My family has always had very set Christmas Eve traditions.

Usually we spend the day just hanging out. Watching Christmas movies, wrapping gifts, maybe some more baking…. No food or party traditions. Our church didn’t really have a Christmas Eve service…. so we just spent all day hanging out.

Then, at night we all come together to start the festivities.

My dad would always read the Christmas story out of the Bible. From Matthew, I think. And even though we all knew the story, and heard it all the time, re-reading it was a nice way to just slow down before the big day.

Then time for the presents!

My mom had a Christmas Eve tradition of opening a couple special gifts on Christmas Eve.

There was always gifts under the tree labeled ‘Christmas Eve’ …. one in a clothing-type box and one smaller.

One of our gifts was always pajamas. Which is kind of funny, cause my dad apparently doesn’t wear pajamas. And none of the girly PJs that my mom got me ever fit right (I think my legs are too long) … and my dad seemed to have a hard time remembering what size my mom wears, so hers only fit part of the time. And Kevin was too cool for the whole thing.

But we do it every year. And I have had SO many new PJs over the years. I don’t know if I ever bought any for myself.

Our other Christmas Eve gift was always an ornament. Always a special ornament that reflects something we’ve done over the last year. I can’t think of any examples right now. I have a Christmas Carol ornaments, ASU, Phoenix Suns, and other ornaments. Kevin has a computer ornament and some others that I forget.

And then, once the gifts are opened – mom and dad made us go to bed.
At, like 8pm.
When we were in high school.

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