In this article: A small, cherished Christmas family tradition we’ve embraced and continue to enjoy.
tra·di·tion
trəˈdiSH(ə)n/ noun ~ the passing down of customs, beliefs, or practices from one generation to the next.
Traditions are a fascinating part of family life, especially during the holidays. This season seems to overflow with rituals that help define who we are and how we celebrate. Some families can explain exactly how a tradition began; others simply know it has always been there. Either way, these customs—big or small—shape our memories and give the holidays a comforting rhythm.
This year we’re excited to share Christmas dinner with friends, and I’m especially grateful that I won’t have to prepare the entire turkey dinner myself—I’m looking forward to relaxing and enjoying every bite. I will, however, bring our family’s traditional Christmas Steam Pudding dessert, a treat that has its own place in our holiday routine.
A Christmas Eve Tradition
Tonight, on Christmas Eve, we’ll follow another family tradition—one I can clearly remember why it started. Some traditions are born out of necessity, some from impulse, and some simply because a moment felt right and was repeated until it became part of our family story.
The tradition’s start…
I grew up on a farm in Montana and vividly remember the excitement of Christmas as a child. Our living room, clad in avocado green and brown, would glow with the lights of a fully decorated tree. Presents piled high beneath the branches, each wrapped package promising surprise and delight. Like most kids, I would sneak around in the dim light, peeking for gifts that had my name on them, heart racing with curiosity and anticipation.
The weather was cold and frightful…
One Christmas Eve brought a fierce snowstorm: sharp winds, blowing snow, and a sudden plunge in temperature. Our family planned to attend the Christmas Eve service in town, six miles away. We bundled up and prepared to make the trip despite the weather. My older brother was at the door, layering on coats and pulling on boots when he half-jokingly remarked that a warm hat from under the tree would be perfect at that moment.
My mother smiled, reached for a nearby package, and told him he might as well open it then and there. It was a running family joke that he often guessed his gifts, but on that stormy evening she let him unwrap one present early so he could wear the hat to church. When we returned from the service, the other kids begged to open a gift as well, and from that simple, practical moment our “open one present on Christmas Eve” tradition began.
“If one of those presents under the tree is a warm hat, I sure could use it right now…”
“You might as well just open it now…”
We carried that gentle tradition into our own family. As our children grew, the focus of gifts shifted from toys and pajamas to thoughtful items and, eventually, presents they chose for each other. There’s something quietly joyful about everyone being able to open a single gift the night before Christmas—an intimate moment that stretches the holiday a little longer and gives everyone something to look forward to during those last hours of anticipation.
Tonight, after we attend our small island Christmas Eve service, we’ll come home, gather around the tree, and each open one present. It’s a simple ritual, but it ties the generations together: a childhood memory passed down, adapted, and loved anew. Whether your family favors a big, formal tradition or small, cozy moments like this, the value lies in the shared experience—those small acts that make the season meaningful.
May your holidays include traditions that comfort, surprise, and bring you closer to those you love. And if you don’t already have a favorite, consider starting a small one this year—sometimes the simplest traditions become the most treasured.