Holiday Traditions

[RallySonsOfND]

Since it is almost time for the holidays, I thought I'd start a thread for people to share their traditions (and since we are Irish fans we are all about tradition right?!).

 

[dshans]

I understand and appreciate the thread. I'll have to get back to you, if I can work through the tears. At 61 I've been through many "traditions." I'm Irish and have memories and stories to tell, much to the distaste, disdain and disgust of many.

Suffice it to say, Thanksgiving and Christmas fill my head and heart with memories that warm my soul.

Food and family are paramount.

 

[Bluto]

1. Drink lots of beers with my four brothers, go to midnight mass, begin nodding off during the homily.

2. Drink lots of beers with my entire family and watch football. Argue about which one of us was the "greatest player" out of all of us.

3. My mom making eggnog that you can light on fire.

4. Did Posadas for many years when I was a kid. That was cool. It was kind of weird being Jesus's dad and Father Ken always scalded the milk when he tried to make Mexican hot chocolate.

5. Hitting the surf on Thanksgiving day. Empty lineups and big swells are usually the case.

 

[irishog77]

My favorite at Christmas was my brothers and sister sleeping in the same room on Christmas Eve (I think my parents began and encouraged this tradition so they could corral me from wondering out and looking for Santa in the middle of the night). Then, we kind of kept it going, sort of as a joke, as I was in high school and they were in college or beyond. But they're all married now...so it would be a little awkward to continue the tradition- haha! Now, I know my sister and I think my brothers carry it on with their own children.

 

[irishog77]

When I go to Arkansas for Thanksgiving, my family, extended family, and others (usually anywhere from 25-50 people) go on a big 4-wheeler trail ride in the mountains. We pack up turkey sammiches, beer, snacks, etc. and go all day. Beautiful trees, colors, mountains, and nature with a lot of great people having a big ol' time.

 

[blueNDgold44]

On Thanksgiving my whole family plays a big football game. Some of my best memories are my grandfather (played at ND, class of '59) absolutely laying out my brother at age 70. And laying out my Dad on a pass over the middle, brought back the good old days when of MLB in HS.

Christmas Eve my immediate family exchanges gifts, everyone of age gets drunk, we get Chinese food, watch any football game and then my father reads Twas the Night Before Christmas before we all hit the hay. On Christmas Day, we open gifts from "Santa" (youngest brother is 10 haha) and then head to my grandparents were we continue the gift giving, drinking, and football watching. Can't wait for this time again.

 

[GowerND11]

Starting when I was 4 or 5 I stay at my grandmother's house the night leading into Thanksgiving. I still do it 20 years later. I help her out all day getting the place ready and being the filling "taste tester." It feeling good to help her out all day even when she claims at 77 she still doesn't need help.

The Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving I run a Turkey Bowl a bunch of friends. We usually get anywhere from 14 to 18 of us together so it makes for a good game. Tackle football of course which makes us think back to the glory days when we thought we were good.

Edit: My goal on Thanksgiving is to always eat a minimum of 3 full plates of food during dinner. More plates later in the night along with plenty of dessert as well.

 

[woolybug25]

1. Drink lots of beers with my four brothers, go to midnight mass, begin nodding off during the homily.

2. Drink lots of beers with my entire family and watch football. Argue about which one of us was the "greatest player" out of all of us.

3. My mom making eggnog that you can light on fire.

4. Did Posadas for many years when I was a kid. That was cool. It was kind of weird being Jesus's dad and Father Ken always scalded the milk when he tried to make Mexican hot chocolate.

5. Hitting the surf on Thanksgiving day. Empty lineups and big swells are usually the case.

I want to hang out at your Thanksgiving.

 

[NDBoiler]

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[pumpdog20]

A Christmas Story, all f'n month!

 

[NDdomer2]

relatively new tradition but the guys of my family have got together for the Crossroad Classic every year they have had it (going to be 3rd this year).

 

[irishpat183]

I understand and appreciate the thread. I'll have to get back to you, if I can work through the tears. At 61 I've been through many "traditions." I'm Irish and have memories and stories to tell, much to the distaste, disdain and disgust of many.

Suffice it to say, Thanksgiving and Christmas fill my head and heart with memories that warm my soul.

Food and family are paramount.

Here, here.


My wife and I have Christmas Eve over at our house every year and invite the family, as well as, the neighbors. I'm dressing as Santa this year as it's my own children's first Christmas and we'll have my nieces and about 10 neighbor kids over. Can't wait.

I'm also playing Santa for the kids of "Pets for Vets". The charity the wife and I are involved with that pairs up dogs with vets.

