When my children were very young, maybe two, three, and five years old, I started a tradition that we kept for many many years. They were just too excited to eat dinner on Christmas Eve, so I made an hors d’oeuvres party for them. The girls wore their best frilly dresses, and my son wore his suit and tie. We played the radio and danced. I poured their koolaid and juice in my best wine glasses. But it was never ready until we got our box from Hickory Farms.
I didn’t realize just how much my children loved this tradition until the first year that my son was in the Air Force. He didn’t join until he was 23. Because we didn’t know if he was going to spend Christmas Eve with us or with his girlfriend’s family, I didn’t plan the usual party. The day after Christmas, he sat down with me at breakfast, and said “Mom, you didn’t make a party for us.” I just hope he now carries on the tradition with his own children.
Hickory Farms sent me a Family Favorites Gift Box like the one pictured above. It’s all gluten free except for the crackers, but my husband can eat those. The summer sausage is still just as tasty as it was all those years ago when I danced on Christmas Eve with my children.
One reader can win a Family Favorites Gift Box from Hickory Farms. Just use the Rafflecopter form to enter.
Gaelyn says
December 7, 2012 at 5:05 pmWhat a delightful story and memory. Who doesn’t like Hickory Farms.
Michelle A. says
December 7, 2012 at 5:25 pmMy husband also loves those Hickory Farm gift boxes from his childhood Christmas memories! :0)
Pamela in Louisiana says
December 7, 2012 at 6:43 pmYummmm…everything in the box looks good!
Sandy says
December 7, 2012 at 8:20 pmsending christmas cards…and nobody does it anymore =o(
Racheal says
December 7, 2012 at 8:26 pmMy favorite tradition is decorating the Christmas tree as a family. We always bake cookies and listen to Christmas music; its always a good time.
Henrietta says
December 7, 2012 at 8:50 pmI adore Hickory Farms! One of our favorite traditions is making a Gingerbread House together. Sure, it’s from a kit but we have done one every year and it usually ends up in giggles and sprinkles all over the kitchen!
angela cunningingham says
December 7, 2012 at 9:41 pmmaking cookies
Lydia says
December 8, 2012 at 12:37 amWe play board games after dinner 🙂
Katherine says
December 8, 2012 at 5:57 amChristmas Eve Candlelight Service
Heather! says
December 8, 2012 at 6:57 amWe have a Family Christmas Eve service in which we all gather around the fireplace and read stories and poems about the holiday. It’s a quiet, reflective time we spend as a family before the real madness begins!
Thanks!
h4schaffer at gmail dot com
debbie says
December 8, 2012 at 8:42 amI always get the tree on my birthday and we decorate it.
Ann Fantom says
December 8, 2012 at 9:19 amMy favorite Christmas tradition is baking Christmas cookies with my daughter like I did with my mom and grandmother
Barbara Montag says
December 8, 2012 at 10:31 amMy sis and I started a new holiday tradition.
Each year we see a Christmas play – thank you!
ryan minton says
December 8, 2012 at 11:04 ammy favorite holiday tradition is opening one gift on christmas eve.
rypm25@aol.com
EMMA L HORTON says
December 8, 2012 at 1:02 pmTHE BIG CHRISTMAS DINNER WITH ALL THE RELATIVES
danica says
December 8, 2012 at 1:32 pmjust getting together on christmas day exchanging gifts and eating dinner
joseph gersch jr says
December 8, 2012 at 1:43 pmeating pizza on Christmas eve
jules mcnubbin says
December 8, 2012 at 2:36 pmwe make christmas cookies together and decorate them, its an all day thing but we have a blast
Gina Brickell says
December 8, 2012 at 6:43 pmWatching Christmas Specials on tv together
latanya says
December 8, 2012 at 9:14 pmGoing to Christmas light festival each year
Allison (allie lanc on rafflecopter) says
December 9, 2012 at 7:43 amRiding around listening to Christmas music and looking at Christmas lights!
Carly says
December 9, 2012 at 10:18 amMy favorite holiday tradition is getting drunk off egg nog.
Denise S says
December 9, 2012 at 10:51 amBaking and eating treats together.
Sarah S says
December 9, 2012 at 1:09 pmI love singing Christmas carols with my family.
danielle lima says
December 9, 2012 at 2:34 pmwe watch the Hogfather and Nightmare Before Christmas
theresa says
December 9, 2012 at 2:35 pmI have never had a hickory farms gift box, but it sounds delicious…
Ttrockwood says
December 9, 2012 at 5:11 pmOne of our traditions is fresh gingerbread and mimosas for xmas breakfast!
