American Christmas Traditions

[Jeraly 4]

Ok - this is something I have been tossing about in a couple of other threads as I am beginning to get nervous about my first Christmas away from my family.

To cut a long story short (you can read some of the details in the July 2007 K-1 thread) my Christmas back in England sounds very much like Thanksgiving is here with games, family, big meal but also presents in the afternoon and a buffet in the evening. Obviously in the UK we don't celebrate Thanksgiving.

So if you celebrate Christmas, what do you do? Do you still have turkey? Do you visit friends? Family? Go out? I'm trying to get my head around what people do if Thanksgiving is the big turkey-eating/family orientated session!!

[Damian&Kelly 16]

This year will be Damian's first xmas is the US. and I spent Xmas '06 in England. and they are very similar.

When I was in England. Our Xmas was going to visit family and friends and having a big xmas dinner and opening presents in the afternoon.

Xmas in America for me is going to my mum's to visit and open presents and then to my dad's side of the family for a big dinner and presents and then we play poker and games all night.

I find that for me Xmas and Thanksgiving are very similar. Filled with Family, Friends and Food.

[Mononoke28 135]

It's usually the same for most people. Since we're Catholic, we go to midnight mass and then in the morning we open presents with family. Then other family members and friends come over in the afternoon for dinner and we just sit around, talk and dance.

Movie night is also pretty big in the US on Christmas Day, that's why some of the year's best movies are released on that day. So you can either go out to go see a movie or stay home and make it a Blockbuster night.

Now if you were in Colombia, you party until the sun comes up and the party some more until New Year's Eve.

Diana

[Aubrey 10]

Both holidays are family-oriented, but Thanksgiving you could find yourself watching football with friends, too. Christmas has been pretty different depending on who your family is and where they live. Some are quiet family gatherings, others are parties and white elephant gift exchanges -- it will just depend on what your family's tradition is. I encourage you to find you & your SO's own special traditions so that you both feel fulfilled by the holidays.

[catrocks 0]

I've spent a couple of Christmasses here with Ben's family. It is quite different from what I'm used to.

They have ham rather than turkey, and have things like mac n cheese on the side. My family sit around one big table, drink and have fun, have crackers, play games, and catch up. Ben's family all sit in different places and make small talk. This difference is probably more to do with the fact that my family is closer than Ben's. My family force everyone to eat at least 3 Brussel sprouts, Ben's family don't have any. (which I actually prefer lol!). They stay in and watch movies on TV, and everyone leaves at like 5. There is NO ALCOHOL!!!

No Christmas crackers but I make a proper British Christmas dinner the next week, with turkey, roast potatoes, roast parsnips, Paxo stuffing, carrots, broccoli and gravy. And Christmas crackers of course!

So I think it will depend on how different Jeramy's family is from yours. Christmas here always makes me miss Christmas with my family but there's nothing I can do about it so I make the best of it

[jundp 191]

Hmmm, well in Germany the 24th is Christmas. They go to church that day and have a big dinner and do presents that night. We will incorporate some of his traditions into the ones the kids and I already do.

We'll do Schnitzel Holstein on Christmas Eve (24th), then midnight mass, then open one present. The next morning will be breakfast and cooking for the big lunch. We usually do a turkey or a ham and many of the same dishes as Thanksgiving. Also, we incorporate family and friends into both days.

[TBoneTX 46,126]

I go out beating the bushes looking for leprechauns, si man.

[Jeraly 4]

I've spent a couple of Christmasses here with Ben's family. It is quite different from what I'm used to.

They have ham rather than turkey, and have things like mac n cheese on the side. My family sit around one big table, drink and have fun, have crackers, play games, and catch up. Ben's family all sit in different places and make small talk. This difference is probably more to do with the fact that my family is closer than Ben's. My family force everyone to eat at least 3 Brussel sprouts, Ben's family don't have any. (which I actually prefer lol!). They stay in and watch movies on TV, and everyone leaves at like 5. There is NO ALCOHOL!!!

No Christmas crackers but I make a proper British Christmas dinner the next week, with turkey, roast potatoes, roast parsnips, Paxo stuffing, carrots, broccoli and gravy. And Christmas crackers of course!

So I think it will depend on how different Jeramy's family is from yours. Christmas here always makes me miss Christmas with my family but there's nothing I can do about it so I make the best of it

3 Brussel sprouts?! We only have to eat one and I *always* avoid it!! I am just glad I don't have to now!!

I really want to make the best of it as well but at the same time it is going to be sooo different as Jeremy's family live in Oregon and we are in Cali. I am used to tons of people being around but it is going to be quite quiet I think and that will be weird... I'm thinking we are going to have to get Christmas crackers for Thanksgiving as well I will have to search World Market - they are bound to have them, I just hope they have them in time for Thanksgiving!

[Kiv 32]

I love more Christmas since I am married, my first christmas here (I could not go home "Thanks to Inmigration") I was in bed by 10:PM feeling very sad. Now we go back to Mexico and is party after party all the time we are there. We go to church, Family, Friends and a lot of good food.

[Maad 0]

Christmas back in England sounds very much like Thanksgiving

Maybe not exactly on topic, but keep in mind that in Europe holiday season start on Dec 24th and goes on till Jan 2nd.

Here holiday ends on Dec 25th eve, and next day, business as usual.

After so many years I cannot really enjoy X-mas in the States.

I miss the real holiday spirit in Europe..

[Jeraly 4]

Maybe in future we'll just book holiday and go back to the UK... I know that I would love to do that - especially if Jeremy's family only get together at Thanksgiving

[NickyMcMillan 0]

They had Christmas crackers in Jewel when I was here for Christmas 2006. They had Christmas pudding too which was awesome. I think this year me & Ginger will be having two Christmas cakes, as I don't think she's too keen on the rich Xmas pudding. This year I plan to make my own with Guinness.

[Marilyn. 340]

the Last 2 Christmases have kind of sucked for me but this year my dad said they might be coming for Christmas.... i really wish he hadn't told me though because I will probably be really disappointed if they don't come

hubby's family does things differently then I am used to.. they celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve.... the kids have to wait til midnight to open the presents.. then they are all tired and grumpy and just tear through the presents... they don't really have a big meal or anything, hubby's dad usually makes tamales.. but I am not really a big fan but I usually being a salad and tortilla wraps.... and a bunch of Christmas baking....

[raymaga 25]

Our Canadian Christmases were almost exactly the same as they are here, but the one thing I can't stand is having to work the day after Christmas (Boxing Day in Canada) THAT SUCKS!!!!!

After all the excitement of the day, who wants to have to go to bed early to get up for work the next morning.

So far, I haven't had to work on Boxing Day, and I won't have to this year either, but eventually my days off won't fall on Boxing Day and I'll have to work. That will SUCK more than anything.

[Giskat09 2]

it depends on the state. but usually as far as i know, americans spend more on Thanksgiving Day. Christmas time for them is just unusual. I hope i could celebrate Christmas in USA the way we celebrate it here in the Philippines. Christmas here in Phils is totally exciting full of fun and full of memories!