My Christmas Tradition

Since we talked about Christmas in class today I thought I could share my “Christmas tradition” with you. As an Austrian I celebrate it on Christmas Eve, which is December 24^th, rather than Christmas Day, December 25^th, like Americans and some other countries do. For my family Christmas is a reason to come together and see each other again after some while, because everybody has some time off. 

In the morning of December 24^th, usually around 10 am, my parents, my sisters and I go to my grandparents’ house, where we meet all of my aunts, uncles and cousins. We normally spend the day chatting, playing cards or board games, eating much good food and we always take a walk together in the woods next to my grandparents’ house – which is especially great when it snows. Around 3 pm we say our goodbyes, exchange presents with all the others and drive home again. 

There my mother starts preparing dinner, while my father, my sisters and I pick up my other grandparents, who always spend the evening with us. When we come back home, dinner is usually ready and we sit down in the living room – next to the Christmas tree and all the presents – and eat. When my sisters and I were younger we used to get very impatient and couldn’t wait for dinner to be over to finally open our presents, but now we are a lot calmer and enjoy the meal more. My sister always plays some Christmas songs on the guitar after we finish eating and I read the Christmas story of the Gospel of Luke and we say a prayer. Then it’s finally time for the presents! After giving and receiving our presents, we continue sitting together for a bit, eat some Christmas cookies and sometimes we attend Christmas mass.  

In general Christmas is a family holiday for me. It’s the one time of the year everybody has some time off to relax and we come together and spend time with each other, which I always enjoy very much.

I wish all of you Merry Christmas - or Happy Holidays (whichever you prefer)!