Most of my Christmases, back in Edinburgh, were smaller, just immediate family, Mom Dad me and my sister. This after Dad was home after the War. after waking up, going through our toys, then breakfast. All kids would meet in the street to share our new toys with friends, It helped, seeing I was related to half of my Street. With cousins and half cousins. In America, pretty much the same, went to Mom's first, then we'd visit sister, brother in law, and the kids. Then visiting friends, after taking my mom home. So it was always fun, just not as loud or noisy., lol I'm not sure, if it's still the same, in the British Army now, as it was back when I served, But the English took off for Christmas and we Scot's were off, for New Year or Hogmanay. I did spend two Christmases, in the Army overseas, Which totally surprised me. We were woken up, by our Officers and Sergeants, serving us Tea and Roll, in Bed. after we got dressed for Breakfast, in the Mess Hall, we all sat down at the Tables, and were served by the officers and NCO's. Then they entertained us, during the afternoon with some Hi jinks on the parade ground. The same was repeated for our Christmas Dinner. With a huge spread on the table. Soups, salads, Turkey, desserts etc. In the evening, our "servants" for the day, put on a variety show. and then a Party afterwards served Beer and wine, and as they say, on the House, Then just talking and laughing with our Officers, From Commanding Officers on down. They did a great job, making sure, we wouldn't get home sick, and It worked. Being the British Army, where traditions die hard, I hope it's still the same for those serving today. Although, I am sure not as easy in a War Zone Anyway, wishing our US Service men and women and those British men and women, serving together, a Very Merry Christmas.
Yeah, it depends on the family. I too am introverted and don't really like huge Christmases with 50 people. It becomes a bit like Thanksgiving sometimes (especially when you're married) and you have to schedule out your appearances, and before the day's up you have been to 3 houses and eaten 3 huge meals and you have 4 Amazon gift cards. I much prefer what it used to be when I was a child....Christmas morning at home, then Christmas with the grandparents followed by dinner.
caomhan84 I agree. Growing up, we weren’t close with my dad’s family, so I ended up just having Christmas with my mom’s parents every year. Not stressful at all. My brother and I aren’t married yet but I think we’re going to agree to switch between having Christmas with my parents and our in-laws, and the year we both spend with in-laws, if my parents get along with one set, they’ll go with us to the in-laws’ Christmas. They don’t really love hosting anyway (health issues) so it’d be a relief in that way. They also won’t be alone. And it will keep my brother and me from alternating Christmas with my parents, thus never getting Christmas with each other. I *think* that’s the way to do it. Unless both my brothers in-laws and mine don’t jive with my parents for some reason. The stress of juggling is just really foreign to my family so starting now doesn’t seem like a great idea. And no one wants to be the day/week after Christmas family, and because of my family’s health issues, we would need recovery days after being out and active. So it’s difficult but... I just know there’s a solution somewhere! The key is not to start a bad tradition that you then feel bad about changing.
Since getting married, the overwhelming number of gatherings has been one of the biggest adjustments. If we went to every single gathering, we would go to FIVE Christmases (thanks, divorced in-laws!). We have had to "schedule appearances" and try to create equity by going to certain families' houses for one gathering and then switching. Fortunately, unlike you, we avoid the multiple gatherings in one day somehow. That would be hectic!
Our Christmas in America is usually just me, my husband, amd our three boys. It's very slow and leisurely, we try to savor it, because they are almost grown.
Christmas Eve my Whole family on my dad's side always gather together every year at my cousins house 😁 Its loud its obnoxious its fabulous and I wouldnt have it any other way 😍
I have only seen a couple of your videos, but they are great! I hope to watch some more. My family down South has big Christmas celebrations like you portrayed. It is something we look forward to all year, and the children REALLY love it. Best wishes to you, my friend. You seem to have have such a great, fun-loving spirit with a broad view on things that loves both Americans and British people! I hope you and your British and American family are doing well. Take care.
Happy Christmas, from the deep South! Maybe a "Gofundme" page could be started to get you and Tara to the UK for Christmas next year. I, for one, would love to see some vlogs of your home and family and their Christmas traditions.
But seriously it was nice listening to your perspective. It's obvious you really enjoy your enlarged family, even if the American half force hugs on you. Treasure the noisy ones, even with forced hugs 🤗 My last Christmas with lots of family and noise was 2019, and then everybody died in 2020, and everyone else was isolated in nursing homes, so we had "window visits" with them on Christmas Day, and had to shout at each other through the glass. That was a trial especially for the hard of hearing. No hugs allowed.