LeAnn Voyer says
December 9, 2012 at 5:17 pmI love going with the kids to pick out the perfect tree.
Tracy Pryor says
December 9, 2012 at 6:05 pmWe love to go to longwood gardens to see the lights.
judy gardner says
December 9, 2012 at 6:10 pmwe all get together for lunch on Christmas day at my mom’s
Angela Kinder says
December 9, 2012 at 6:15 pmEvery Christmas morning, we have breakfast before we open presents. We’ll eat, and then go to the room (that changes every year, believe it or not) and sit around the tree, opening gifts. And every year, we anoint a “Santa” that passes out gifts!
susan wiener says
December 9, 2012 at 6:23 pmmy family ‘n friends come over Xmas and we bake cookies. It’s a lot of fun and delicious eating 🙂
Ashley H says
December 9, 2012 at 7:07 pmI like baking cookies for santa.
Cálaeb Temple says
December 9, 2012 at 7:13 pmfavourite holiday tradition is staying up until morning just talking, eating, drinking and laughing.
Linda Lansford says
December 9, 2012 at 7:24 pmmy fave is the family meal
Liz Terek says
December 9, 2012 at 7:34 pmWatching the kids open presents
SHAYNA says
December 9, 2012 at 7:43 pmWE LOVE TO DECORATE THE TREE WHILE LISTENING TO CHRISTMAS MUSIC AND DRINKING EGG NOG 🙂
shebebes@yahoo.com
Penny Snyder says
December 9, 2012 at 9:15 pmHiking in the snow! grammypenny@frontier.com
dan williams says
December 9, 2012 at 9:55 pmspending time with my family
naomi c says
December 9, 2012 at 9:58 pmmaking christmas cookies!
ELIZABETH C. says
December 9, 2012 at 10:07 pmOur holiday tradition is…. We all cook and bake together as a family.
Donna L says
December 9, 2012 at 10:22 pmThe youngest person hands out the gifts.
Ani says
December 9, 2012 at 10:26 pmA tradition of ours that I love is driving around looking at Christmas light displays, some pretty and others outrageous.
Kathy S says
December 9, 2012 at 11:13 pmWe love to make Gingerbread houses.
Susan C says
December 9, 2012 at 11:18 pmCheeseburger Soup on Christmas Eve!
Brittney House says
December 9, 2012 at 11:25 pmOpening present christmas eve
Emily R. says
December 9, 2012 at 11:50 pmCookie decorating party:-)
Monique Rizzo says
December 10, 2012 at 1:40 amLooking at lights on christmas eve!
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
g. penrod says
December 10, 2012 at 6:06 amgetting together
LOIS PAYTON says
December 10, 2012 at 8:47 ammy mom’s buttermilks fudge, only at christmas, so good, GOD BLESS
Lle Schreiber says
December 10, 2012 at 10:00 amWe love watching holiday movies and sharing Christmas treats together – but opening presents and emptying stockings on Christmas morning is great, too!
edq143 says
December 10, 2012 at 10:13 amdecorating the tree
stephanie says
December 10, 2012 at 10:30 ambake christmas cookies
Charlotte Padgett says
December 10, 2012 at 12:40 pmstockings (large Christmas bags) for everyone opened after the regular gift exchange.
Kathy B says
December 10, 2012 at 2:08 pmMy favorite tradition is new pajamas on Christmas eve for the whole family!
Elaine says
December 10, 2012 at 2:09 pmGoing to Midnight Mass.
PAIGE CHANDLER says
December 10, 2012 at 3:06 pmWe string popcorn on the tree Christmas Eve
Leslie J says
December 10, 2012 at 4:20 pmChristmas Eve at my Mom’s — we’ve had the same menu as long as I can remember. It is always so much fun!
Sunshine G says
December 10, 2012 at 5:22 pmGoing on the Christmas train every year in the park.
Theron Willis says
December 10, 2012 at 5:44 pmLots of eggnog for the adults and gingerbread cookies for the children.
Hope to win!
Mary Calabrese says
December 10, 2012 at 6:51 pmStockings hung on the fireplace.
