I have two favorite traditions from my side of the family. The first was when I was a child we lived in the Netherlands {Holland}. They celebrate the first 5 days in December by putting their shoes out on the doorstep. If they have been good, Father Christmas, {Santa} fills them with gifts, If they have been bad, His elf, short Pete, throws them in a black bag and carries them off to spain, where Father Christmas lives. No gifts are left in those shoes. I am not sure we celebrate it exactly the way it is supposed to be done, but after we lived in Holland, for many years we would put out painted wooden shoes from Holland and they would be filler every night from Dec 1st to the 5th.
Father Christmas, doesn't always make it to my house now, but some years he has brought
presents to my husband. I must not be a good girl, because he never brings me anything!! :] [Short Pete needs to whisper in my husbands ear!!]
My 2nd favorite tradition stems from my childhood as well. As children we would shop for each other a few days before Christmas at the local bargain shop. We would spend the whole time hiding from each other and then hiding our gifts at home until we could get them wrapped. Berrett and I have continued the tradition by going to a store together but splitting up and buying for each other. It's fun to hide from each other and then sneak in the gifts to wrap. Walmart is usually the store we choose, and its big enough and busy enough that we seldom see each other. I cannot wait to carry on both of these traditions with our own kids.
