Seasonal Traditions - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people coming out

RaeofLite · 8th Dec 2009, 02:31 AM

Do you have any traditions for the holidays-be it religious, food related, family gatherings, present openings, traveling or other traditions?

Share them here.

Just Adam · 8th Dec 2009, 02:57 AM

i have to have a real tree and buy a new piece of tinsel each year.

fallendream · 8th Dec 2009, 02:17 PM

buffet food and monopoly. thats my christmas traditions.

8th Dec 2009, 11:50 PM

Pretty traditional, family comes around, tree, presents, food - we quite often have a barbecue since it's summer here.
My personal tradition would be eating all the left over dessert for breakfast the next morning.

RaeofLite · 9th Dec 2009, 12:48 AM

Family opens presents on the evening of Christmas Eve, and I open bday presents. We usually have turkey and listen to christmas songs.

Christmas morning we have European fare: breads, cheeses, spreads etc. And scrabble. Mom loves scrabble

beckyg · 9th Dec 2009, 09:07 PM

I put up two Christmas trees. I didn't do it last year and I really missed the 2nd one! So I've cleared a space to put the 2nd one up. I'll be getting them tomorrow.

Other traditions we have is that Santa wraps all the stocking gifts. It makes it more fun but takes forever to wrap chapstick and deoderant. lol

9th Dec 2009, 09:19 PM

The family usually decorates if we are staying home. We do lights one weekend and the interior the next. Everyone goes shopping for the tree, and we decorate it together, hang garland, etc. etc. I'm missing out this year though, because I get done with school so late.

On the 21st, mom and I burn a Yule log to observe Winter Solstice (if it's not 80 degrees like it is in the armpit of Texas a lot of the time).

There is usually a lot of baking...dad makes Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte.

On Christmas Eve, we go for a light drive and look at everyone's Christmas lights. Last year, we went to the rich neighborhoods XD

We open presents on Christmas morning before breakfast, and then have either cinnamon rolls or schtolen (no idea if I spelled that right) for breakfast.

LeonaRose · 13th Dec 2009, 10:58 AM

Same movies on christmas eve and christmas! Eve: Wallace and Gromit The Wrong Trousers, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare before Christmas. Day: Santa Clause the movie, The Snowman.

RaeofLite · 13th Dec 2009, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haiiro

The family usually decorates if we are staying home. We do lights one weekend and the interior the next. Everyone goes shopping for the tree, and we decorate it together, hang garland, etc. etc. I'm missing out this year though, because I get done with school so late.

On the 21st, mom and I burn a Yule log to observe Winter Solstice (if it's not 80 degrees like it is in the armpit of Texas a lot of the time).

There is usually a lot of baking...dad makes Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte.

On Christmas Eve, we go for a light drive and look at everyone's Christmas lights. Last year, we went to the rich neighborhoods XD

We open presents on Christmas morning before breakfast, and then have either cinnamon rolls or schtolen (no idea if I spelled that right) for breakfast.

Cool. I take it your family is German in orgin? What's Schwarzwalden Kirschtorte and Schtolen?

Brandford · 13th Dec 2009, 11:56 AM

My family doesn't open presents on christmas day but christmas eve night

Black Cat · 13th Dec 2009, 12:05 PM

Let's see:

Every year on Black Friday we put the tree up. This way we can bask in its warm glow for as long as is socially acceptable.

We deck out the remainder of the house on the next day; sometimes it can take all weekend.

We watch every single holiday special on television.

My sister and I bake cookies on Christmas Eve.

I make heaps of fudge to pass out as I go along my merry way. I feel it is a wonderful tradition as it allows me to spread my Christmas cheer.

We wake up on Christmas morning and tear into out stockings. We all get to do this in the comforts of our own bedrooms, and we wait until my mom comes to get us to open presents together.

After tearing into all the gifts we discuss everything we got and review our loot for the day.

Then clean-up commences, this is usually my task as the children can't tear away from their gifts. I don't mind it though because then I don't get stuck opening all my little brothers Transformers and putting them together.

Then we play with our new stuff for most of the day. I usually walk up the road and check on the neighbor's dog because she leaves town every year. I take him a piece of our Christmas roast as a gift.

Cooking begins, standard fare in our home includes: Roast beef, mashed potatoes, homemade rolls, green beans, and many other things.

We eat, and this is followed by clean-up.

We close the day by watching Christmas movies, or some new ones we got that day.

Swamp56 · 13th Dec 2009, 12:11 PM

I stay at my mom's house on Christmas Eve into Christmas Morning, and then go to my dad's house around 12:00-13:00. We've done that for >6 years.

