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Friday Five: Holiday Traditions

December 18, 2014 By: Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC41 Comments

I love love love Christmas. It is by far my favorite holiday and the true reason for that is that I love what Christmas means – celebrating the birth of Jesus. But I also love that this season seems to inspire everyone – even those who don’t necessarily believe – to be kinder, more thoughtful and more festive. I’m so excited to read everyone’s holiday traditions! Per usual, I’m linking up with my girls Cynthia and Mar for the #Friday Five. You can read our linkup rules here. Please note that if you don’t play nicely, we will delete your link. Have a great weekend!  

To the Kennedys

  1. Christmas music playing while decorating the tree. This has been my thing forever and I’m so happy it’s now my thing with my husband. It’s just a fun, happy time of year and for me that starts with decorating the tree!
  2. Wrapping all presents the night before Christmas. I started doing this when I was in college and would usually not have my shopping done before then. But every year, I’d hole up in my bedroom and then bring all the presents down after I wrapped them. I will not spend Christmas Eve at my parents this year, so this will change a bit. 
  3. LOTS of hot apple cider! I buy it on every trip to the store from November through February. Sometimes it’s just cider. Sometimes it’s a bit more. 🙂 
  4. Ham. I mean, come on?! It ain’t Christmas if we are not eating ham in my book. I know, I know, but it’s what I’m used to! 
  5.  Watching A Christmas Story with my mother. Because it’s on TBS for 24 hours straight and it’s still as funny as it was the very first time I saw it. I still am almost in tears when he gets his tongue stuck to the poll. Hilarious! 

What’s your favorite tradition??

 


Comments

  1. Fairytales and Fitness says

    December 18, 2014 at 10:05 pm

    I always look forward to the ham dinner too! I enjoy Christmas dinner more that Thanksgiving! I am so far behind on my shopping and wrapping but I hope I am not still wrapping gifts on Christmas eve. That would stress me out! Have a happy holiday!

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 18, 2014 at 10:45 pm

      i have always loved that tradition – i found it peaceful, not stressful : ) have a WONDERFUL holiday!

      Reply
  2. Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner says

    December 18, 2014 at 10:27 pm

    I love winding down and spending more time with our family. We always go away together this time of year and these are some of our best memories. We will be heading off on a cruise tomorrow.
    Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…December Dare You To Share CampaignMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 18, 2014 at 10:42 pm

      awesome – have a great trip!

      Reply
  3. Daisy @ Fit Wanderlust Runner says

    December 18, 2014 at 11:33 pm

    I love to listen to Mariah Carey’s Christmas Album as soon as Thanksgiving is over. My family celebrates on Christmas eve and then go to church at midnight. So many great memories!
    Daisy @ Fit Wanderlust Runner recently posted…How to Mentally Prepare for a Long RunMy Profile

    Reply
  4. Debbie @ Deb Runs says

    December 18, 2014 at 11:35 pm

    I love that you listen to Christmas music while decorating your tree. My mom and I did while we decorated her tree. I usually watch college football while decorating ours. I put up our decorations the day after Thanksgiving so I’m usually decorating the tree on Saturday (rivalry weekend). I try to get my presents wrapped early on because I think they look so pretty under the tree. Plus we go to Christmas Eve mass, so I’m busy doing family things on Christmas Eve.
    Debbie @ Deb Runs recently posted…Why Not Run Instead Of Driving During Your Christmas Lights Tour?My Profile

    Reply
  5. Sherry says

    December 19, 2014 at 12:10 am

    Lol, love watching A Christmas Story! We always seem to watch it every year because of the 24 hr marathon lol.
    Sherry recently posted…Friday Five: Holiday TraditionsMy Profile

    Reply
  6. Molly @alsoranagain says

    December 19, 2014 at 12:59 am

    My favorite holiday tradition is spending a lot of quality time with family. Cheesy but true!

    P.S. I wish *my* family had a ham dinner for Christmas…

    Reply
  7. Karen - Fit in France says

    December 19, 2014 at 1:45 am

    I do that with my presents too. I wait until the last minute then wrap all at once. In France most of the stores wrap gifts for you, but I tell them not to do it, I will do it. And I enjoy picking out fun paper every year.
    My Xmas favorite movie is the Polar Express that we watch with my kids.

    Have a great holiday ! and keep blogging, I love your blog !
    Karen – Fit in France recently posted…Friday Five : Holiday traditionsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 20, 2014 at 11:45 pm

      Thanks so much Karen – have a wonderful Christmas!