Linda says
December 10, 2012 at 9:56 pmWe have had a nice steak dinner on Christmas eve for many years now….we always buy either a bone in ribeye or a standing rib roast. we always make it a special time for our little family. Last year I bought a gingerbread house kit and Alan, Stefanie & I put it together and decorated it while Adam stayed in the den and played on his phone (this year, I’ve already told him he has to help). It was a lot of fun and as for Summer Sausage..one of my fave’s 🙂
casey everidge says
December 11, 2012 at 12:57 amdecorating the christmas tree together
Louis says
December 11, 2012 at 1:08 amdecorating the tree together and the kids are allowed to open one present on christmas eve
Thank you for hosting this giveaway
Louis
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
Steve says
December 11, 2012 at 1:20 amGreat giveaway! thanks
Lee says
December 11, 2012 at 11:19 amMy favorite holiday tradition is simply spending time with family.
Kathy Bose says
December 11, 2012 at 11:48 amDecorating the tree.
chris z says
December 11, 2012 at 1:24 pmdecorating
Cody Anderson says
December 11, 2012 at 7:15 pmOur favorite holiday tradition is drinking eggnog by the fire on Christmas Eve with the grandparents.
Samantha F. says
December 11, 2012 at 9:14 pmOur favorite tradition is watching Love Actually! :o)
Stacey Cockrell says
December 11, 2012 at 10:16 pmDecorating the Christmas Tree
Kellie Rose Wilson says
December 11, 2012 at 11:40 pmBaking Christmas cookies!
Teh Doll says
December 11, 2012 at 11:48 pmGoing to my mother inlaws baking.
Stephanie Larison says
December 12, 2012 at 1:19 amI love baking cookies with all the family together.
Dorothy Deakyne says
December 12, 2012 at 1:21 ammaking homemade ravioli
natasha says
December 12, 2012 at 5:41 pmThe kids get to choose Christmas morning breakfast – one year it was birthday cake!
Kathleen Downes says
December 12, 2012 at 7:10 pmWe make and decorate sugar cookies.
jessica edwards says
December 12, 2012 at 9:11 pmcmas eve chili dinner
BILL H says
December 12, 2012 at 10:51 pmchinese on christmas eve
Ashley Morrissey says
December 13, 2012 at 5:58 amPutting up the tree and decorating!
Caryn S says
December 13, 2012 at 11:53 amBaking and decorating holiday cookies
randall robison says
December 13, 2012 at 12:36 pmOur favorite holiday tradition is sitting around on christmas eve watchin lampoons christmas vacation.we do it every year.. thanks
daph says
December 13, 2012 at 1:05 pmChristmas Dinner
Sara Wood says
December 13, 2012 at 3:36 pmwe bake cookies together
Olie says
December 13, 2012 at 3:40 pmMy favorite holiday tradition is out Christmas Eve Feast!
Meaghan F. says
December 13, 2012 at 4:21 pmSpending time with my family at my grandma’s house. We sit in the living room and talk for hours.
Kim W says
December 13, 2012 at 5:46 pmOur tradition is fun, we try to out-tape each other with the Christmas presents and make them almost impossible to open. My mom always wins.
Theresa D says
December 13, 2012 at 6:00 pmOur favorite tradition is to get our tree and spend the day enjoying the other activities at the tree farm.
Angela says
December 13, 2012 at 8:53 pmWe love to bake Christmas cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve.
Anthony says
December 13, 2012 at 8:55 pmDecorating the Christmas tree together
heather says
December 13, 2012 at 10:07 pmI love making Christmas cookies with my mother.
Kayte CookWatts says
December 13, 2012 at 10:22 pmWe always do shrimp cocktails Christmas Eve!
Sonya Morris says
December 13, 2012 at 11:00 pmGoing to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.
Gloria S says
December 14, 2012 at 2:52 amGoing to Church on Christmas Eve.
joni says
December 14, 2012 at 3:11 amOn Christmas morning we put a lit candle in a cupcake then place it in front of the manger and sing Happy Birthday to baby Jesus.
Bella T. says
December 14, 2012 at 4:04 amWe love decorating, cooking, and be extra thankful. We cherish each and every little thing!
Bella T. says
December 14, 2012 at 4:06 amOh my goodness! Typos are so frustrating sometimes. I meant to say that we we love BEING extra thankful. Merry Christmas! 🙂
Bella T. says
December 14, 2012 at 4:07 amMy last comment had yet another typo! I think that’s a sign for me to go to bed. LOL
Marie C says
December 14, 2012 at 10:00 amThe family gathers at my mom’s for Christmas Eve.
