Only two more sleeps until Christmas morning will dawn… This Christmas season has flown by too quickly! It will be Christmas Eve in Australia when many of you in North America are reading this post. I have a busy Christmas Eve planned and a lot to do to prepare for Christmas Day.
On Christmas Eve our family tradition is to go to church and later watch Carols by Candlelight on television. The Carols are held each year at the Domain in Melbourne, Australia. I’ve shared a YouTube clip below from last year. Do you have a Christmas Eve tradition?
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Last Week on Inspy Romance
On Monday, Lee Tobin McClain shared her thoughts on Blue Christmas.
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On Thursday, Elizabeth Maddrey shared a character interview with Cyan about Christmas at Hope Ranch.
On Friday, Liwen Ho shared her thoughts on The Three Traits of a Sexy Man.
On Saturday, Alexa Verde discussed Series… Love Them Or Not? Plus Giveaway!
Next Week on Inspy Romance
Monday: Staci Stallings (Process Not Just Destination)
Tuesday: Inspy Romance is closed for Christmas Day.
Wednesday: Melanie Snitker (As One Year Closes…)
Thursday: Jackie Castle (Making Winter Merry…)
Friday: Marion Ueckermann
Saturday: Heather Gray
New Releases
December 2018
The Spare and the Heir (Crowns & Courtships 6) by Carol Moncado
The Cowboy’s Mixed-Up Matchmaker (Montana Ranches Christian Romance 2) by Valerie Comer
November 2018
A Christmas Baby for the Cowboy (Cowboy Country 9) by Deb Kastner
The Twins’ Family Christmas (Redemption Ranch) by Lee Tobin McClain
Pathway to Peace (Grant Us Grace 5) by Elizabeth Maddrey
I Still Do (Second Chance With You 6) by Melanie D. Snitker
Blessed Gifts (Lavender Vale Farm 3) by Jackie Castle
Recovering Hope (The Potters House Books 14) by Marion Ueckermann
A Reservation for Romance (Homegrown Love 3) (Arcadia Valley Romance 19) by Annalisa Daughety
Simply Smitten (Brides of Seattle 2) by Kimberly Rose Johnson
Fall in Love at the Miss Snowflake Pageant (Christmas in Montana Romances 1-3) by Valerie Comer
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A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
Hi Narelle, we love Carols in the Domain, what a fun way to bring in Christmas:) We will watch Bushfire Moon with the kids as part of our Christmas Eve traditions- bit odd, but we like that movie!! I will also do some food prep for Christmas Day and the boys need to mow the lawn- after rain last week it has shot up! We spent a magic day sailing on the bay with friends.
Christmas blessings:)
Hi Narelle and Merry Christmas! Since our sons are grown, traditions have changed. Best wishes.
Hi Narelle!
We are having Christmas in Canberra this year with my sister-in-law. An early present for my husband and I was premium tickets to the National Art Gallery. (Lovely!) This will be the first time for me having that apparent Aussie Christmas tradition of seafood on Christmas Day instead of a hot roast which is what my family always did.
Silvie Paladino is always my favourite part of Carols in the Domain because not only does she have an amazing voice, but also her faith in Jesus as her Saviour is obvious in her words and singing.
Have a wonderful Christmas and hopefully the day won’t be as hot here in Canberra as the forecasts are suggesting (33 Celcius).
Hi, Narelle! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Merry Christmas! When my kids were all home we had many traditions. Too many have gone to the wayside but I do still love the Christmas Eve service at church followed by a reading of the Christmas story in Luke at home with hot cocoa and opening one small gift each.
We are meeting at my sons house and will go to a Christmas Eve service there in Nashville, Tennessee. The singing and music will be great. There are so many musicians in Nashville, the music is always a blessing.
We used to go caroling at a nursing home when we lived in Virginia but haven’t found a church that does that here in Kentucky or Nashville.
It will be fun to be together.
Merry Christmas, Narelle, and all our friends! On Christmas Eve, our church hosts a celebration at our high school auditorium from 6-7, full of carols, attended by many in our community. After that, our family joins with my husband’s extended family for food, fun, and a gift exchange. There can be upwards of 50 people at this party! Christmas Day is usually much quieter.
Merry Christmas to all of you.
Tomorrow (Christmas Eve) will be a busy day because that is usually when families get together in Brazil. For my family, we meet mid afternoon for cake (usually around the pool) and then go to church and have Christmas dinner afterwards. After desert we always have cookies next to the Christmas tree and read the Bible, sing Christmas carols a bit more, exchange presents…. (so yeah, we eat a lot but we sing a lot too.. does that count?)
Most people don’t do anything big on Christmas day.. they go to the beach (it’s summer around here and really really hot–over 35C/95F for a few weeks now), travel on vacation, or just eat barbecue (even if they go to the beach that’s what they’d do).