      Reply
  8. Kristen says

    December 19, 2014 at 1:48 am

    It seems like everyone is all about Christmas ham! In my family we save ham for Easter and do turkey on Christmas Eve. But hey, as long as you’re eating a huge meal you’re good!
    Kristen recently posted…I’ll Be Home For Christmas…If Only In My Dreams (Friday Five Linkup)My Profile

    Reply
  9. Coco says

    December 19, 2014 at 6:30 am

    Honeybaked ham for the win! I even sent one to my daughter so she can enjoy her own this year!
    Coco recently posted…Running Treasure Hunt Fun With RunChatMy Profile

    Reply
  10. Pam says

    December 19, 2014 at 6:56 am

    Music playing while decorating the tree is a must! We also love A Christmas Story! We don’t eat the same Christmas dinner every year, but I do make the same coffeecake every year for Christmas morning with a breakfast casserole and cut fruit. We also like to go on a nice run that morning too.
    Pam recently posted…Holiday traditions including a festive runMy Profile

    Reply
  11. Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes says

    December 19, 2014 at 7:05 am

    We have a giant Christmas dinner that we always host. We invite all of our friends that are in town and not with their families. It sometimes ends up bigger than Thanksgiving!
    Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…12 Days of Christmas Giveaway: Day 10–Yaktrax RUNMy Profile

    Reply
  12. Karen @karenlovestorun says

    December 19, 2014 at 7:06 am

    Yes! someone else loves ham at Christmas! 🙂
    Also, I am playing Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving!
    Karen @karenlovestorun

    Reply
  13. Susie @ SuzLyfe says

    December 19, 2014 at 7:27 am

    There is absolutely nothing more Christmas’y than the smell of hot apple cider permeating the house!
    Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Favorite Holiday Traditions (Friday Five)My Profile

    Reply
  14. Jennifer says

    December 19, 2014 at 7:41 am

    I love ham all year round. My parents get the ham for Thanksgiving .. so not ham for Christmas. I am about 50% done wrapping my gifts… I am like you… tend to wrap the night before….but for me, its procrastination 🙂
    Jennifer recently posted…Friday Five – What’s New IIIMy Profile

    Reply
  15. M @ readeatwriterun.com says

    December 19, 2014 at 8:01 am

    I don’t know what my favorite is, but having holiday music playing while we decorate is definitely one of my traditions!
    M @ readeatwriterun.com recently posted…Friday Five – Holiday TraditionsMy Profile

    Reply
  16. Lesley says

    December 19, 2014 at 8:52 am

    Christmas music is a must! I love getting my playlists out for driving and running.
    Lesley recently posted…Christmas TraditionsMy Profile

    Reply
  17. Christine C says

    December 19, 2014 at 9:20 am

    I hate wrapping gifts and try to get them done at least the weekend before Christmas.

    And I do not get people who do not have Ham on Christmas!! It is a must:)

    Merry Christmas

    Reply
  18. John @ run. geek. run(disney) says

    December 19, 2014 at 9:26 am

    I can totally relate the the present wrapping. I haven’t wrapped anything yet and we are going up to my in-laws for Christmas, so I guess I’m taking unwrapped presents with me and wrapping there, haha.
    John @ run. geek. run(disney) recently posted…Five Christmas Traditions | Friday FiveMy Profile

    Reply
  19. Tara @ Running 'N' Reading says

    December 19, 2014 at 9:52 am

    Courtney, ham is the main attraction at our Christmas Eve brunch…it’s not going down without the ham, girl! Turkey is for Thanksgiving, and ham is for Christmas…I completely agree with your statement. 😉 I have not had apple cider in so long; you’re really making me want to go get some now. Hope you have a wonderful weekend and a great start to the holiday season; thanks so much for another great link up week!
    Tara @ Running ‘N’ Reading recently posted…Holiday TraditionsMy Profile

    Reply
  20. Chaitali says

    December 19, 2014 at 9:59 am

    Yum, I love hot apple cider! I hope you have a great Christmas 🙂
    Chaitali recently posted…Holiday traditionsMy Profile

    Reply
  21. Haley @ running with diapers says

    December 19, 2014 at 11:10 am

    We always turn on Pandora Christmas radio while we decorate the tree. And if I’m lucky, my husband won’t make me listen to his Latin music. I draw the limit at Feliz Navidad.
    Haley @ running with diapers recently posted…Holiday Traditions: Friday FiveMy Profile

    Reply
  22. Diane@runninrocker says

    December 19, 2014 at 4:16 pm

    Oh, I forgot that one!! Playing Christmas music while we decorate! Love Christmas tunes!! Happy Holidays!!
    Diane@runninrocker recently posted…Friday Five: Holiday TraditionsMy Profile