AtomicCafe · 13th Dec 2009, 07:48 PM

On Christmas, we wake up, watch movies, have Chinese food, be token Jews. Repeat.

malachite · 13th Dec 2009, 08:30 PM

a 3 hour trip to see my parents and listen to them complain that I don't visit home more often.

**Jim1454** · 14th Dec 2009, 02:05 PM

I spend the night at my ex wife's place so that I can wake up Christmas morning with the kids. They open their gifts and stockings from Santa, and then we have breakfast. Their mom makes fresh waffles and we have waffles and fruit and whipped cream for breakfast.

We then open the rest of the gifts and I then start unpackaging and assembling things.

In the afternoon we then all go to my sister's place for dinner. There are more presents to be opened before dinner.

This year my boyfriend is coming with us to my sister's for dinner.

LeonaRose · 16th Dec 2009, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaeofLite

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haiiro

The family usually decorates if we are staying home. We do lights one weekend and the interior the next. Everyone goes shopping for the tree, and we decorate it together, hang garland, etc. etc. I'm missing out this year though, because I get done with school so late.

On the 21st, mom and I burn a Yule log to observe Winter Solstice (if it's not 80 degrees like it is in the armpit of Texas a lot of the time).

There is usually a lot of baking...dad makes Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte.

On Christmas Eve, we go for a light drive and look at everyone's Christmas lights. Last year, we went to the rich neighborhoods XD

We open presents on Christmas morning before breakfast, and then have either cinnamon rolls or schtolen (no idea if I spelled that right) for breakfast.

Cool. I take it your family is German in orgin? What's Schwarzwalden Kirschtorte and Schtolen?

Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte's basically German for Black Forest Gateu if I'm correct in thinking [can remember feck all of my German from school! lol] Stollen is ridiculously yummy fruitcake\bread that tends to have marzipan in. I'm not a fruitcake fan but that stuff is sooooo good!

adam88 · 18th Dec 2009, 07:12 AM

My family used to have sauerkraut (homemade and served warm, with little bits of speck) and bratwurst (also homemade as my grandfather was a butcher) as a Christmas Eve dinner tradition. Yes, we're Austrian in descent.

Among my immediate family, we like to watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation together as a family.

No, not your average Christmas fare, but hilarious.

**lostinthought9** · 19th Dec 2009, 09:16 PM

We usually spend Christmas Eve with my mom's side of the family, and Christmas day with my dad's side. That's how it's always been.

We also make fudge around this time of the year, which is a pain in the ass to make.

-Hm, I'll admit that I did chuckle a bit at the people above me who said they had to assemble their siblings/children's toys and what not. I hope that I'll be able to that one day.

Ander Blue · 19th Dec 2009, 09:46 PM

I too spend christmas eve with my mom's side of the family. Usually we all get together and go to my grandmother's house. We do all our extended family gifts then too. Then on christmas day, my immediate family spends our time together.
As for other traditions, when I lived at home I would always be the person to decorate the christmas tree at my mom's house. Ever since my dad remarried too, my stepmother has started up a new tradition by getting my sister and I chocolate oranges every christmas.

Gaetan · 19th Dec 2009, 10:03 PM

Every year, Christmas Eve, we drive around town and look at all the decorated houses.

8th Dec 2009, 02:31 AM	#1
RaeofLite I've got the moves like Jagger Full Member Gender: ♀ Orientation: Sapphicly inclined Out Status: My closet is for clothes! Location: BC, Canada Age: 23 Posts: 3,111 Join Date: Apr 2009	Seasonal Traditions Do you have any traditions for the holidays-be it religious, food related, family gatherings, present openings, traveling or other traditions? Share them here. __________________ People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -Bonnie Jean Wasmund (and the lesbians)

8th Dec 2009, 02:57 AM	#2
Just Adam Just passing through Full Member Gender: Something Orientation: Dunno Out Status: If they ask i will tell them Location: Wherever Age: 23 Posts: 6,002 Join Date: Mar 2009	Re: Seasonal Traditions i have to have a real tree and buy a new piece of tinsel each year. __________________ There Used To Be A Point Of Things.

8th Dec 2009, 02:17 PM	#3
fallendream EC Addict Full Member Gender: manlyman, hwar! Orientation: i have a floppy wrist? Out Status: i left aslan... Age: 17 Posts: 945 Join Date: Jan 2009	Re: Seasonal Traditions buffet food and monopoly. thats my christmas traditions.

