Eliza,

Our Christmas traditions are realized rather like a Japanese Noh play.

On the first Saturday of Advent, we cut down our Christmas tree, and decorate the front of our house. On the third Saturday of Advent, we bake the myriad Christmas cookies. Many new words are invented then! We decorate our Christmas tree on the last Saturday of Advent.

Each Sunday of Advent, we light the appropriate candles of the Advent Wreath at dinner, and read aloud the corresponding prayer.

Christmas Eve is packed. When the family was young, I read “The Night Before Christmas” to the children, then later we moved on to Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. We attend Midnight Mass. After the kinder are asleep, Santa leaves presents.

On Christmas Day, we each open one present before Mass, leaving the children tingling in anticipation until after the Christchild has been again welcomed. Finally, the Madding Crowd descends upon Chaos Manor in the afternoon for a family gift giving and feast.

__________________
Eudaimonia