Christmas Eve Traditions We Love

On Christmas Eve, when we are at church, the reindeer come and bring all 5 of us a gift -- usually PJs, slippers or robes. They leave a note saying they wanted to figure out where our stockings were to let Santa know. They also remind our kids to get to bed early so Santa can come. My kids look forward to it every year!"

"We go spend our evening and day with our family eating, eating and eating, opening presents, and more eating. We usually go through a big pot of posole, ponche, atole, bunuelos -- all that good Mexican holiday food."

"We attend Midnight Mass. Last year, we brought my 4-month-old daughter with hopes she would mostly sleep during the service. However, she was wide-eyed and bushy-tailed the entire service, just taking in all the hymns and even babbling during some. When we got home, my husband and I enjoyed a cup of hot cocoa while our daughter enjoyed a bottle, and we each opened one Christmas present. We intend to continue this tradition for as long as possible as it made for a fantastic memory."

"With all the brouhaha of the holidays, my mother, after years of suffering in silence, had finally had it with planning (and washing up after) two special meals, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, back to back. She found the only place that was open late in our small town on Christmas Eve was The Golden Dragon. She all got our favorites, and because it was Christmas, she splurged on extra egg rolls and spareribs. We ate out of cartons with those disposable chopsticks and cheap paper napkins, making hardly any dishes at all. So my mom transformed Christmas Eve into something that everyone enjoyed.

Now I'm the mom, and to my little family Chinese take-out is as traditional to Christmas as candy canes and stockings."

"We usually make cookies for Santa and leave them out with a glass of milk and some carrots for the reindeer. But this year we will be making reindeer food to sprinkle in our front lawn, to help Santa's reindeer find their way to our house!"

"What's Christmas Eve without watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Christmas Story?"

"We don't have a fireplace, so we hang out a magic key for Santa and put out cookies for him, too. We also make reindeer dust, which is oatmeal and glitter. The glitter is to guide the reindeer to the house, and we sprinkle it just before we go to bed!"

"My husband's family is from Argentina, so Christmas Eve is a huge party. Then when the clock strikes midnight it's time to open presents!"

"I surprise my kids by redecorating the whole house during the night. I put Christmas lights from the tree all the way up the stairs into their room. Then of course I set out all the presents."

"We go to my in-laws for a seafood buffet and midnight caroling in the woods with candles."