8th Dec 2009, 11:50 PM	#4
Hidden Angel Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Seasonal Traditions Pretty traditional, family comes around, tree, presents, food - we quite often have a barbecue since it's summer here. My personal tradition would be eating all the left over dessert for breakfast the next morning.

9th Dec 2009, 12:48 AM	#5
RaeofLite I've got the moves like Jagger Full Member Gender: ♀ Orientation: Sapphicly inclined Out Status: My closet is for clothes! Location: BC, Canada Age: 23 Posts: 3,111 Join Date: Apr 2009	Re: Seasonal Traditions Family opens presents on the evening of Christmas Eve, and I open bday presents. We usually have turkey and listen to christmas songs. Christmas morning we have European fare: breads, cheeses, spreads etc. And scrabble. Mom loves scrabble __________________ People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -Bonnie Jean Wasmund (and the lesbians)

9th Dec 2009, 09:07 PM	#6
beckyg PFLAG Mom Community Liaison Gender: Female Orientation: Straight Out Status: Out to everyone/Yes, parents come out too! Location: Middle of Oregon Age: 50 Posts: 7,572 Join Date: Mar 2007	Re: Seasonal Traditions I put up two Christmas trees. I didn't do it last year and I really missed the 2nd one! So I've cleared a space to put the 2nd one up. I'll be getting them tomorrow. Other traditions we have is that Santa wraps all the stocking gifts. It makes it more fun but takes forever to wrap chapstick and deoderant. lol __________________ "When we're free to love anyone we choose, When this worlds big enough for all different views, When we're all free to worship from our own kind of pew, Then we shall be free" ~ Garth Brooks

9th Dec 2009, 09:19 PM	#7
Haiiro Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Seasonal Traditions The family usually decorates if we are staying home. We do lights one weekend and the interior the next. Everyone goes shopping for the tree, and we decorate it together, hang garland, etc. etc. I'm missing out this year though, because I get done with school so late. On the 21st, mom and I burn a Yule log to observe Winter Solstice (if it's not 80 degrees like it is in the armpit of Texas a lot of the time). There is usually a lot of baking...dad makes Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte. On Christmas Eve, we go for a light drive and look at everyone's Christmas lights. Last year, we went to the rich neighborhoods XD We open presents on Christmas morning before breakfast, and then have either cinnamon rolls or schtolen (no idea if I spelled that right) for breakfast.

13th Dec 2009, 10:58 AM	#8
LeonaRose Well Known Regular Member Gender: Female Orientation: Bisexual Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Leeds, UK Posts: 226 Join Date: Jul 2009	Re: Seasonal Traditions Same movies on christmas eve and christmas! Eve: Wallace and Gromit The Wrong Trousers, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare before Christmas. Day: Santa Clause the movie, The Snowman. __________________ "It's the same stuff they used in that fourth "Lord of the Rings" movie. Or was it the 19th "Lord of the Rings" movie? You know, the one where Boldo and Jingy travel across the bridge? I don't know, I don't know their names" - Tom Hanks on Lord of the Rings. LOL!!!!

13th Dec 2009, 11:56 AM	#10
Brandford Friendly Misanthrope Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: everyone that asks,my mom (i think) and my sister Location: Woodbridge, VA Age: 19 Posts: 6,656 Join Date: Apr 2008	Re: Seasonal Traditions My family doesn't open presents on christmas day but christmas eve night

13th Dec 2009, 12:05 PM	#11
Black Cat As Seen On Hoarders... Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: This cat is out of the bag - I mean closet Location: Pennsylvania, with the cows Age: 21 Posts: 2,391 Join Date: Jun 2009	Re: Seasonal Traditions Let's see: Every year on Black Friday we put the tree up. This way we can bask in its warm glow for as long as is socially acceptable. We deck out the remainder of the house on the next day; sometimes it can take all weekend. We watch every single holiday special on television. My sister and I bake cookies on Christmas Eve. I make heaps of fudge to pass out as I go along my merry way. I feel it is a wonderful tradition as it allows me to spread my Christmas cheer. We wake up on Christmas morning and tear into out stockings. We all get to do this in the comforts of our own bedrooms, and we wait until my mom comes to get us to open presents together. After tearing into all the gifts we discuss everything we got and review our loot for the day. Then clean-up commences, this is usually my task as the children can't tear away from their gifts. I don't mind it though because then I don't get stuck opening all my little brothers Transformers and putting them together. Then we play with our new stuff for most of the day. I usually walk up the road and check on the neighbor's dog because she leaves town every year. I take him a piece of our Christmas roast as a gift. Cooking begins, standard fare in our home includes: Roast beef, mashed potatoes, homemade rolls, green beans, and many other things. We eat, and this is followed by clean-up. We close the day by watching Christmas movies, or some new ones we got that day. __________________ "Your life is an occasion. Rise to it." - Mr. Magorium

