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Most years we go wander around the countryside with shotguns on St Stephen's Day morning, just for the sake of it. I don't think I've ever shot anything while doing this, but it makes the toasted leftover sandwich taste better

I used to always take the dog for a long walk after dinner on christmas day, but the current dog doesn't like to walk that much so I go on my own.

 Frazzled wrote:

Sadly last year she was in final stages of dementia, so didn't get to make the sauce. She did get to taste it, and pass judgement ("not enough rum"), and I insisted on playing a very cheesy Christmas music CD all day, so she definitely knew it was Christmas Day when drifting in and out.

Good for you young man. Good for you.

She sang along to some of the songs, and that's a memory my father in law holds onto with both hands. "She had a good Christmas with us!" made it into the funeral readings. It was so very important that she did, for him as much as her.

It only occurred to me about the music because a friend of mine told me certain CDs would prompt a reaction in her nana. I assume sound, like smell, is a very powerful prompt.


On a more cheerful note we have a tradition of "Not eating [Susan's] mince pies."
Every year at the party I mentioned, a family friend brings a tin of sweet home baked pies, puts them on the food table, and then takes them home untouched. Her baking is fine, but they're always unusual (one year containing potato and pear), so anyone in the know avoids the pies.
You can tell who is new because they put one on their plate, and then there's a look of polite confusion or horror as they bite in.

Every 12/24, I listen to this :



(Disclaimer: this will harm your ears)

In my house I basically replaced Christmas with a holiday I invented called Siv Day which... is a holiday devoted to my weird ideas, as seen in the bizarre cards I send to people...

Well as a kid on Boxing Day after tea we would have Christmas tree presents. Only small things like socks,pens and maybe airfix soldiers.
Carried on the tradition with my three year old and this year he seems to have a crap load of stars was stuff at about 50 quid. Bloody traditions lol.

 Rainbow Dash wrote:
In my house I basically replaced Christmas with a holiday I invented called Siv Day which... is a holiday devoted to my weird ideas, as seen in the bizarre cards I send to people...

Could I PM you my address and get on your mailing list? That picture is hilarious.

Anyone who wants a Siv Day card may have one, yes!

I don't call this a tradition, but when I dress my tree, I dress it all round including the parts facing the walls that no-one will see.

 Kilkrazy wrote:
I don't call this a tradition, but when I dress my tree, I dress it all round including the parts facing the walls that no-one will see.

I do this too, it just feels wrong not to for some reason.

I guess mine is not all that wierd, but I try to watch all my favorite Christmas movies during the Christmas season. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Home Alone 1 & 2, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the Jim Carrey live-action version), and even some older ones like It's a Wonderful Life and White Christmas. If I get the opportunity, I try to squeeze Die Hard in there somewhere too! Nothing like a high body count Christmas movie!

Die Hard truly captures the Christmas spirit.