Read a Book
Give Thanks
Every year at Christmas, my mom gifts me those cement stepping stones of my boys' handprints for my front planter. On New Year's Day every year, my stepmom makes several dozen homemade pierogi using a family recipe—everything done by hand. We eat some that night and freeze the rest to eat later on.
—Megan Hook, editor
Patch a Stocking
Since I was born, my mom has added a special patch to the back of my stocking every Christmas. The patch typically marks a big event that happened in my life that year—joining the soccer team (soccer ball), graduating from college (my school's letters), moving to New York (an "I Heart NY" logo), and so on—and I'm surprised each year on Christmas morning with what she's chosen. Even though I am approaching 30, she still adds a patch each year. (Though, she's had to add extra fabric to hold all of them!)
—Natasha Burton, writer
Leave Santa a Feast
My mother grew up in Florida where there's a large Cuban population. Every Christmas Eve my mother makes traditional chili, but then at 12 o'clock after all the kids have gone to sleep, the "Santas" eat a medianoche (Cuban sandwich). It's a tradition.
—Mackenzie, mom.me community
Draw Funny Pictures
One year when the electricity went out on Christmas, my entire family drew humorous pictures of each of the 12 days of Christmas. Each person was given two days/pictures, and when it got to your solo you would hold up the picture and sing. We have continued to do this (drunkenly) every year. Once we are finished, you write your initials and the year on the back.
—Philip, mom.me community
Pack a Christmas Sack
My mom is British, so, growing up, we had special Christmas sacks that we would lay across the end of our bed for Father Christmas to fill while we were sleeping. I cannot describe the feeling I had when I woke up around 4 in the morning and saw a bag full of presents at the foot of my bed. I can remember jumping up, running to grab my brother and sister and then all three of us jumping in our parents' bed yelling "He's been! He's been!" We would drag the bags out into the living room and open them first before seeing what was under the tree. None of my friends had this tradition (I think it must be a purely English thing) so those memories are extra special to me.
—Samantha Darby, writer
Eat Christmas Eve Dinner
My brother and I both really disliked ham when we were younger. So since the annual Christmas dinner with relatives had the traditional ham as the main dish, we usually stayed away from it. My mom took it upon herself to make sure he and I had a meal we really loved during the holidays, so on Christmas Eve, she made just our family a big holiday meal, with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and everything. I still like it better than the actual Christmas day.
—Ted Asbaghi, editor