13th Dec 2009, 12:11 PM	#12
Swamp56 EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Boston, MA Age: 21 Posts: 2,166 Join Date: Aug 2008	Re: Seasonal Traditions I stay at my mom's house on Christmas Eve into Christmas Morning, and then go to my dad's house around 12:00-13:00. We've done that for >6 years. __________________

13th Dec 2009, 07:48 PM	#13
AtomicCafe Gay by Day, Dyke by Night Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: Asexual Lesbian Out Status: Out, Loud, and Proud Location: Tucson, AZ Age: 19 Posts: 208 Join Date: Oct 2009	Re: Seasonal Traditions On Christmas, we wake up, watch movies, have Chinese food, be token Jews. Repeat. __________________ That child has several options: staying in the closet, suicide. And then one day, that child might open up the paper and it says, "Homosexual Elected in San Francisco." - Harvey Milk

13th Dec 2009, 08:30 PM	#14
malachite EC's realist Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Orlando Posts: 6,480 Join Date: Apr 2009	Re: Seasonal Traditions a 3 hour trip to see my parents and listen to them complain that I don't visit home more often. __________________ It's the 21st century, your bigotry is outdated. Either upgrade or go away.

14th Dec 2009, 02:05 PM	#15
Jim1454 EC 'Dad' EC Advisor Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Toronto Age: 41 Posts: 7,449 Join Date: Mar 2007	Re: Seasonal Traditions I spend the night at my ex wife's place so that I can wake up Christmas morning with the kids. They open their gifts and stockings from Santa, and then we have breakfast. Their mom makes fresh waffles and we have waffles and fruit and whipped cream for breakfast. We then open the rest of the gifts and I then start unpackaging and assembling things. In the afternoon we then all go to my sister's place for dinner. There are more presents to be opened before dinner. This year my boyfriend is coming with us to my sister's for dinner. __________________ Jim "It is never too late to be what you might have been."

18th Dec 2009, 07:12 AM	#17
adam88 EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Pansexual. Or bi. Same thing. Out Status: Yes. Location: Toronto, Canada Age: 30 Posts: 797 Join Date: Nov 2009	Re: Seasonal Traditions My family used to have sauerkraut (homemade and served warm, with little bits of speck) and bratwurst (also homemade as my grandfather was a butcher) as a Christmas Eve dinner tradition. Yes, we're Austrian in descent. Among my immediate family, we like to watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation together as a family. No, not your average Christmas fare, but hilarious. __________________ --Brendan A coming out is never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor is it early. You come out precisely when you mean to. -not Gandalf

19th Dec 2009, 09:16 PM	#18
lostinthought9 EC's Biggest Xena Fan EC Moderator Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: A few people Location: Louisiana Age: 21 Posts: 2,059 Join Date: Jan 2008	Re: Seasonal Traditions We usually spend Christmas Eve with my mom's side of the family, and Christmas day with my dad's side. That's how it's always been. We also make fudge around this time of the year, which is a pain in the ass to make. -Hm, I'll admit that I did chuckle a bit at the people above me who said they had to assemble their siblings/children's toys and what not. I hope that I'll be able to that one day. __________________

19th Dec 2009, 09:46 PM	#19
Ander Blue feeling comfy Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Copenhagen, Denmark (normally Troy, New York) Age: 22 Posts: 428 Join Date: Nov 2009	Re: Seasonal Traditions I too spend christmas eve with my mom's side of the family. Usually we all get together and go to my grandmother's house. We do all our extended family gifts then too. Then on christmas day, my immediate family spends our time together. As for other traditions, when I lived at home I would always be the person to decorate the christmas tree at my mom's house. Ever since my dad remarried too, my stepmother has started up a new tradition by getting my sister and I chocolate oranges every christmas. __________________ Re-examine all you have been told.... Dismiss what insults your soul. ~ Walt Whitman

19th Dec 2009, 10:03 PM	#20
Gaetan DON'T TOUCH THE HAT! Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Immediate Family and Friends Location: Idaho, USA Age: 25 Posts: 1,098 Join Date: Sep 2009	Re: Seasonal Traditions Every year, Christmas Eve, we drive around town and look at all the decorated houses. __________________ Those who say it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the people doing it.