Advent Calendar - December 24, 2007

Christmas Eve

How did you and your family spend Christmas Eve?

Here is a brief summary of contributions from fellow bloggers and links to their individual posts:

Miriam at AnceStories: The Stories of My Ancestors remembers family gatherings from Alaska to Washington in Christmas Eve. Although St. Nick had already visited on December 6th, she still looked forward to Christmas Day.

Colleen reads "Twas The Night Before Christmas" to us as she presents The Oracle of OMcHodoy: Advent Calendar December 24: Christmas Eve posted at The Oracle of OMcHodoy. She shares this great poem as a tribute to Christmas Eve and the child in all of us.

At Jessica's Genejournal, Jessica presents Celebrating Christmas Eve .... She spends her Christmas Eve at her grandparents having dinner and opening presents much like many other families do.

Janet gives us 'Twas the Night before Christmas posted at Janet the researcher. She remembers various church services on Christmas Eve and then taking drives to see Christmas lights.

Lori presents Christmas Eve posted at Smoky Mountain Family Historian. She celebrates Christmas Eve with some great movies such as White Christmas and The Bells of St. Mary's.

Diane at CanadaGenealogy, or, 'Jane's Your Aunt' presents Christmas Eve - Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories. Read about her Mum's dinner preparation of ham soup and sandwiches as well as Dad's mad scramble for a last minute Christmas tree.

Lisa presents The night before Christmas in Ireland posted at A light that shines again. She helps us see how her Irish ancestors probably celebrated Christmas Eve long ago.

Stephen presents 'Twas the Night Before Christmas posted at Steve's Genealogy Blog. His memories include preparations for Christmas Day dinner and Santa's arrival as well as going to Midnight Mass.

At Creative Gene, Jasia offers up Christmas Eve, the Best Day of the Year! Memories of preparing food with her mother, her brother's last minute shopping escapades, and many more abound in her post.

Cheryl presents Christmas Memories-Christmas Eve, 1917 posted at Two Sides of the Ocean. The Christmas Eve wedding of her grandparents is described as well as the family that grew up to celebrate many Christmas Eves together.

At Apple's Tree, Apple presents Christmas Eve. Read about various family celebrations and how it can be difficult to travel through "snow country" in upstate New York to make sure everyone is together on Christmas Eve.

Lisa presents A candle in the window on Christmas Eve posted at Small-leaved Shamrock. She recalls the custom of candles left burning in the window on Christmas Eve as a sign of Irish hospitality.

Bill presents Christmas Eves posted at West in New England. He still spends Christmas Eve with his sister's family as he has for the past 20 years.

In Christmas Eve at Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi, Terry remembers how Christmas Eve was a busy, busy day for his parents who owned and operated a store in Parham, Mississippi.

At Searching For Family Branches, jewelgirl gives us My Christmas Eve 1964. Read about her waiting for Santa and while at church how her mother struggled with a frozen car trunk that almost ruined Christmas.

Randy at Genea-Musings presents Day 1 - Christmas Eve. Past gatherings on Christmas Eve have included church services, sleepovers at the grandparents', spying on Santa and the bicycles he left, and this year's celebrations seem busy with a house full of family and the Chargers vs. Broncos game.

Finally, in That Certain Christmas Eve at Destination: Austin Family, read about that crazy Christmas Eve when my mother went into labor with yours truly.

This concludes the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories.

Thanks to everyone who participated with their posts and a special thanks to Jasia at Creative Gene for her assistance, inspiration and being a sounding board for my nutty ideas. I hope you've had fun and were able to bring some memories of past Christmases alive this year. Have a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and keep remembering.