    Reply
  23. Amber says

    December 19, 2014 at 4:52 pm

    I love decorating the Christmas tree as well! That is probably my favorite Christmas activity.
    Amber recently posted…Spread Some Holiday Cheer, Keep Running Through The WinterMy Profile

    Reply
  24. MCM Mama says

    December 19, 2014 at 7:25 pm

    We had ham for Thanksgiving this year, which was a little strange, but I actually prefer it to turkey, so I didn’t mind. We are bad parents and don’t have a lot of traditions, but it’s definitely time to introduce the kids to the Christmas Story. Just thought of that last night as I was drinking a beer called Yule Shoot Your Eye Out.
    MCM Mama recently posted…Five tips for keeping beer in a healthy lifestyleMy Profile

    Reply
  25. Kathryn @ Dancing to Running says

    December 20, 2014 at 5:56 am

    I can’t believe that you wait until Christmas Eve to wrap all of your presents! That would stress me out!
    Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Friday Five – December 19th – Christmas TraditionsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 20, 2014 at 11:44 pm

      It’s not stressful at all! I’ve done it for years 🙂

      Reply
  26. Heather Runs Thirteen Point One says

    December 20, 2014 at 4:00 pm

    Yes to hot apple cider – with or without an extra special something {wink}. Also love a Christmas Story… and I’m pretty delayed in getting gifts (and putting up the tree) most years. I’ll be sad when these holidays are over, but definitely enjoy it while they are here.
    Heather Runs Thirteen Point One recently posted…friday five: holiday traditionsMy Profile

    Reply
  27. grace says

    December 20, 2014 at 11:53 pm

    Hot Apple Cider…I could drink that year ’round. My family and I don’t have too many Christmas traditions, but one thing is that we have steak on Christmas day instead of ham. My brother is a chef now so we make him do all the cooking 🙂

    Merry Christmas to you!
    grace recently posted…Comment on FAVORITE THINGS GIVEAWAY: ADIDAS miCOACH FIT SMART by ReneeMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 21, 2014 at 12:24 pm

      Merry Christmas – and that steak sounds good!

      Reply
  28. lindsay Cotter says

    December 21, 2014 at 9:51 am

    great traditions! i think slowing down is a must, although hard at times. It’s great to focus on family at what brings us together!

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 21, 2014 at 12:24 pm

      Agreed – it can be so hard to take it easy but I’m looking forward to trying 🙂

      Reply
  29. Cynthia @ You Signed Up For What?! says

    December 21, 2014 at 12:34 pm

    Love this list! Although I only first watched A Christmas Story last year. It was funny but I’d need to see it about 12 more times to have the same feelings I think.
    Cynthia @ You Signed Up For What?! recently posted…My Five Favorite Holiday TraditionsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 21, 2014 at 1:20 pm

      Lol. Turn on TBS on Christmas – its on alllll day!

      Reply
  30. Abby @ BackAtSquareZero says

    December 21, 2014 at 6:17 pm

    Great traditions. So fun.
    For my family it starts Christmas Eve
    1. Shrimp & Steak for dinner
    2. Bing Crosby music in the background
    3. Tons of Christmas cookies for dessert
    Then Christmas morning
    4. 24 hours of a Christmas Story in the background
    5. Presents opened so slowly, one at a time
    Abby @ BackAtSquareZero recently posted…Loving Lately – DecemberMy Profile

    Reply
  31. Shawn says

    December 23, 2014 at 4:56 pm

    We usually decorate the tree on Thanksgiving because my son’s birthday is New Year’s, and we take it down the day after Christmas. We also play Christmas music while the three of us decorate the tree. Christmas Eve, little man and I make cookies for Santa (Hubby eats cookies, as is his tradition). Then, we open the “Christmas Eve Box” which contains new pajamas for all of us (for Christmas morning pictures) and a fun activity (watch a movie, make hot chocolate, go view holiday lights, that kind of thing).

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      December 24, 2014 at 12:09 pm

      that’s awesome – i love it! merry christmas!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. A Funny For Your Friday | Flying Feet In Faith says:
    December 19, 2014 at 6:21 am

    […] read: To the road or trails lol This is about all I have today my friends. I usually link-up with Eat, Pray, Run DC Friday Five but today there’s just not the time to post much. My j-o-b is being a total bear right now […]

    Reply
  2. Christmas Traditions | Reading, Running, Cycling says:
    December 19, 2014 at 10:13 am

    […] Friday I’m joining in with Courtney, Cynthia and Mar to talk about Christmas traditions. I LOVE Christmas and the holiday season […]

    Reply

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