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Merry Christmas Eve...What To Do?

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Platinum

 

I found this great article by Kori Ellis.  See below for some wonderful ideas on what to do this Christmas Eve:

 

 

 
 
 

What To Do On Christmas Eve

Kids are full of anticipation on Christmas Eve, while parents are often stressed about last-minute gift-wrapping and other Christmas Day preparations. Slow down a little bit and enjoy Christmas Eve with a special holiday tradition. This year, start a new Christmas Eve tradition that your whole family will love for generations to come.

Christmas Eve gift tradition with kids

Help those in need

Oftentimes, we get so caught up in the material aspects of the holiday season that we forget about giving back. Teach your children about the importance of helping those in need. On Christmas Eve, bring gifts to your local children's shelter, volunteer your family time at a neighborhood soup kitchen or find another way to help the less fortunate.

"We have made it a Christmas Eve tradition to invite someone in need into our home for a special meal and evening of holiday fun," says Marcella Morani, a mom of three in Houston. "You can always find a serviceman or other person who is away from his family during the holidays who will really appreciate the gesture."

Open one gift

Is the anticipation of waiting until Christmas morning too much for your kids to handle? Make it a Christmas Eve tradition to open just one gift before going to bed. This can be a fabulous time for your children to exchange gifts that they have bought (or made) for each other.

"It's been a tradition in our family since I was little," explains Laura Johnsen, mother of four boys. "And, I have carried it on with my own kids. Right before bedtime at Christmas Eve, we all sit around the Christmas tree and each open one present. The kids always beg for one more, but they know they have to wait until morning for the rest."

Go to church at midnight

Many people don't find the time to attend worship services on Christmas Day. So instead, go to church at midnight on Christmas Eve. Most churches offer a midnight (or at least a late evening) service on Christmas Eve.

Prepare Christmas breakfast

Who has time to cook on Christmas morning? Make it a family tradition to prepare a special Christmas breakfast the night before. Kids can help by squeezing fresh orange juice, making a breakfast fruit salad or setting the table. To make things easier, you can prepare a breakfast casserole on Christmas Eve that you can just pop in the oven in the morning.

 

Predictions for the new year

Some countries have very unusual (and funny) traditions on Christmas Eve. For example, people throw Loksa (bread, water and poppy seeds) on their ceiling in Slovakia. If the Loksa sticks, the harvest will be bountiful in the next year. On the other hand, single women in the Czech Republic find out if they will marry in the coming year. On Christmas Eve, the woman stands with her back to the door and throws a shoe over her shoulder. If the shoe lands with the toe pointing toward the door, she'll get married in the upcoming year.

Posted by

 GIVING BACK WITH EACH HOME SOLD!

 

Kristin Johnston

Realtor, ABR, EPRO

RE/MAX Platinum

414 254 6647

kjohnston5@wi.rr.com

 

 

 

Comments (20)

Cooper Jacobs
Looking For A Seattle Realtor? COOPERJACOBS.COM - Seattle, WA
Real Estate Brokers - Seattle

Happy Holidays Kristin and we hope your home is festive. Thank you and all the best in 2013!

Dec 23, 2012 10:56 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Merry Christmas, Kristin,  Those are great ideas to change up the holdiays and involve your children.

Dec 23, 2012 10:59 PM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Good Morning Kristin,  Add it to the book.  Wow your Packers kick  -ss yesterday.  Have a very Merry Christmas Eve.

Dec 23, 2012 11:01 PM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

It sure is Cooper, thanks much. Same to you!

Grant, thanks! 

 

Will, They sure did!!!!!

Dec 23, 2012 11:12 PM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

MM............always a pleasure my dear.  Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Dec 23, 2012 11:21 PM
Frank Laisch
Orlando, FL
"The Insurance Guy"

Kristin,  Those are some great Christmas eve traditions. Merry Christmas eve,

Dec 23, 2012 11:41 PM
Laura S. Baker
First Weber Inc - Lake Mills, WI
Realtor (920) 728-4118, First Weber Inc

Kristin, I absolutely love this!  We do several of these at our house.  I love traditions.  :-).

Dec 23, 2012 11:51 PM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Thanks Roger....right back at ya!

Frank, I thought so too :=)

Dec 23, 2012 11:51 PM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Thanks Laura...happy holidays to you and yours....glad you have many lovely traditions too!

Dec 24, 2012 01:05 AM
Cindy Edwards
RE/MAX Checkmate - Johnson City, TN
CRS, GRI, PMN - Northeast Tennessee 423-677-6677

Hi Kristin,

I enjoy Christmas Eve just as much as Christmas!  These are some great ideas.  I wish you and your family best wishes for the holiday.  Enjoy time with your twin!!!

Dec 24, 2012 01:09 AM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Thanks Cindy....I love it even more :-)  That is our big family celebration....thanks and hope yours is fabulous!

Dec 24, 2012 01:20 AM
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Kristin - Christmas is my favorite time of the year. Thanks for the list of what to do on Christmas eve. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Dec 24, 2012 02:28 AM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

John, same to you!  And it is my favorite time too!

Dec 24, 2012 02:33 AM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Kristin - These are some great ideas.  I hope you have a very happy holiday.

Dec 24, 2012 04:10 AM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Thanks Debbie, I hope the same for you!

Dec 24, 2012 04:27 AM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Kristin

Sounds like a great Christmas Eve plan to me.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Dec 24, 2012 09:14 AM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

You know, Kristin, I've done just about all of these...what a terrific list! You always have a way of handing us those perfect Martha Stewart how-tos for each occasion, big or small. Gotta love ya for that and much more....

Dec 24, 2012 11:12 AM
Toni Weidman
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

We always allowed our son to open one gift on Christmas Eve; his choice. It kind of took some of his waiting stress away. Great list! Have a very merry Christmas.

Dec 24, 2012 09:54 PM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Thanks Lou....we had another beautiful memory!

Gayle, awwww, thanks so much sweetie!

Toni, We got to open all on xmas eve!  Hope you had another good one!

Dec 24, 2012 11:24 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Great ideas Kristin, I wish that I had read this a few days ago, will have to put it in the file of things to do next Christmas eve.

Dec 26, 2012 02:05 PM