Christmas Traditions with The Snowman and the Snowdog

26/11/2017


Christmas tree decoration
Love this cute Snowdog Christmas decoration from Wild In Art


I'm really excited to have been invited to be apart of The Snowman and Snowdog Advent Blog tour and like most families we have a few festive traditions we do together in the run up to Christmas, some have been carried on from my childhood while others are new and have developed over the past few years with my boys. I think the run up to the big day is as important as the actual day itself and we love nothing more than getting into the festive spirit. While we usually start on the first day of advent we have slowly been embracing Christmas we some low key things such as baking gingerbread and enjoying my sons school winter fair this past weekend.


The Snowman

Snowdog


One of the traditions that has followed on through from my childhood is watching and reading The Snowman, even growing up in South Africa my mother being Welsh made sure that there was always a bit of a British influence when it come to things like this. It's such a sweet and beautifully animated story and every year without fail we would watch it and now that he has a little snowdog friend there is even more to enjoy. Did you know that you can also get personalised books from Penwizard which makes for a fantastic and very special gift. Luckily this past month throughout Cardiff and the surrounding areas has been a Snowdog trail in aid of Ty Hafan. which my son's have really enjoyed doing it plus it's raised tons of money for a very important Welsh Children's Charity.




A few other traditions we always do as a family

1. Going to pick a real tree together, now I know there is nothing wrong with fake and reusable trees but we have never had one and to me the excitement of picking a fresh tree is so much fun and the smell of pine just embodies Christmas. Decorating is of course also a family affair and something we really enjoy. We also hang our wreaths up on a weekend we are altogether as a family, usually have more than one and my eldest usually has a go at making one too. 

2. Picking Advent calendars, we are pretty traditional in this department as I know there are plenty of extravagant calendars out there although we opt for one homemade advent with 24 exciting things to do together and simple chocolate ones and Thorntons are doing some customised Snowman Calendars this year.  

3. A trip to Winter wonderland and ice skating is also always on the cards, despite John having no balance and watching from the sidelines drinking mulled wine, its always a highlight on our calendar,

4. Baking and decorating a gingerbread house. What is better than a fun and delicious edible craft? It's one of those that is doesn't really matter how much mess they make or how it turns out we always enjoy it and it's become a yearly tradition.

5. A visit to Santa's Grotto, well of course this is a given for most and we love to savour this while the kids are still young and full of imagination. We careful pick out one that is realistic and captures that magic of Christmas and of course the boys come back beaming from meeting the big man.


Winter wonderland

Christmas decoration


 For al those fellow Snowman and Snowdog fans I have a fantastic pack of goodies to giveaway to one lucky reader worth just over £40 and includes a copy of The Snowman, A Snowdog shaped board book, A cuddly Snowman and a Snowman mug with hot chocolate. The giveaway ends on the 10th December 2017




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please do check out Make Do and Push blog which is next on the tour

63 comments:

  1. giving the kids new pjs on xmas eve x

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  2. christmas movies xmas eve with the kids and hot chocolate and marshmallows

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  3. Giving every person, adult and child, a satsuma and a bag of chocolate coins on Christmas morning

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  4. Putting up the Christmas tree while listening to Christmas Music :-) We have collected decorations over the years and they all have wonderful memories :-)

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  5. Opening all of our family presents after xmas dinner

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  6. Having all the family round for Christmas dinner.

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  7. We always have a tin of Christmas biscuits and a cup of tea before opening presents.

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  8. playing board games and having a buffet on xmas eve

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  9. spending time with family, presents, good food

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  10. Pork on boxing day

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  11. Decorating the Christmas tree

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  12. Decorating the tree and putting the decorations up.

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  13. Putting the tree up as a family each putting a new decoration on we’ve picket that year

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  14. Christmas dinner with the family

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  15. We usually open one Christmas present on Christmas eve which is quite fun.

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  16. I love Christmas Dinner, the food, getting together, it really is my favourite meal of the year

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  17. we have decorations that my Italian Gran mother used to have and they consist of a fat paper snowman, a gold flower and leaves and some baubles and they look a bit ropey but we could never throw them away

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  18. Reading Twas The Night Before Christmas before the kids go to bed.

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  19. Decorating the Xmas tree and dinner with family.

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  20. Christmas dinner with the family and seeing my children get really excited about santa.

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  21. My kids always choose 1 present to open on Christmas Eve after getting Santa’s treats ready

    (Kim Neville)

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  22. It has to be watching Christmas movies as well as putting decorations up :)

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  23. Our favourite Christmas tradition is decorating the christmas tree

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  24. Kids in their new pjs on xmax eve and generally having family time

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  25. We make personalised Christmas cards and GIFT tags for family

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  26. Watching box of delights

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  27. Watching box of delights

    (David Banner)

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  28. opening one present each on xmas eve

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  29. Going around Christmas fairs and markets having family friendly festive fun

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  30. Decorating the tree with my daughters and reading The Night Before Xmas before they go to sleep on Christmas eve.

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  31. Edinburgh Christmas Market to meet Santa. Its so xmassy xx

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  32. We like to visit a local National Trust House at Christmas it's all decorated so lovely and we get an annual family photo in front of their huge tree

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  33. we love the build up i guess the elves are ours x

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  34. Visiting my nanas house on christmas morning :)

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  35. Having friends round for big dinner. Then when all kids in bed the party starts

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  36. Having a walk on christmas eve to our local country house that has deer...they are waiting to help Santa!

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  37. Roasting chestnuts in the ashpan. My dad did it for me and his mum did it with him. My children love them and have already started to ask when im buying them!

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  38. Love spending time with the children over the festive period. LOving the snowdog ornament

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  39. Watching the littlest light on the christmas tree film

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  40. On Christmas morning my daughter gets her stocking and goes through it in our bedroom, then we all get up together and she opens her presents, she acts so grateful for every present no matter what it is!

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  41. takeaway christmas eve and a movie

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  42. Sitting on the seawall with a HUGH bar of chocolate on boxing day

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  43. Getting my medicinal bottle of Baileys to assist me in preparing Christmas Dinner

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  44. The whole family getting together and playing board games (@PeanutHog)

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  45. going to church for Christmas eve for the nativity story because its a small church the kids always take a bit of the nativity to place in the scene so get really involved

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  46. For the last few years it as been new pj's for the whole family

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  47. Having new pjs watching films and eating nibbles on christmas eve

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  48. decorating the christmas tree together as a family

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  49. decorating the Christmas tree

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  50. Playing charades on Christmas night, everyone full up and a bit tipsy.

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  51. Playing quiz games in the evening

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  52. Making the Christingle candles out of oranges!

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  53. left over turkey cooke din Indian herbs and spicies

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  54. Our family getting together on Christmas Eve to exchange presents without the children seeing x

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  55. Presents in the morning, dinner at 1pm and watching the Queen's Speech

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Lovely comments

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