Your description of American Xmas is exactly what my family holidays are like in MN. Kids open presents in the morning and adults drink coffee, talk boisterously and exchange cards. The dogs all get presents too (a bone and a new collar.) (The cats get coal, because they are ungrateful.) The first half of the day is dominated by our breakfast/brunch buffet with eggs, breakfast casserole, biscuits and gravy, hash browns, etc. More and more people filter in throughout the day, kids share their new toys and go out in the snow while adults switch to beer and cocktails and everyone just laughs and tells stories and enjoys the day together. In my family we typically forego the big afternoon Xmas dinner in favor of a deli platter with sides like broccoli salad and potato casserole; which enables everyone to eat as they arrive and not feel like they have to choke down a 2nd or 3rd Xmas dinner if they have already eaten.
When I was younger we opened presents at home...went to one set of grandparents for dinner ...a small gathering...then off to my other grandmas for a big mass of aunts uncles and cousins all in one day...nowadays Christmas tends to spread out over several days of smaller gatherings...
Love how he can compare the two counties and love them both. Merry Christmas, and I love the Dr. Who shirt! Someday I hope I get to spend Christmas in London.
When I was younger and more of my grandparents siblings were alive, what we would do is have a big family gathering on Christmas eve (grandparents, parents, great aunts and uncles, aunts and uncles cousins ect ect) and then Christmas morning would be immediate family, usually in the living room in PJs with a movie on while everyone opens gifts.
Since more of my great aunts and uncles have passed we dont really do this anymore. My moms generation and certainly mine, dont have the room or time to put it together. And my generation of cousins and such aren't quite as close as previous generations or dont live in state.
I think you hit the nail on the head when you talked about things being bigger. The reason the gatherings are bigger (in many cases) is because the country is huge and many families are scattered hundreds, if not thousands of miles away. So when we gather we go a bit overboard.
Oh boy...it’s apparent you haven’t seen a lot of Americans at Christmas. Lol. The one uncle who always shows up drunk, the teenagers arguing over who has to sit at the, “kids table,” the in-laws that show up 2 hours early, the in-laws that show up 2 hours late, the fabulous decision to “use the fireplace” and you all end up running out into the snow-coughing up smoke and gagging, the political rows, relatives bringing the same exact dish because they prefer the taste of theirs better, the cousin who has suddenly become a vegan and at least one cat, yacking up a furball-during Grace. Merry Christmas!!😂😂❤️❤️
I'm glad you enjoy your in-laws and Christmases here in America, Laurence. I hope you get to go home to Britain next year and celebrate there. I'll be home with my kitties, myself. Happy holidays to you and Tarah, Laurence! xx
I'm so glad you have had such good experiences celebrating Christmas in the U.S. Merry Christmas to you and your whole American family. I do hope you get to visit your British family soon. Love your videos!
The grinch himself is the one person who has disliked your video. Love your videos and your perspective, this channels vlogmas was probably one of my absolute favs, and the whole reason I found your channel and subscribed
I love your videos and you are correct we have loud,boisterous family get togethers at holidays.We had 60 people at my house for Christmas and that was just one side of the family.
One of my favorite British Christmas shows was the one with Alf and his family on, oh what was it... "Til Death Us Do Part" or something like that. Happy Christmas to you and your large family!
I live in Indianapolis And my family christmas’ are very similar to your childhood ones. We do Christmas Day with just immediate family and we do Christmas crackers, but my immediate family is still super loud!
We used to spend Christmas with my grandparents in the 50s but it would turn out that my aunt and uncle and two cousins would be there also sometimes too someone who was alone, but it was very nice. Adults would play cards and us kids would usually watch tv. Never been in a really large family gathering though. Now that our daughters grown just the two of us for a nice quiet Christmas. Sometimes that's better, especially if the weathers cold and snowy so you can stay in and keep warm. Oh, love that hat of yours. And is it true that in the UK presents aren't under the tree but in a stocking at the foot of your bed? Saw that on You Tube.
It's very nice to spend a big Christmas with family...catching up, chatting and eating allll the wrong things. But I really long for a nice, quite Christmas with a special old fart. With games and movies and sweets and a homemade dinner. I really would enjoy that... slow and easy... a little snow and nowhere to be but on the couch with a blanket and a creamy hot coco.
