Christmas is a huge deal in our family. When I say huge, I mean huge. It's probably the most important holiday in our family, and we have so many important traditions that I always get so excited for when Christmastime comes around.
1. Putting up our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving
GiphyWe don't always celebrate Thanksgiving, but every year, without fail, we always put our Christmas tree up the day after. It's so much fun when the whole family pitches in to decorate our house and tree while we listen to Christmas carols.
2. Celebrating Advent
Christmas Winter GIF by Bayerischer Rundfunk - Find & Share on GIPHYGiphySince my family is Christian, Advent is a very important time of the year for us. It begins four Sundays before Christmas, and it is a time of waiting and preparing for the Nativity of Jesus at Christmastime.
3. My mom's fruitcake and Indian sweets
GiphyA lot of people think fruitcake is disgusting, but I personally LOVE it. I get so excited when my mom pulls out all the ingredients for making it at the beginning of December, and also when she starts making all different types of delicious Indian sweets like gulab jamun and payasam. You can see why I easily gain weight over winter break.
4. Saying we’re going to have a “Chronicles of Narnia” movie marathon, but then never actually having one
GiphyThis has literally gone on for years. We own every single "Chronicles of Narnia" movie, and my siblings and I have read all the books. Every single year, my parents say we're going to sit down and watch all three movies in a row, but it still has yet to happen.
5. Christmas caroling
GiphyI am extremely tone deaf and I cannot sing for my life, but I love going Christmas caroling with my church every year. It's so much fun to go to everyone's house and sing Christmas carols with my friends with cringey Santa hats that I pretend to hate, but secretly love.
6. Dressing up in matching pajamas with my siblings
GiphyEvery year, my mom buys my siblings and me matching pajamas and makes us pose in front of our Christmas tree while she takes photos. At first, I thought this tradition was a total pain, but now I'm actually okay with it. As long as she doesn't post the pictures anywhere.
7. Listening to Christmas songs in Spanish
GiphyI don't know why this occurs, because my sister and I only know Spanish that we learned in school, and no one else in my family knows Spanish at all. But my family loves listening to Spanish Christmas carols.
8. Opening all of our presents on Christmas Eve so we don’t have to wake up early on Christmas
GiphyIt is a known fact that I am not a morning person. I hate waking up early, and I especially don't want to wake up early on Christmas. Our family just opens all of our presents on Christmas Eve after we come back from church, so we don't have to wake up early the next morning.
Christmas is a great time to spend with your family and friends while you recuperate from the stress and hassles of everyday life. Take this opportunity to spend time doing things you love with the people you love.
