Christmas Traditions

My favourite time of year is just around the corner and I couldn't be more excited. I wish at home with my parents and brother to experience the full build up of the christmas season, but I'm really enjoying making my own memories in my home with Olly. 

Image from weheartit

As a child there are lots of things that my parents would do in the run up to christmas, many that are still carried on now. I thought I would share some with you some of my favourite traditions that make this time of year so special for me...

Way back when I was really young, and I still believed in Santa, my mum and dad would always take me to a Grotto where I would queue excitedly with lots of other little boys and girls, waiting to catch a glimpse of the big guy in the red suit. 

I would also always write a letter to Santa. I would try my neatest handwriting and decorate it with pictures, then very neatly write the address on the envelope. Then with my letter in hand I would walk to the postbox with my mum or dad and post my letter. For some reason I always got a letter back, but to this day, I still don't know who wrote back to me. Mum and Dad I'm looking at you!

Ever since I can remember, I would always have new PJ's on Christmas Eve. I'm not sure why. But even now at 20, I'm excited to go buy my pretty new PJ's and not wear them until Christmas Eve. 

Me and my Dad would always go into Leeds one Thursday night, after the christmas lights had been turned on and we do some Christmas Shopping. This was always a highlight for me, I remember feeling extremely grown up being out in town late at night (it wasn't late, we would always be on our way home no later than 9) on a school night.

One thats not overly *Christmassy* is that on Christmas eve, we always, without fail, have a chinese takeaway. I know its not very festive but we all sit as a family round the table, having a good meal and some nice drinks. Now that I don't live with parents so its lovely to sit with them and my younger brother and have a family meal.

Finally, decorating the house is a huge family event for us! From picking the tree to untangling the fairy lights, everything about it makes it worth the hard work to see your house transform into something magical. Every year, me and my brother would take it in turns to put the Christmas fairy on top of the tree. My dad would pick us up whilst my mum took a photo. We're a little old to do this now as I'm 20 and my brother is 14.

Image from weheartit

I hope you've enjoyed the very long post about my families Christmas traditions. What are your traditions? I'd love to hear them :)