MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Your holiday season plans and traditions...

Your holiday season plans and traditions? 🎄

posted 5 years ago by GlenEllyn (21659)
62 replies | jump to latest

It is fast approaching, so what do you do during the holiday season? Do you travel? Stay home? Host a big party? Have all the relatives over? If you celebrate Christmas, is Christmas Day the biggie? Or are you one who prefers a Christmas Eve celebration?

With all the nightmares I read about holiday travel, I'm really glad I have no need to fly anywhere. My family all lives within driving distance, thankfully, so getting together is easier - and cheaper.

Our tradition has become that we celebrate together during the weekend between Christmas and New Year's. It makes life simpler. We find it's not about the specific day; it's about being together and spending time together during the holiday season. With everyone so busy these days, it means a lot that for once, we can set aside our busy daily lives and simply spend time with each other. We find it much more relaxing this way.

As for the actual day, there's something to be said for just staying put at home. A quiet day at home, sleeping late, a simple meal, perhaps watching a favorite movie, listening to music, or a good book, is awfully nice, in my mind. After many years of dashing here and there, it's pretty nice.

[–] donut (4) 5 years ago

I spend most of my wintry holiday free-time watching Christmas themed movies with family/friends. It's the simple activities that make the holidays enjoyable.

[–] GlenEllyn (21659) 5 years ago

I'm with you. Low-key activities are such a nice change from the busy pace we endure the rest of the year.

[–] mikethemartian (7001) 5 years ago

Hang out with cats and watch TCM.

[–] GlenEllyn (21659) 5 years ago

Sounds good to me!

[–] nyctc7 (44111) 5 years ago

From the time I was 11 or 12 years old our family decided to open our presents on Christmas Eve.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Why?

[–] nyctc7 (44111) 5 years ago

Inability to get to sleep in anticipation of opening presents. The kids that is.

[–] GlenEllyn (21659) 5 years ago

When my kids were young they were allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve, which seemed to help with their impatience. I decided which gift they could open, saving the big ones for the big day.

[–] MovieManCin2 (26342) 5 years ago

That sounds great!

I'll be heading to Kansas to spend Christmas with relatives, and Dorothy and Toto. My family is spread across the USA, and that's kinda the way I like it.

😎

[–] chilidoggg (14603) 5 years ago

I really prefer Christmas Eve over Christmas day. Memories of being a child and the anticipation of the big day, seeing the gift wrapped presents under the tree and wondering what's in them... as an adult, all the fuss of the 'holiday season" DONE. TIMES UP. THE STORES ARE CLOSED. Just have a drink, turn on the lights on the tree, turn off all the other lights in the house, put on some older favorite Christmas songs CD that doesn't have the same songs they've been playing on the radio ad nauseum since Labor Day... telling your spouse, kids, you love them (hopefully they reciprocate) Memories of Christmas's past.

I really like the scene in Christmas Vacation where Chevy Chase is stuck in the attic with the old film projector. That's EXACTLY what Christmas should be.

Christmas Day itself, I haven't figured out.

[–] GlenEllyn (21659) 5 years ago

Anticipation is almost the best part! And there's a lot to be said for knowing all the stores are closed and folks are home with their loved ones - the exception being, of course, those employed in emergency services or other vital jobs.

[–] croft_alice (12180) 5 years ago

No plans and traditions are dying in this country

[–] sslssg (35194) 5 years ago

Traditions are only kept alive if people take part in those traditions. If you have no plans, then you can't really complain about it.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

You don't spend Christmas Eve/Day with your family?

[–] croft_alice (12180) 5 years ago

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

So you go on a gaming binge??

[–] croft_alice (12180) 5 years ago

Maybe. I ain't sure yet

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

you not close with your parents??

[–] croft_alice (12180) 5 years ago

It's complicated, I prefer not talking about it

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

fair enough 👍

[–] croft_alice (12180) 5 years ago

Much appreciated

[–] Stratego (31083) 5 years ago

Has it got anything to do with your dead fiancée???

[–] ShogunofYonkers (78604) 5 years ago

Ouch!

[–] actionkamen (23176) 5 years ago

You mean dead dog?

[–] Stratego (31083) 5 years ago

Wait, he shot his fiancée???😱

[–] TandyMan (11351) 5 years ago

Most of the family is dead, the rest spread out across the country. Pretty much just me getting drunk in an ugly sweater watching Hallmark movies now.

[–] 10200 (656) 5 years ago

We have a busy holiday season with parties, eating out, concerts, etc. Our family gets together on a day other than Christmas Day so my husband and I are alone and we go to a movie and then someplace like Steak and Shake for burger. We always have a great time.

[–] GlenEllyn (21659) 5 years ago

I like this idea, too - getting together on a day other than Christmas. It's SO nice to spend the actual day quietly at home.

[–] 10200 (656) 5 years ago

Yes it is - occasionally there isn't anything we really want to see, so we stay home and sleep in, watch holiday movies on TV and just chill out with some "enhanced" eggnog. Not sure which movie we will go to this year - probably Little Women, because that is the kind of movie my husband likes. I'm going to go see Star Wars,(the kind of movie I like - LOL), another day.

[–] GlenEllyn (21659) 5 years ago

Sleeping in! Aaaaahhh. I love mornings like this. I'll probably do this on Christmas Day. I'll have to decide pretty soon which holiday movies I want to watch.