A christmas Tradition

So I don't know about you guys, but we have some Christmas family traditions that we always do! It's just something every family does, right !? I thought it would be nice to share with you a few of the ones we do every year, and that I can't wait to do with Emelia this year. My mum absolutely loved Christmas, and it soon became one of my favourite times of the year too. She did so many family traditions with us, and so its even more of a reason as to why I want to keep them up.

Mince pie making:
As I've mentioned in previous Posts I love to bake, and christmas is the perfect excuse to make loads of different things! Growing up we would make festive flavoured cupcakes, shortbread, peppermint creams and gingerbread just to name a few, and of course mince pies. On several occasions over christmas we would bake batches of homemade pies and also on Christmas Eve. They would never last long hence why we would make them so much, there just isn't anything better than a homemade mince pies. They are so so easy to make, you can use ready made or even ready rolled pastry and just fill with the mince meat once rolled and cut out. I do like to make my own pastry which just adds the homemade feel to it that little bit more. (I also tend to add some orange and rum to the mince meat too!..)

Sweet Pastry:
10 oz of unsalted butter
15 oz of plain flour
5 oz caster sugar
1 egg,
Rub Flour and butter to make into a crumb, add the sugar and egg and mix. Bring together the mixture and wrap and chill for 20 mins. Roll, use cutters to cut and place on a greased cupcake tray, add mincemeat to the centres and place on lids and brush with milk and sugar.

Christmas stocking:
So once we had done the whole mince pie carrot and milk/Brandy on a plate for FC we would take our stocking from the fire place and put it at the end of our bed. Mum would then read us "the night before christmas and then we would go to sleep. (after a long while!) I use to love waking up to see if he had been yet and whether my christmas stocking was full ! This was always the first thing we would open before going under the christmas tree. Amongst little presents, there was always sweeties like chocolate coins and an orange! I still have my stocking from when I was a baby and it has been used each year. I have just brought Emelia's and I can't wait to put it at the end of her cot. 

Christmas pyjamas:
Fact, you have to have new pyjamas at christmas, and they have to be festive! At home we would typically get these on christmas day. Ive already got Emelia's and although I'm not going to do a christmas eve box for her I will lay her pjs and the "night before christmas" book that me and my sister had on her bed. My sister is staying over christmas so no doubt we will get some aswell!

Camembert and Mulled wine 

So me and reggie started this little tradition when we moved in together, it was just a nice christmasy thing that we decided to do one year, and have just carried it on. Camembert just tastes so nice with warmed crusty bread, and we love eating it alongside a glass of warm mulled wine. Christmas film on the tv, and there you have it, christmassy feelings to the max. 

Christmas Decorations:

Oh so lovely are Beautifully coordinated christmas trees but I do love adding those little personal family touches to them, I think it just means so much to look at your tree and see decorations that have a story behind them. The santa bellow was my first ever christmas dec, my disney bauble from a trip to paris and my baubles for my mum and lauren. 

Elf on the shelf:
I have to say there is one tradition that we won't be starting with Emelia. Me and Reggie just find it a bit creepy! The elf on the shelf. Those creepy little elves remind me of something from a horror movie! I'm sure its good fun and I know quite a few parents do this tradition for there children, and it helps them behave in the run up to christmas. But personally, I like the idea of putting fake presents, christmas wrapped cardboard boxes on the fire instead, every time she's naughty! (#meanmum)

Everything else :

Visiting a christmas market or fair. The perfect place for festive atmosphere, food and drink.

Going to a christingle service or a carol service on christmas eve.
​
Christmas Music for the whole month of December, yes really, nothing else will do! Favourites are of course classics like "last christmas" and Mr buble (much to Reggie's annoyance) .

Christmas films. I do think having horrendous morning sickness this time last year has left me with some sort of association sickness to christmas films! I spent most days curled under a blanket asleep catching occasional blinks of christmas films in the background. But my must watch favourites have to be "the Polar express", "Elf", and "Miracle on 34th street". Reggie favourites are "Home Alone".
​

Please comment and let me know of all your family traditions. I love to hear what other families do.
Robyn x