Merry night!
Happy Christmas Eve!—since we’ll all be too busy for checking screens tomorrow, but also because Christmas Eve is a day all on its own, with a turning-point feel to it that I particularly love. From the day’s last-minute busyness the day turns to a drawing-in of family, with a meal that (in our house) is festive but light, and above all not a huge chore.
When we were kids, there was the almost unbearable choosing of One Single Present to open. The involved the careful examination, lifting, squeezing, and gentle shaking of each present, because there was nothing worse than opening up nothing but a pair of socks or pajamas, with many hours to go until the next possibility of something interesting to play with or read.
What about you? Are you a single-present on the 24thkind of family?
And more important: what do you have for Christmas breakfast?
Whatever your ritual is, I hope you enjoy it, in the comfort of your family.
In my family, we opened one present on Christmas Eve, which always turned out to be new (matching with my siblings) pajamas. (My parents were big on home movies, and then we looked good — and matched — in the movies the next morning). I could not figure out for years how we all always managed to select the PJs, but I now recognize the “subtle” hints my dad would give “oh, that one looks interesting. I’m sure you would love that one. Not that one, I know what’s in it, and you’ll be happier opening that tomorrow”. The gifts from Santa were not put under the tree till after we were asleep, so what we had to choose from were gifts from grandparents and aunts and uncles, so not likely to be the items we were especially hoping for.
As a child, I don’t particularly remember Christmas breakfast, but for my kids and now that they are grown, we always have bagels and lox.
Don’t do the Christmas eve present, and in our family, always had to wait till after lunch, and puddings out the way, then open presents. Used to be dark before I got them as a child.
I’m a bit soft, so let the boys have a stocking with a few bits in, when they wake up.
We were also allowed to open 1 present on Christmas eve. Always, it was pajamas. Breakfast has lately been a breakfast casserole. This year it will be fingerfoods. We are celebrating a day late, because my brother had to work Christmas. I hope that your Christmas was merry.
now that we are “all grown up” (allegedly) we wait until Christmas morning. we attend church Christmas Eve and prepare for Santa’s visit. Christmas morning breakfast is FABULOUS!!!! our daughter in law April and our son James host a Christmas morning breakfast. to help out we bring an array of fresh fruit and a homemade gooey butter cake (a St. Louis local specialty). April and James have bacon, sausage, eggs cooked to order (for those who like them. i do not). this year April made a french toast/blueberry/cream cheese/french bread casserole that was wonderful! it’s a great time with family all together and a variety of old friends, too. a very blessed time for all! for now, we open gifts after breakfast, but once our grandson gets a little older that may change.
Our family always opened gifts on Christmas morning, but one year, my sister and I just could not wait. We woke up early (before dawn) and snuck downstairs to check out what Santa had brought in addition to the packages that were already under the tree. As usual, some unwrapped gifts had been left by the big guy. My sister and I decided that we would wait until our parents got up to open gifts, but anything left by Santa was fair game. Although we tried to be quiet, our parents heard us, and shooed us back to bed. We waited until we heard my dad snoring and crept back downstairs to resume playing. Again, our parents woke up and came down. We were, of course, sent back to bed with the warning that if we got up again before they came to get us, they would call Santa to come back and take away ALL of OUR presents. That was enough to keep us in bed until morning.
I am 14 pages into The Beekeeper’s Apprentice. I discovered your blog address and had to say thank you. I like books I can hold in my hand and picked out your book as my Christmas book. I am so thankful to find you as an author. I am already a Sherlock Holmes fan. It is like discovering a new species of bird I did not know existed and it was in my backyard all along. Thanks again and God bless this Christmas season.
Marleen
Welcome to the world or Russell & Holmes!
Laurie