When my husband was growing up, they always went to his grandparents’ house and they stayed all night long, usually not getting home until after midnight.  When they were younger, they would fall asleep on the way home and his parents would have to carry him and his brother to bed.

When I was growing up, we had a holiday tradition of opening one present on Christmas Eve.  It was always a pair of new pajamas that we wore that night for bed.

When we got married, we wanted to keep both of these traditions because they meant so much to both of us.

I wasn’t sure how this was going to work, but unfortunately, I really didn’t have to worry about it too long.  My husband’s grandma was suffering from Alzheimer’s when I came into the picture.  Shortly after we were married, she got so bad that they had to stop doing Christmas Eve at their house.  It was just too many people now (most of the grandkids were married and there were even a few great grandkids).  It was sad and still is.  We both miss seeing my husband’s dad’s side of the family every year.

Before the Christmas Eve gathering was cancelled, we simply had the kids open their gifts before we left.  I have changed the tradition a little bit.  I wrap up their new pajamas and a Christmas book (we have so many now that I’ve started to re-gift them, the kids don’t notice because I put the Christmas books away every year after Christmas) in the same wrapping paper.  Then I tape their personalized ornament on the front.

My favorite place to get personalized ornaments is Personalization Mall.  They also have very cute Christmas stockings!

This is an affiliate site, but I’ve been using them for years (long before I even thought of starting this blog) and have always been pleased!  🙂

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?