several years, but haven't taken any action on.

Oh, absolutely. I don't want to derail your thread, but here are the basics.

#1. Learn about the local charities. #2, find out what they need, as far as man-power goes. #3, help however you can and commit to it(don't waste their time because you feel guilt and just want to get your feet wet. You gotta dive right in.)

I have worked with a few different charities, and all of them do things differently. So if you're lucky, the admins will try to use you for your best abilities. If you have a slammed org, and they throw you into the mix, don't stress about a lack of training or whatever, just do the best that you can do. And most importantly, be ass-hole proof. Once you start working with people, it's very rewarding.

Oh, and one tip. Even if you aren't religious, you can check out local churches. They know I'm agnostic, and I work with a local church. I have yet to find a genuine brick-and-mortar church that doesn't run some kind of community programs for the needy.

 

[nvanprooyen]

semi-depressing post hahah

I don't really do anything on Christmas. I don't talk to my dad or anyone from his family and I don't know most of my mom's family... the one's I do [or did] know are dead or live in Europe. Really, the only people I'm currently close to from my family include my brother, sister and mom.

It was better when I was a kid. Opened presents in the morning, then visited my grandparents house on my dad's side and spend a couple of hours with his family, then did the same with my mom's side. Haven't done any of that in like 7-8 years though.

Now it's pretty much like every other day.

You know what, I saw an earlier post from you about being caught up with student loans, barely able to afford gas week to week etc...and I didn't say anything. Now I am going to. This shit makes me sad. I've spent a few Christmas' alone / not doing anything and that blows. I want to buy you something for Christmas. Since these guys are sponsors, pick out something and let me know your postal address via a PM and it's yours:

http://www.chitownclothing.com/

I won't take no for an answer, so just let me know what you want. Merry Christmas.

 

[nvanprooyen]

Oh, absolutely. I don't want to derail your thread, but here are the basics.

#1. Learn about the local charities. #2, find out what they need, as far as man-power goes. #3, help however you can and commit to it(don't waste their time because you feel guilt and just want to get your feet wet. You gotta dive right in.)

I have worked with a few different charities, and all of them do things differently. So if you're lucky, the admins will try to use you for your best abilities. If you have a slammed org, and they throw you into the mix, don't stress about a lack of training or whatever, just do the best that you can do. And most importantly, be ass-hole proof. Once you start working with people, it's very rewarding.

Oh, and one tip. Even if you aren't religious, you can check out local churches. They know I'm agnostic, and I work with a local church. I have yet to find a genuine brick-and-mortar church that doesn't run some kind of community programs for the needy.

Thanks man. Will continue this via PM.

 

[1COBearsfan]

When I was a kid my moms side of the family would gather at my aunts house on Christmas Eve to have dinner and exchange gifts. Then Christmas morning was its normal self but my grandparents(dads side) would make rounds to all the grankids to pass out presents. In the afternoon my dads side of the family would gather at our house or my aunts house and we would finish off the day with presents and dinner.

Now ,though, I'm in the midst of making my own traditions. I'm dating someone and I live two time zones away from all my family. I'm not sure if we'll get any started soon though. My girl has a daughter and she spends time with her dad on a pretty erratic schedule. The only thing that may become regular is spending time with our really good friends that live nearby.

Happy Holidays CCS. Take care and enjoy your family/friends

 

[JosMin]

When I go over to my parents' house, my family always watches the South Park Christmas DVD. My dad thinks it's the funniest thing ever. I always love to have an NBA game on while we're socializing. It's been especially nice because the Bulls have been on the last few seasons.

 

[zack54attack]

On Christmas Eve I go to my Dads house to eat and open up gifts. Then on Xmas morning I'm with my mom to open gifts. After that we usually go to my Grandmas house for dinner, gifts and watch the Basketball games.

 

[GaelicSoxFan]

Went to midnight Mass (actually 11PM) at my church last night, then watched the 1951 version of "A Christmas Carol" with Alastair Sim as Scrooge.

Going to my dad's house later for dinner and gifts.

 

[Deng Defense Force]