I think our traditions are very similar! I really like Christmas Eve.
My husband usually has to work but he always manages to save time to get the day off–much better this way.
We have always watched Carols in Candlelight from Melbourne. Although its not as good as it use to be. I was out on Saturday caroling with the church to the two nursing homes and some of our shut ins. Quite a few mentioned the Adelaide carols and how they had a much more focus on the traditions Carols and the true meaning of Christmas.
I love Silvie Paladino You can tell she’s a Christian by the way she sings.
When we were younger mum and dad use to have soft drinks and nibbles set out as back then people use to drop in on Christmas Eve. I don’t remember this as much but I know the first year after dad died no one came and it was really hard on mum. It seemed Dad dying made people either feel uncomfortable coming or we were just forgotten.
Merry Christmas ??
Merry Christmas! I loved the clip you shared! My family has a ground beef and rice casserole that has become a tradition for dinner and then we usually go to a Christmas Eve service.
Hi Wemble, I haven’t watched Bushfire Moon in years! A fun tradition. I went out to the shops early this morning and I was glad to be finished by 10.30am. Sailing on the bay sounds lovely. Happy Christmas Eve and Christmas blessings to you and your family. :)
Hi Renate, Merry Christmas! One tradition my teens still enjoy is driving around the neighbourhood looking at Christmas lights. Enjoy your Christmas. Blessings. :)
Hi Narelle, Enjoy your Christmas in Canberra! It’s a while since I’ve visited the National Gallery. I was Costco this morning when they opened and the queue for prawns was long. We’re having cold meats and salad and jacket potatoes on the bbq if there isn’t a total fire ban. I was supposed to cook the turkey breast this afternoon but I forgot to take it out of the freezer yesterday. Oops. Silvie Paladino is my favourite, too, for all the reasons you mentioned. Happy Christmas Eve and enjoy your Christmas in Canberra. 33C is okay if the humidity stays low. :)
Hi Paula, Merry Christmas and blessings. :)
Hi Dalyn, The Christmas Eve service is my preference. When Christmas lunch is at our home, we’re very busy on Christmas morning getting everything ready. Your Christmas Eve traditions sound lovely. Last year we were away for Christmas visiting with family and we did things a little differently. Merry Christmas. :)
Hi Diana, I imagine Nashville would be a great place for great music at church! I hope you’ll find an opportunity to go caroling. Merry Christmas and your Christmas with your family. :)
Merry Christmas Valerie :) It’s interesting how Christmas Eve can be a bigger event than Christmas Day. Enjoy your Christmas. :)
Hi Priscila, Merry Christmas :) I can understand why you’re doing your celebrations on Christmas Eve if it’s 35C every day! We’ve had a mild start to summer and cold temps at night. In Australia we start our celebrations Christmas Eve and keep going through to Boxing Day night (12/26). I do miss going to the beach on Christmas Day (our family tradition for many years when I was growing up in Sydney). Enjoy your hot summer Christmas. :)
Hi Jenny, Merry Christmas. :) I’m not familiar with the Adelaide carols (they aren’t televised here). I’m glad you had an opportunity to go caroling. It’s a shame that your mum’s friends didn’t realise that the first Christmas Eve after you lost your father was when she’d need her friends around. Silvie’s faith definitely shines through when she singing. Enjoy your Christmas. :)
Merry Christmas Lucy! :)
Hi Jessica, I’m glad you enjoyed the clip. Your Christmas Eve dinner sounds delicious. Merry Christmas. :)
Ah, I’m always so glad when someone can understand Christmas when it’s 35C is just too hot.. but we do have a holiday on the 25th and most people go to the beach. I never did, but my husband’s family usually does. This year we’re joining them on the 25th.
My husband and sister-in-law were at Costco first thing for the prawns and seafood as well! :D
Hello, Narelle! Merry Christmas to you and your family! Thank you for sharing the clip. It’s one of my favorite songs!
We went caroling with the teens group today! It was awesome! It’s 1:37 am and they just left… Merry Christmas everyone!
We actually do most of our Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve. Usually a big meal at my parents and then opening presents.
On Christmas morning my husband and I usually host a brunch=)
Hi Alexa, You’re very welcome, and hope you had a lovely Christmas. :)
Hi Narelle, Wow, it’s a small world in Canberra! I have seen relatives in Costco who live on the other side of town. It’s one of those places, lol. I hope you enjoyed your seafood Christmas Day feast. :)
Hi Priscila, Summer has finally arrived and our lowest maximum temp over the next week will be 33C. Sometimes it’s hotter in March than December. I hope you enjoyed your Christmas Day at the beach. :)
Hi Natalya, A fun way to welcome in Christmas morning! I hope you could sleep in and had an enjoyable Christmas Day. :)
Hi Patty, I hope you enjoyed a lovely Christmas with your family. :)