Michelle W says
December 14, 2012 at 11:21 amBaking cookies with my sister
Molly Bussler says
December 14, 2012 at 11:57 amWe love to watch Holiday movies and crack nuts.
s riches says
December 14, 2012 at 12:35 pmMy favorite tradition is when we decorate the Christmas tree.
Kyl Neusch says
December 14, 2012 at 1:02 pmbaking christmas cookies
Valerie Taylor Mabrey says
December 14, 2012 at 1:40 pmprayer around the table
vmkids3 at msn dot com
Diane S says
December 14, 2012 at 2:18 pmgoing to my best friends house and seeing the joy and wonder of christmas on the kids faces. You can’t fake that or replace it.
Tiffany H says
December 14, 2012 at 3:09 pmMy favorite tradition is making orange rolls christmas morning
harolde says
December 14, 2012 at 4:21 pmGoing to local Christmas parades is our tradition.
gala says
December 14, 2012 at 4:23 pmwe are baking special Chrismas cookies together
Lisa Weidknecht says
December 14, 2012 at 4:39 pmChristmas eve services
Erica C. says
December 14, 2012 at 5:42 pmWe like to drive around our neighborhood to see holiday lights.
Tim says
December 14, 2012 at 5:49 pmWe are still a relatively new family(3 years), so we haven’t established any traditions. Unless you want to count going to the in-laws house all 3 years, which is a tradition I am happy to cease at some point!!!!
Dawn Ganey says
December 14, 2012 at 6:21 pmFavorite holiday tradition is making stuffing out of jiffy corn bread with lots of onions & celery.
Shirley Hicks says
December 14, 2012 at 7:20 pmOur tradition is for All my kids..grown and the ones at home……spend at least part of the day at my house………..
Debra Hall says
December 14, 2012 at 7:45 pmmaking breads and cookies
Sherri B. says
December 14, 2012 at 8:07 pmPutting up the Christmas tree on Thanksgiving Day!!!
Nicole Larsen says
December 14, 2012 at 8:50 pmDecorating our christmas tree!
Kristy Thiel says
December 14, 2012 at 9:03 pmI love putting out cookies and milk for santa!
Desiree Dunbar says
December 14, 2012 at 9:18 pmExchanging ornaments with my husband every year.
Mary Cloud says
December 14, 2012 at 9:20 pmMeeting at my Grandma’s on Christmas Eve to open presents
annabella @ centurytel dot net
Christine says
December 14, 2012 at 9:59 pmcookie baking
kiana says
December 14, 2012 at 10:24 pmbakeing 🙂
jeannine s says
December 14, 2012 at 10:56 pmDriving around looking at the lights
Tracy Allen says
December 14, 2012 at 11:21 pmOur favorite is a Christmas Eve buffet of snacks and all the treats we’ve made
Melanie Montgomery says
December 14, 2012 at 11:52 pmWe love spending time together as a family.
Denise M says
December 15, 2012 at 12:23 ami love making desserts with my family
Allie says
December 15, 2012 at 12:56 amReading The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve.
Lisa says
December 15, 2012 at 1:09 ameating snowball cookies while opening presents
Kathy Artis says
December 15, 2012 at 1:33 amFavorite tradition is the family stringing popcorn for the christmas tree.
Jennifer R says
December 15, 2012 at 2:55 amWe love our Christmas Eve Soup and Snack supper with a holiday movie afterwards. Hickory Farms would be a great addition to that.
Gianna says
December 15, 2012 at 3:21 amBaking cookies together.
kristy says
December 15, 2012 at 4:37 amWe always get together on Christmas Eve to exchange gifts, eat, and play games
john mains says
December 15, 2012 at 5:14 amwe go to midnight mass
MJ says
December 15, 2012 at 6:41 amWe exchange gifts on Christmas Eve and have a great dinner on Christmas Day.
KATHY DALTON says
December 15, 2012 at 8:13 amwe all ride around and look at the christmas light then go to midnight mass and then on to breakfast
Sarah says
December 15, 2012 at 9:44 amWatching the fur babies open their presents
Jenny says
December 15, 2012 at 10:54 amI love decorating the christmas tree with the kids!
Mary Somerville says
December 15, 2012 at 11:51 amOur Family’s get together to bake for the Holidays.
Brenda Elsner says
December 15, 2012 at 1:06 pmWe go out on Christmas eve and look at all the holiday lights!!
Robin says
December 15, 2012 at 1:13 pmPutting up the christmas tree
Brad Merrell says
December 15, 2012 at 1:58 pmPutting ornaments on the tree together
Jaque Richards says
December 15, 2012 at 2:03 pmMy favorite holiday tradition is Christmas eve dinner. 🙂 Thank you.
