“It was Christmas Eve, Babe…” Here are a few snaps from our day. I’d love to hear about your Christmas Eve customs too if you also celebrate:
On Christmas Eve we always go to our local crib service. This year it took place indoors due to the wet, windy weather. The girls were chosen to carry the sheep and shepherd up to the nativity scene as we sang “While Shepherd’s Watched Their Flocks By Night.” As the youngest, Izzy can sometimes be very quiet but I was pleasantly surprised that she kept putting her hand up and answered lots of questions about the Christmas story in church.
While we were at the Crib service Dave and Danny prepared our Christmas Eve tea full of our favourite party foods. So we came home and enjoyed our delicious fare while watching Christmas TV. This year we watched David Walliams’ Ratburger- perhaps not the best show to watch while eating but we enjoyed both the food and programme regardless.
After tea it was time for all the Christmas Eve jobs. First we went outside and sprinkled the magic (but glitter free) reindeer food to help Santa’s reindeer find the way.
Sprinkle on the lawn at night
The moon will make it sparkle bright
As Santa’s reindeer fly and roam
This will guide them to your home.
Back indoors and we prepared a plate for Santa (we normally just use one of our “best plates” but this year I picked this one up in a whim in good old Home Bargains!).
We left him a mince pie and a glass of bubbly.
The girls wanted to leave nine carrots, one for each of the main reindeer so our plate was pretty full!
Then it was operation “get the kids to sleep”. First the kids had Lush “Christmas Eve” baths- this smells so good! After baths they rubbed in “Sleepy” body lotion and used a few drops of Sweet Dreams body oil. I also put a few drops of this under the kids’ pillows. Every Christmas Eve we re-read the Christmas Nativity Story, a fun Christmas Story and “A Visit from St. Nicholas (The Night Before Christmas) by Clement Clarke Moore. The kids were soon fast asleep. Dave and I enjoyed as Christmas drink together. It sounds silly but one of the times that I most feel like a “grown up parent” is Christmas Eve!
In the morning we awoke delighted to see that “he had been” and the room was full of presents plus a sprinkle of magic dust.
It was time to enjoy our Christmas Day.
I hope you had a lovely Christmas Eve too- what are your traditions?
Beautiful your santa got champagne !!! Ours only got milk