What are Your Christmas Traditions?

By Deborah Bateman –

It’s interesting to see what other people have as some of their family Christmas Traditions. I am going to share some of my family’s Christmas Traditions with you and a family favorite recipe that we fix every year during the holidays. I hope you will leave a comment and share some of your family favorite traditions with us.

Christmas is a time when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Probably on the top of the list as one of our favorite family Christmas traditions is being involved in our church’s Christmas drama every year. It is called This Man Called Jesus and has been performed for over twenty years at Lake Murray Baptist Church in Lexington, SC. My husband, children and now my grandchildren have all played parts in this drama throughout the years. There are many people in our community and throughout the world who have attended this drama; some come back every year to see it as part of their family traditions.

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We decorate our tree and home as I’m sure most of you do. It’s a fun family time of putting up the tree, getting the house ready, and in the process getting us in the festive mood for Christmas.

When the kids were still at home we always opened our presents on Christmas morning, but now that they are grown and have children of their own, we open our presents on Christmas Eve. We also have a nice Christmas dinner and have my in-laws over to join us for the celebration. On Christmas day we have been going over to our daughter’s house for breakfast and watch her children open their presents. Then, we may drop by and visit other relatives and friends.

We also have a big family party usually after the New Year with all of my extended family. Our house has become the meeting place since my parents have gone on to be with the Lord. My brother, sisters, and their children and grandchildren all gather at our house. Everybody brings finger foods, appetizers or a covered dish and we all enjoy a day of eating, celebrating and being together. Each family group represented at the party will have their picture taken in front of the Christmas tree. We usually have about thirty or thirty-five people over for this day of celebration. Of course that number will continue to grow as one of my nephew’s wives just had a new baby girl and another nephew’s wife is expecting a baby boy soon.

We have special treats that we cook only during the holiday season. Over the years I have taught my daughters and now my grandchildren how to cook. One of our favorite things we make every year is Peanut Butter Balls. I only fix these during the holidays, so it gives my family something to look forward to. One of my granddaughters asked me in the summer if we could make them, and I told her she would have to wait until Christmas. I am going to share that recipe with you and if you would like to see some of our other family favorite recipes please stop by my blog called Recipe for Life at: http://www.deborah-bateman.blogspot.com

Merry Christmas and May God bless you as you celebrate Christmas with your family. Remember to leave a comment and share some of your favorite Christmas traditions.

Peanut Butter Balls

This is a recipe my family makes every year for Christmas.

I usually make four recipes of them, so we can have plenty for all our Christmas gatherings.

  • 1 lb. confectioners sugar
  • 2 sticks margarine or butter, melted
  • 1 cup crushed graham crackers (I run mine through the salad shooter w/ the grate blade)
  • 1 cup peanut butter-you can use crunchy or creamy whichever you prefer, I prefer crunchy.
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Melt butter, stir in peanut butter until melted, and add sugar, vanilla, and graham crackers crumbs. The mixture will be very thick. Form into balls. Melt 6 oz. chocolate chips with 1/4 bar paraffin wax over low heat in double boiler. Use a toothpick or spoon to dip balls into chocolate. Put on wax paper until set.

* I usually make four recipes which will make about 400 Peanut Butter Balls.
* I like to mix my chocolate chips, using some semi-sweet and some milk chocolate.
* You can do only milk chocolate, or only semi-sweet, or half of each, or I prefer 3 semi-sweet to 1 milk chocolate.

Deborah H. Bateman is a Christian Author, Blogger and Website Designer. You can find her at her personal website and several blogs, the Links Page to see all the places you can find Deborah on the web. Website: Christian Daily Resources-At: http://www.christiandailyresources.com

4 thoughts on “What are Your Christmas Traditions?”

  1. Yummmmmmy!!!

    I have a sweet tooth and I’m really trying very hard (yeah sure) to control it, that is until I see another goodie item to consider.

    Merry Christmas, my friend.

    Blessings

    SeashoreMary

  2. Mary, thank you for your comment. I know about the sweet tooth. I have been trying not to make any, but this week I have to make some for my family. This recipe is one of the things on my list. Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas!

  3. Enjoyed your article Deborah. 🙂
    Some of our family traditions are similiar with yours, but some old ones are being replaced by new. Like you said, as the family grows the traditions change. One my husband likes is to read Luke, chapter 2 on our get together with our immediate family. Homemade peanut clusters is a standing traditions at Christmas and rarely ever made any other time in the year.
    Merry Christmas and Blessings friend. 😀

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What are Your Christmas Traditions?
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