Christmas Traditions

I am a Christmas Traditionalist.

I don't like re-mixes of Christmas Carols.  Mariah Carey? Jessica Simpson? Vomit.
I prefer to stick to traditionally arranged and sung versions of the carols, thank you very much.  Bing Crosby?  The Carpenters? Yes, please.  And Christmas music plays in our house almost non-stop starting the day after Thanksgiving.  

I like spending time as a family all through December reading Christmas books (which sit in a basket on our end table), looking at holiday lights, watching Christmas movies, baking and decorating cookies, going caroling, bringing cookies to friends.  As a family.

And Christmas Eve?  I don't mess around with those traditions.  You gather friends and family, have a big yummy dinner, everyone participates in acting out the Christmas story while reading verses from the Bible and singing Christmas Carols, and then there's a mini talent show, and then dessert.

Christmas Morning?  Again, no messing around here.  You all gather in Mom and Dad's bed, find where Santa signed you during the night (so you know he came), then you line up down the hall or down the stairs while one of the parents checks to make sure Santa came, you take a picture, and then rush down to see what Santa brought you.  Then, we take turns opening gifts one at a time (usually youngest to oldest) so everyone can see and appreciate.  This is followed by our morning feast and then general laziness throughout the day (movies, candy, cookies, pajamas).

This is the way it's done.

Period.

(and I wonder where J gets his stubbornness from sometimes...)

These traditions are great, but they're all from our families.
D and I started talking about Christmas traditions we want to implement in our own family.  This has me so excited!  I love Christmas and I love traditions and the idea that we get to choose our own traditions?  Oh, the possibilities!

So, dear friends, what are your favorite Christmas traditions?  

What traditions stick out in your memory from Childhood?  What traditions have you done with your children that they love?  What traditions bring you together as a family?  What traditions help you remember Christ?