Christmas Eve Traditions
Christmas Eve is the big holiday in our house.
Over the years our family has changed, our children grew up, and our group is getting larger every year.
In the past 7 years we have acquired 6 grandchildren, 5 of them in just the past 4 years!
One thing that doesn't change are our family traditions.
Usually every Christmas Eve at 6 am, I'm up very early, I light our bayberry candle.
The burning of the bayberry candle is one of those traditions that has been passed down for generations in our family.
This little poem goes with the candle, burning it ensures wealth and health for the new year.
This year we look forward once again to spend Christmas Eve with our children and grandchildren.
Most of the grandchildren are old enough to totally enjoy the excitement of the night.
Our Christmas Eve dinner consists of fried oysters and fish every year.
Quarters are placed under the plates of the bread winners for luck.
In the past this meant that only the men got quarters under their plates.
Thankfully as we've evolved, every adult is now considered a bread winner.
After dinner there is a mad dash to wash the dishes because right after dinner is present time!
The children all open their gifts from the family and while wrapping paper fills the room, excitement fills the air.
Sometimes we even make it to the midnight service at our local church!
We look forward to Christmas Eve in our house because the bayberry candle is lit, the cookies are made, the gifts are wrapped, and the quarters are placed under the plates!
