HomeschoolMamaOfTwo Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 Has anyone ever changed the day that your immediate family (kids) celebrate Christmas? DH is going to be working Christmas Eve & Day and so I was thinking of moving it to Saturday, which is the only day he has off until the weekend after Christmas, so that he could see them open and enjoy their gifts. Too weird? Would it go over well in your family? It is just us, so no extended family to worry about for that day (they all have other days/times/plans). DH said he didn't care which way we did it when I asked him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 Ever since my nephew was born on Christmas day my sis has moved their celebration to Dec 24. They do this every year. I also knew a family that celebrated Thanksgiving on the Tues before because nearly every year her dh worked on Thanksgiving. I don't think it's weird at all to celebrate on a day that works better for your family. It's about being together as a family. We have celebrated big holidays on different dates with no issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 I don't think it's weird. We did this every other year when DSS was a child. He alternated years with us, so on years he'd be with his mother, we celebrated our Christmas on our own designated day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5LittleMonkeys Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 I don't move holidays for extended family's accommodations but definitely would for my dh. Think of all the great deals you could get on presents for your Saturday Christmas if you wait and buy your stuff right after the "real" Christmas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonlight Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 We are going on vacation on Dec 25 th so we are celebrating a couple of days earlier. My kids are beyond excited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenaj Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 We switch around all the time. This year, for instance, we are going to be spending Christmas Day with my side of the family. My dh's side of the family is very small and so we get together with them for the kid's presents from us and them at one time. So this year, we've just decided that our family Christmas will be on the 26th, that way the little kids don't open their gifts in a hurry on the 25th and then have to leave them. We have never been too attached to the actual day around here. In fact, was it last year that Christmas was on a Sunday? We ended up doing our big Christmas Day on the 24th because the 25th was busy with church activities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjzimmer1 Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 Well we are doing Christmas with different groups of family members on Friday morning, Saturday afternoon, Monday afternoon, Christmas Day, and News Year's Eve Day (and with a birthday smashed in between all that). So no I have no problem moving Christmas around to fit the schedule. To me Christmas is much more about spending time with the family that any material object so I have no problem with dealing with the materialistic side whenever is convenient for the family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 Has anyone ever changed the day that your immediate family (kids) celebrate Christmas? DH is going to be working Christmas Eve & Day and so I was thinking of moving it to Saturday, which is the only day he has off until the weekend after Christmas, so that he could see them open and enjoy their gifts. Too weird? Would it go over well in your family? It is just us, so no extended family to worry about for that day (they all have other days/times/plans). DH said he didn't care which way we did it when I asked him. We've done it when DH has had to work. Also, there is Second Christmas (Eastern Orthodox Old Calendar, not the Hobbits' Shire ;) ), Jan 6/7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyinTN Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 I think it's a great idea. That way everyone is together to enjoy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cera Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 We move it most years. The kids write a letter to santa to let him know what day we are celebrating and he always comes at the ight time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mothersweets Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 Not weird!! We move our Christmas around - the kids don't mind at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meggie Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 I haven't done it w/ my kids yet, but growing up my dad was in the air force and then later a pilot. Sometimes we had Christmas early so we could have it when he was home, sometimes we had it w/o him on the 25th. I don't think it's weird to do it early. If your kids believe in Santa, we used to tell our little sister that we asked Santa to come early for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renthead Mommy Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 Happens all the time with shared custody. When we were little Santa came twice, once at my dad's and once at my mom's. He always managed to work around our schedule! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dakarimom5 Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 We did our Christmas last Saturday. We usually do it early because of my DH's work schedule. This year was the earliest yet but it has been nice, the kids are occupied and I can get my 2nd semester lesson plans done. Christmas Eve will be dedicated to my in-laws and to midnight mass. Christmas day will be filled with Happy birthday Jesus cake and we might go to the movies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laf919 Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 do what works for your family. If necessary, a short note to Santa explaining can help soothe any fears from the children (don't know if you do Santa or not). Enjoy the day whenever it is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sun Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 We've had to move it for the same reason as the OP before. The first time we had to move it, we pushed it back to the 28th. It turned out to be perfect that way because it gave us two days of after-Christmas sales before Christmas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 We routinely schedule Christmas or birthdays or other celebrations for the day that works best for us. We have no need to do it ON the day it falls on the calendar. We see it as far more important to celebrate when all can enjoy than try to force it to happen on a day that will be hard for whatever reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeschoolMamaOfTwo Posted December 19, 2012 Author Share Posted December 19, 2012 My only concern is the fact that my kids always say that Christmas is December 25th. My son is super into dates for some reason, so I just was worried it would mess with him. I kind of wanted it to be a surprise, so I didn't want to directly ask him about it so I am glad to hear that a lot of you do it and have no issues with it. Thanks! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 We thought we would have to change the day of our Christmas celebration this year, and I was considering staying home alone on the 25th (I posted a thread about it several weeks ago) because I also have to work the day before and after. To me, the date of the celebration isn't that important, but other people have a strong emotional attachment to December 25th and would be upset if they had to celebrate a different day. Do what works for your family. You could still celebrate again on the 25th in a more relaxed way if you wanted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SebastianCat Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 I don't think I would do Christmas on a different day if your kids didn't know about it beforehand. If you do Santa, the idea of having them write Santa a letter with the "change of plans" is great. Or you can give the kids a letter from Santa on Friday evening that says something like, "I heard that your Daddy has to work this weekend, so I'm planning to visit your house early." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeschoolMamaOfTwo Posted December 19, 2012 Author Share Posted December 19, 2012 Oh yeah, forgot to mention, we don't do Santa. That would be confusing for sure! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 We do. The year we were travelling on Christmas Day to visit grandparents in Arizona, we moved Christmas to Dec 26th. We did let DS open a gift the morning of Dec 25th (it was something to make the half-day easier in the car) We were staying in a hotel because I couldn't get off work in time to get there on Christmas day. Since we were the only grandchildren, the whole extended family moved their celebrations to the day after Last year, we spend Christmas eve at my sister's house so we could go to Christmas celebrations at her church the next morning (her husband is the pastor). We opened most of our gifts Christmas eve morning so DS had a chance to play with them before we left. This year, we are not getting together with cousins until Saturday Dec 29th, so we are not doing stockings Christmas morning but saving them until the end of the week. ETA: We don't do Santa. My sister's family does not either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 Another thing: I've got friends that do their big gift-exchanging celebration on January 1st, NOT Christmas. New things for a new year and all that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeschoolMamaOfTwo Posted December 19, 2012 Author Share Posted December 19, 2012 I like the New Years thing, that would be something I would do if DH wasn't also working that day. :-/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbanSue Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 Yes. Almost every year we have an immediate family Christmas on Epiphany because the extended family demands that we spend all of Christmas morning in the car. :cursing: We have also done New Year's Day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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