 

[irishpat183]

1. Drink lots of beers with my four brothers, go to midnight mass, begin nodding off during the homily.

2. Drink lots of beers with my entire family and watch football. Argue about which one of us was the "greatest player" out of all of us.

3. My mom making eggnog that you can light on fire.

4. Did Posadas for many years when I was a kid. That was cool. It was kind of weird being Jesus's dad and Father Ken always scalded the milk when he tried to make Mexican hot chocolate.

5. Hitting the surf on Thanksgiving day. Empty lineups and big swells are usually the case.

LOL. NICE!!

Thanksgiving will be spent with my South African side of the fam. I'll sit there and pretend to listen as they speak Africaans during football games that I'm trying to watch. (but the food is AMAZING)

Brutal. But I always bring my partner, MaCallan, with me.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

Christmas night, the wife and I have a fire in the fireplace and open a bottle of good wine. Then our tradition is to do it on the floor by the Christmas tree. What can I say? I'm a traditionalist!

 

[ACamp1900]

Christmas night, the wife and I have a fire in the fireplace and open a bottle of good wine. Then our tradition is to do it on the floor by the Christmas tree. What can I say? I'm a traditionalist!

What exactly is it you two do to the bottle of wine after you open it??? So confused...

 

[ACamp1900]

I sit lonely at my computer refreshing IE every minute waiting for ya’ll to come back to me….

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

You open a good bottle wine and then do what do it???

Should I have put quotes around "IT"?

 

[irishog77]

Christmas night, the wife and I have a fire in the fireplace and open a bottle of good wine. Then our tradition is to do it on the floor by the Christmas tree. What can I say? I'm a traditionalist!

Doesn't it get kinda awkward with your kids and in-laws all sitting there in the room also?

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

Doesn't it get kinda awkward with your kids and in-laws all sitting there in the room also?

We don't have any kids and the in-laws don't come over for the holidays. Just our dogs. And they usually run and hide outside behind the shed when Mrs. GO IRISH!!! and I get busy!

 

[ACamp1900]

Do the dogs get any peanut buitter in all of this??

 

[irishog77]

Do the dogs get any peanut buitter in all of this??

From the sound of things, they may prefer to get some (a lot) of wine!

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

Do the dogs get any peanut buitter in all of this??

Eeeeewwwwww! Lord no! I don't even like it when my dogs are in the room. Plus, since both dogs are rather old, they are very flatulent. I have to keep their diet regular so peanut butter would be a huge no-no.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

From the sound of things, they may prefer to get some (a lot) of wine!

No, the dogs are beer drinkers.

 

[Bishop2b5]

My family's holiday traditions are all pretty normal and nothing most other families don't do, but we did have a very memorable Christmas 7 or 8 years ago. I have a large extended family and Christmas dinner usually had 60-70 relatives & friends in attendance.

On Christmas Eve, a bad ice storm hit N. AL knocking out electricity to most homes, but my parents' house didn't lose power. Throughout the night, my brother & I drove all over town picking up food from relatives who had no way to cook it, and took it back to my parents' house for my mom & sister to cook.

The next day, with 70 people showing up to eat, the power went out at my parents' house about an hour before lunch. We boiled water on a Coleman stove to make coffee & tea, and heated everything up on a large gas grill. It took a couple of hours, but everyone eventually had a hot meal and a great time. It seemed like a disaster at the time, but turned out to be a very memorable, fun day.

 

[Cackalacky]

5. Hitting the surf on Thanksgiving day. Empty lineups and big swells are usually the case.

This. I surf each Thanksgiving. I can't wait till the little one can join me. Looking forward to starting that tradition.

Usually take the family to the Smokies and go skiing, hiking, or tubing for Christmas.

 

[irishog77]

This. I surf each Thanksgiving. I can't wait till the little one can join me. Looking forward to starting that tradition.

Usually take the family to the Smokies and go skiing, hiking, or tubing for Christmas.

Oh, so you have a similar tradition to GO IRISH!!!

:awesomewo

 

[ACamp1900]

Eeeeewwwwww! Lord no! I don't even like it when my dogs are in the room. Plus, since both dogs are rather old, they are very flatulent. I have to keep their diet regular so peanut butter would be a huge no-no.

Well good to know you don't do that kind of stuff for all the right reasons...

Our cats sleep at the foot of the bed regardless of what's occuring in the middle of the night.....

 

[irishog77]

 

[Cackalacky]

Oh, so you have a similar tradition to GO IRISH!!!

:awesomewo

Not quite as traditional I think.

 

[irishog77]