Christmas Traditions

I absolutely love this time of year! I can’t get enough of it! I know it sounds cheesy, but there is magic in the air! Everyone is a little more joyful and kind, ready to spread the Christmas spirit. There is something about thoughtfully picking out gifts for you friends and family. Not to mention, all the beautiful decor around your home and around town. I honestly wished it would last a little longer, but it does make this season very special!

I also love this time of year because it means getting to do all of our fun family Christmas traditions. As my sister and I have gotten older, of course the family traditions have evolved – but there are still some things that will never change!

One thing that will never change…my family celebrating on Christmas Eve! Always have and always will! It was just my sister and my parents here growing up so Christmas was usually just the four of us. When I was younger (around high school age) I would try stretch it out as long as possible and ask if we could wait to open our gifts until the next morning. That never happened. I just wanted to make it last justtt a little longer. Each year we go to the Christmas service at church, and for years we would follow that up with a friends Christmas party! It was the best – so much home made Italian food! It stopped a few years ago, so now we throw our own little party with my family at home. We then all change into our new Christmas pajamas (another tradition – every Christmas Eve morning, our “Elf” would leave us PJs) and let the gift giving and opening begin, while Christmas music plays in the background and we sip on Egg Nog. The next morning is always stockings and presents from Santa (so mostly just stockings as we have gotten older haha) and usually monkey bread for breakfast which is to die for!!

Not much has changed as we have gotten older, even now being married, in fact – it works out perfectly! My hubby and I celebrate Christmas with the two of us on Christmas Eve morning, then early afternoon we head to my parents for all of our Christmas Eve traditions, spend the night and then do stockings with my family in the morning then head over to his parents for their family’s traditions and Christmas dinner. I feel so fortunate to have both of our parents in the same city and that we each get to have special time with each family.

Another one of my favorite traditions is going to look at Christmas lights with my family. We would get in warm clothes, load up the car with blankets, make a pit-stop at Starbucks for some hot chocolate and then head out. There were always a few main spots we went to every year and would always stumble across some great ones too!

I just adore this time of year. It makes my heart so happy. I am excited to see what traditions carry on and what will change when Aaron and I have kids! But we have a few years before that 😉

I would love to hear what some of your favorite holiday traditions are!

Ps – if you are in search of a dress for any more Christmas events, this one is great! It’s beautiful, so classy and under $30!! It’s linked below!!