The Christmas Pickle has been a tradition throughout my childhood and still today. The pickle is hidden somewhere in the Christmas tree and the child who finds the pickle is given a surprise gift. It is said to have originated in Germany, which is strange because I’m not German. Regardless, though it is a time to elbow your siblings and cheat your way toward another gift. (I’m sure my sisters know who I am referring too)

2.The Cookie Swap

The Annual Christmas Cookie Swap happens in December. It is normally a gathering of women who bake their specialty cookie. At the end of the Cookie Swap you should leave with a platter of assorted cookies. This plate is generally placed out for guests on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Also, cookie swaps are to be taken seriously and invitations are hard to come by. If you make a cookie that no one likes you probably will never be invited again, also people who bring store bought cookies never get invited back. (Some of you are now reading this and thinking WOW tough crowd, well Linda no one likes your lemon cookies with coconut shreds)

3.The Hallmark Channel Watchathon

I know this may seem cliché but the past couple of years my mother and I spend just about every night watching The Hallmark Channel from November twenty fifth right up too December twenty fifth. There is no better feeling than snuggling up by the fire while watching people fall in love in the midst of Christmas Spirit.

4.Reindeer Food

You read that right, REINDEER FOOD! Now every year as a kid a woman from my mother’s work would send my mom home with Magic Reindeer Food! I can remember as a kid being so excited to sprinkle the food on my front lawn so that the Reindeer had something to eat on Christmas Eve. Come to think of it I never did notice if it was actually ever gone, as a kid you don’t think of those things.

5.Stockings First

Our Christmas Day was always “structured”, idly you always wanted to go for the biggest gifts but rules are rules and stockings were always the first thing you went through. This is still practiced in our family even today.