In this article: A simple, heartfelt Christmas family tradition we’ve embraced.
tra·di·tion
trəˈdiSH(ə)n/ noun ~ the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on in this way.
Traditions are fascinating. This season seems especially full of them. Every family has its own rituals, and I enjoy hearing about each one. Sometimes people can explain exactly why a tradition started; other times, its origins are a mystery but the custom persists because it brings comfort, connection, and meaning.
Tomorrow we’ll share Christmas dinner with friends, and I’m especially grateful I can sit back and enjoy every bite of turkey without having to cook the whole meal. I will, however, contribute our traditional Christmas Steam Pudding dessert—one of those family treats that carries memories as much as flavor.
A Christmas Eve Tradition
Tonight, on Christmas Eve, we’ll observe a small but cherished family tradition. I can clearly remember exactly how this one began, which makes it all the more special when we practice it now.
The tradition’s start…
I was a little girl growing up on our farm in Montana, full of excitement as Christmas approached. The tree in our avocado green and brown-clad living room glittered with lights and ornaments, and beneath it lay a mountain of wrapped presents. When my mother’s back was turned, I’d creep across the floor on my hands and knees, peeking for packages with my name on them.
The weather was cold and frightful…
One particular Christmas Eve brought a fierce snowstorm—sharp winds, driving snow, and a sudden plunge in temperature. Our family always attended the Christmas Eve service in town, and that year we were preparing to drive the six miles to church despite the storm.
My older brother, bundled up at the front door and putting on his boots, said with a grin, “If one of those presents under the tree is a warm hat, I sure could use it right now.” Mom smiled, crossed the room, picked a wrapped gift from beneath the tree, and said, “You might as well just open it now…” It was a running family joke that he always guessed what his gifts were, so she relented.
“You might as well just open it now…”
When he opened a present that evening, all the kids begged to open one when we returned from the service. That request became a new family habit: each of us could open one present on Christmas Eve. It was small and simple, but meaningful—a way to extend the joy of giving and to share a quiet, cozy moment together before the big day.
We continued that tradition as our own family grew. Now our sons are grown, and the gifts under the tree have changed from toys and pajamas to thoughtful presents they choose for one another. It’s a different kind of magic—less about things and more about the connections we share.
Tonight, after our small island Christmas Eve service, we’ll return home, gather around the glowing tree, and each open one present. That single, gentle ritual captures the heart of our holiday: warmth, togetherness, and the passing down of a family tradition that began as a practical response to a cold, snowy night and became a beloved custom we now pass on to the next generation.
