We sit down to a really nice dinner Christmas eve, then throw the kids in the car in their pajamas with their hot chocolate and look at lights.
We have two houses nearby that go all out (competition style) with the lights with 100K + lights on and the lights dancing to music. Here's one:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwgezU4LAIc]Best Christmas Lights in St George Ut - YouTube[/video]
Growing up, my family always sat by the fire on Christmas Eve eating hickory farms. No TV or other distractions. Just us and some nice snacks. It wasn't anything fancy, but it's something I'll never forget.
I really enjoy all the preparation that goes into x-mas with my (mother's) family. I have fond memories of helping my grandmother prepare cookies and coffee cakes for family and friends around the holidays. Since she passed, many uncles, aunts and cousins have pitched in to keep the tradition going. It's amazing that it takes a dozen people and a commercial kitchen to do the work my grandmother used to do in her home (with a little help from me).
Just last night I spent 3 hours making pierogi with my mother and uncle, while my dad and wife played with our son. We worked hard, sat down to a nice dinner and told stories of how all this food used to be made. Those type of moments are what makes the holidays special.
Me and my wife (married this past june) have decided to not get each other Christmas gifts but instead are saving the money we woulda spent in order to go to south padre island in April.
My family has the elf on the shelf of course. I have a 4, 2, 9 mo old! This year we are going to disneyworld for christmas! Maybe that will be a new tradition! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!
my family gets together on Christmas Eve at grandma and grandpa's (my parents). we usually open most of the gifts that night and then go for a drive in the country to look at lights and decorations. on Christmas morn we have a huge breakfast and i make my famous Belgian waffles to go along with bacon, sausage, eggs, pancakes, toast, and whatever else we can think of.
My favorite tradition is the making of the special Christmas cookies using the family recipe handed down generation to generation. I am the official taster as they come put of the oven ;-)
Before I met my soon to be wife I was a Christmas grinch. When we got married she started the 25 days of Christmas activities. Now Christmas is my favorite holiday
Each day we do something Christmas related that she thought of. Hot cocoa, watching the yule log on TV, watching the holidazzle parade in Minneapolis, etc.