Christmas Eve traditions?

[Octet]

I have had a few drinks this afternoon and have just realised it is not Xmas eve.

What gave it away?

 

[asterix]

We panic ready for Christmas day.

However, this year I am sure we are well prepared. In fact, so well prepared today I was able to buy all this year's Easter eggs thanks to the foresight of our local supermarket.

 

[screenman]

What gave it away?

Something just clicked.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Christmas Eve food shopping - always bargains to be had!

With the added bonus for the kids of having the excitement of not knowing til I get home if they have a roast or beans on toast for Christmas

 

[Jefferson Meriwether]

The closest I've got to a Christmas Eve tradition is working; the last 3 years I've worked Christmas eve and New Years eve which suits me fine.

 

[Andrew_P]

Always go to Brighton spend an hour or two on the roller penny machines wander around the beach, then a Little Chef on the way home. I know how to live it up me

 

[The Jogger]

I'll be at work until about midnight, near Olympia. Then in the Landy and home, a few hours kip then down to the outlaws for the day.

 

[Sara_H]

Do you have any traditions?

On Christmas Eve I spend time in the kitchen with my daughter, baking/decorating Christmas cupcakes, with Christmas music playing.
The men have a drink and come in at various intervals to goad us taste samples!

We usually then relax in the front room and play some Singstar on the PS3.
At midnight we each open a small gift, toast those not with us, and go to bed.

Me and my son always go to the cinema in the afternoon on christmas eve, then come home and do the traditional putting out of the mince pie, carrot and drinks.

Looking forward to it!

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Christmas Eve food shopping - always bargains to be had!

With the added bonus for the kids of having the excitement of not knowing til I get home if they have a roast or beans on toast for Christmas

I am pleased to report that the kids' faces lit up when I returned a short while ago with a free range Bronze turkey, reduced from £45 to £11.
I cut it a bit fine this year, which added to the excitement and resulted in a bigger bargain; but a few minutes later and it may have been beans on toast.

But, I AM VICTORIOUS yet again! Feel my power! Grrrrr

 

[Telemark]

My boyfriend is from Austria. Spending Christmas with his parents & family is different! In Austria Christmas Eve is the "big day". The tree goes up on Christmas Eve, and all the presents go round it. (Small children are kept away while this happens, as in Austria they don't have Santa Claus, it is the Christ Child who brings the tree and the presents (I think I've got that right).) In my b/f's family, we eat Weiner Schnitzel (which I think is traditional). Once the presents are opened, we have a meal of noodle soup and sausages (a poor man's meal) and then go out to midnight mass at a little chuch which is a walk up a mountain path - everyone walks up with torches and lanterns and the service is held in the open air, it is lovely (even though I don't understand a word).

My boyfriend and I have started the tradition of cooking Weiner Schnitzel for my family on Christmas Eve when we go there for Christmas.

Whereabouts is your Austrian Christmas location? Mine is near Innsbruck.
We also exported British roast tatties & parsnips, feeding all the family on Christmas day - which I now have to do every alternate year when we are with my family for Christmas.
No Wiener Schnitzel here, just a big selection of cold meats, cheese, bread and pickled vegtables, followed by plates of homemade Christmas biscuits before celebrating Christmas under the tree.

Have a good Christmas eve eveybody - or a good Christmas, if you are in Europe somewhere!

T

 

[nickyboy]

Watch some junk shows on TV and have a takeaway. Bored with Indian or Chinese so this year we're going to try Sri Lankan. No idea about Sri Lankan food, will report back.
Goodness knows what prompted a Sri Lankan restaurant to rock up in Glossop

Well that was rather good, although I have no benchmark against which to measure this.

Ayubowan Rolls, Kanda Bhaji, Gaame Rasa
Seer Fish Seafood Curry, Lamb & Spinach Curry, Chicken Devil
Pol Roti, Egg Godamba Roti

Made a nice change, kind of Indian/Chinese fusion

 

[Andy_R]

We cook off a Gammon during the day and then snack on it during the evening..purely for quality control purposes though..make sure cold meat is suitable to join Christmas roast on the big day......

 

[JtB]

My wife is Spanish, so Christmas eve is a big celebration where we have a family feast.

 

[fimm]

@Telemark also near Innsbruck. My boyfriend's mother is British so having done the Austrian Christmas Eve she then cooks up a turkey & the full works on Christmas Day.

 

[Telemark]

@Telemark also near Innsbruck. My boyfriend's mother is British so having done the Austrian Christmas Eve she then cooks up a turkey & the full works on Christmas Day.

@fimm - that's funny, must meet up in Edinburgh some time and chat