Family Traditions at Christmas

We all have festive family traditions – and usually they are completely unique to the person and the family they belong to. When I was a child I actually made the rather naive assumption that Christmas was uniformly the same no matter what household you were in – but as I grown older I’ve not only learnt this to be incorrect – but I’ve become more and more fascinated by other people’s traditions – and more determined to set my own tradition too.

I’ve heard some great traditions over the years that center around this festive holiday we call Christmas and I’ve decided to list a few below. Not just because it warms my heart a little, but because maybe it’ll inspire you to start a new tradition, starting this year in 2012. So here are a few of my favorite traditions from friends and family:

- A friend of mine and his father, always chop down their Christmas tree on the first of December. He’s now 24 years old, lives miles from home – but will still always book the 1st off work – to go chop down a tree with his dear old Dad.

- Another friend opens all her presents on Christmas Eve – because she grew up in a French family – where the eve of Christmas is more joyful than the day itself.

- Since growing up, my sister has created a tradition with her very own family. She now always has an “indoor picnic” on Christmas Eve – where the kids set up tents and blankets in the living room. They sleep there through the night and awake to presents outside their tents in the morning.

My tradition, is a little different, and yet it remains as close to my heart as anything might. As you’ll soon read – I don’t spend Christmas frolicking in the snow anymore – but instead, laying on the sand and soaking in some Christmas sunshine. Sure, it’s a little different – but it makes me happy (and my family too!) and isn’t that the main point of this holiday season? To be happy with the ones you love? It started during my gap year when I was merely 21. This seems a long way from my current age but the years have flown by. I set off on my gap year in October – so understandably had to have the awkward conversation with family and friends that I’d not only be away for Christmas but that I’d be on the other side of the world. Not an easy conversation to have – I’m sure you’ll agree. Come December time I had managed to find my way to Thailand – more specifically a place called Phuket. Now for a 21 year old experiencing the world for the first time – there is no better place than Phuket. It’s a place that hums with excitement, youth and energy – but that is surrounded by so much beauty you’d never want to leave. And I didn’t.

The hostel I was stopping in (if you could call it that – it was more of a hut on a beach) told me they hosted travelers over the Christmas period and that if I wanted to stay during this time – they’d love me to keep the room. Or the hut – more accurately. At first I was doubtful – I mean, who spends Christmas on a beach? Would Santa even be able to find me here? Would the reindeers be able to land, what with all the palm trees? So many issues. But I stayed. And every year since, I have returned to that same beach on Christmas day alongside the very people I spent Christmas with in that first year of hazed youth and alcohol induced frivolities. Of course, now things are a little different. We’re no longer bunking up in bunk beds in our straw hut on the beach. We stop in hotels with real beds and digital TV and a swimming pool. But it’s always the same beach (and give or take a few of the business guys who struggle to get time off work) its always the same people too. Except now – we share in something a little different.

Back on that first Christmas – we downed the alcohol and spent the day chasing each other drunkenly across the beach and in the sea. Now, although the alcohol still flows (it wouldn’t be Christmas if it didn’t!) we spend the day chasing our little children around the beach instead. Knowing that the kids have inherited this tradition from us is the best part. From all those kids that once found festivity with a bunch of other stranded travelers randomly one Christmas on a beach in Thailand – has stemmed a magical tradition involving all those original strangers (still children at heart although now with wrinkles around their eyes) and all their offspring and loved ones. Now you tell me that is any less magical than the Christmas traditions I first mentioned? I don’t think you could. Because the thing about Christmas is – it doesn’t matter where you are, it’s about who you’re with. And that you spend at least one minute of the day wearing a cheesy Santa hat – or pulling a cracker.

About the Author:
Ryan is a resident blogger at AsiaRooms. When Ryan is not working he spends his time traveling the globe, drawing on his travel experience and passion for travel to spread the good word. Ryan is also a social monkey and can be found lounging around on Twitter & Google+ and loves to interact with other travel bloggers.