Jay Daugherty says
December 15, 2012 at 2:03 pmI love making holiday food with my sister.
Julie Jones says
December 15, 2012 at 2:44 pmChristmas at my mother in laws on Dec 23rd
diane Baum says
December 15, 2012 at 3:18 pmWe ,love to light Chanukah candles
Amy DeLong says
December 15, 2012 at 4:11 pmwe watch christmas movies christmas eve and eat goodies
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
Rich Hicks says
December 15, 2012 at 4:23 pmbig breakfast on xmas day and invite grandparents over to watch kids open gifts
ardy22 at earthlink dot net
Kenny F says
December 15, 2012 at 4:52 pmdecorate the Christmas tree.
Brandy Leigh Farmer says
December 15, 2012 at 5:22 pmDecorating the tree.
Gaines Simmons says
December 15, 2012 at 5:32 pmHello, how are you? Thank you for this opportunity. Gathering the nuts for the baked goods.
Vicki D. says
December 15, 2012 at 5:50 pmMy favorite holiday tradition is getting together with my nieces and nephews at Christmas time.
Nicole Lancaster says
December 15, 2012 at 5:58 pmAll the children in my family get together right before Christmas and decorate Gingerbread houses which we display at our Christmas eve party.
mary gardner says
December 15, 2012 at 6:05 pmall of the kids in our family get together every year to decorate my mom’s tree
jagar0047 at yahoo dot com
jessica schueler says
December 15, 2012 at 6:27 pmOur tradition is making the kids eat Breakfast before opening gifts lol they don’t want to eat!
Oatmeal and orange juice
Ed Nemmers says
December 15, 2012 at 6:36 pmWe prepare all of the cookie doughs at the early part of the week, then bake them all in one long assembly night session!
Deb K says
December 15, 2012 at 6:41 pmMaking cookies together.
Padma Miller says
December 15, 2012 at 7:14 pmGoing to Grandma’s
Heather S says
December 15, 2012 at 7:37 pmbaking cookies for neighbors
kathy pease says
December 15, 2012 at 8:00 pmwe love to bake goodie baskets for friends and family on christmas eve 🙂
Vikki Billings says
December 15, 2012 at 9:14 pmOur tradition is that my mom buys a new ornament for us each year, I look forward to seeing what my new ornament will be.
liz l says
December 15, 2012 at 9:31 pmGoing to Disney World!
Charlene says
December 15, 2012 at 9:36 pmDecorating the christmas tree together while listening to Christmas music 🙂
Caitlin McClure says
December 15, 2012 at 9:40 pmChex mix!
Shirley Zolenski says
December 15, 2012 at 9:46 pmEverybody coming to my house for Christmas
Susan Smith says
December 15, 2012 at 10:14 pmWe drive around looking at Christmas light on Christmas Eve
corrie says
December 15, 2012 at 10:17 pmmy parents and brothers come over for thanksgiving and christmas every year and we pig out lol
Leah Shumack says
December 15, 2012 at 10:27 pmeveryone gets christmas pjs with pictures in front of the tree
Shea Balentine says
December 15, 2012 at 10:30 pmAdults getting together to play bingo
Breanne says
December 15, 2012 at 10:52 pmOpening one present on Christmas Eve
Ellen says
December 15, 2012 at 11:10 pmbaking cookies
Michelle Tucker says
December 15, 2012 at 11:13 pmOur favorite tradition is going to starbucks and getting a pumpkin spiced latte and then going to look at the Christmas lights. We’ve been doing it for 11 years now.
Philip says
December 15, 2012 at 11:21 pmspending time with friends
Lisa Garner says
December 15, 2012 at 11:29 pmWe get all the granchildren together before Christmas each year at my mothers house to bake and decorate Christmas cookies together.
Chelsea A says
December 15, 2012 at 11:40 pmi live far away so talking to my parents on the phone every christmas is my favorite tradition. 🙂
Carolyn Daley says
December 15, 2012 at 11:48 pmBaking snickerdoodles cookies while listening to Christmas music
Beth Hargett says
December 15, 2012 at 11:51 pmMy favorite Christmas tradition is getting together with all the family at my parents house, going to midnight service on Christmas Eve, and dedicating a whole day the beginning of December to decorate, bake, drink hot chocolate and listen to Christmas music.
melina r says
December 16, 2012 at 12:06 amlike drinking hot chocolate with my family