Merry Christmas! You should check out the music video to "The Season's Upon Us" by the Dropkick Murphys. It perfectly captures that sense of being mobbed by a huge extended family on Christmas and how crazy and fun it can be.
You won't have to hug now with Covid, plus you probably won't have that many to hug anyway. Texting and skyping is hard to do for hugging. I bet you have fond memories of Christmas with just you and the wife that one year. My hubby and I did that one year with Thanksgiving. Just the two of us while getting to know each other. Sometimes I wish it was like that each year. Just relaxing, finding a little restaurant that will do the food and all the work.
Christmas was usually just me and my family....sometimes we would be with my aunts, uncles, and grandparents....the cousins are all married with families of their own.....but the grandparents are dead so that kind of ended....the big get together is Thanksgiving. Well, for the whole family, anyway.
I pronounce familiarity as fam-mil-e-air-i-t. If you type a word into Google it will be defined for you by Google. They will also provide a speaker icon for you to click and hear the word as they would pronounce it. So next time you are stumbling on how to pronounce a word you could always search for it on Google and click the speaker icon for the audience, a.k.a. us, to hear. Happy Christmas and New Year, by the way.
Happy merry Christmas. Another great vlogmas. I just spent 11 hours in the car with family. Sort of. Well will be an ex family, but even he is still family. I digress. Anyhow, I am really enjoying your vlogs.
Its a nice bonus that you can be a hit just with the sound of your voice. Luckily most of my family are introverts too. We aren't all that rambunctious.
I have 28 cousins on my mom's side. And of course they all came from aunts & uncles. Talk about insanity, especially since most are now married with kids. Although several have moved out of state. Our extended family was always Christmas Eve, and the nuclear family was Christmas Day.
I vote for you to spend next Christmas with your family in the UK. Oh, you didn't ask for a poll? Well, just do what you want then :-D (But think how happy your family would be to see you...and make it a surprise!)
Another brilliant video! I’m bummed that you won’t be coming down to visit the Hoosier heartland for Christmas, but I wanted to give you a good tip. The next time you decide to visit Indiana, you should stop at the South Street smokehouse in Lafayette. I know how much you love pecan pie, and they have a deep fried pecan pie that is to die for! You will love it!
As of this typing, my family is getting together at my mom's house for dinner in a few hours. We will have dinner and exchange gifts. Don't tell my mom but I got her a new Sony Blu Ray player. The only family members that won't attend is my brother and his wife who lives in Arizona. He will call (or telephone as you say) to give his love.
Not a Christmas observation here, and I do know you were being humorous, - the UK has as many breeds of dog (including the colossal Mastiff!!😮) that there are in the US! 🐶🐶🐾 Happy Christmas! 🎄
Merry Christmas! Please go see your family because you don’t want regrets! A good friend of mine who lives in a different state then her family and hasn’t seen them in 4 years found out her mom has stage 4 terminal cancer. She’s visiting her mom & family for Christmas and has some regrets this is the last Christmas with her mom. 😥 Don’t take anything for granted! Hugs to you & Tarah! 🎄♥️🥰 I know you love both your British & American family. That’s a blessing 👍🏼♥️
I am over family. I love being in a large empty house, the radio on the X-mas music station, as I sit down to my large empty dining room table laden with a sumptuous seasonal tablescape as I dig into my feast for ONE!. No fucks or hugs to give. Not bovvered, pure bliss.
It’s always interesting to hear your take on traditions from your point of view. I have recently gotten a pen friend in Sidmouth and it’s been fun hearing her thoughts on traditions and the differences as well. My family is basically all sick. I am too, have been since I was 11 when I broke my tail bone and shocked my spine! I was diagnosed with a chronic pain condition my mom also has and I never got better. My father’s family isn’t really involved in our lives, but the good thing is it meant every Christmas wasn’t stressed and rushed, going from one family to the other. But since my grandmother died, my grandfather refuses to have us congregate at his house, which is in the middle of where the families live. Even if we brought the food and cleaned up after, he didn’t want us there. Its been five years since I had Christmas with extended family, because six hours to drive in one day to have a meal is too much pain to add. Some years my mom can’t go either, and this year I don’t think she’ll make it; she’s due for surgery next month and really needs it now, but is having to wait. So I’m not sure if I’ll say goodbye to all of them and watch them leave after we hurriedly open presents, or if I’ll just watch most of them leave. It’s been hard to get in the Christmas spirit since Grandmom died because... we’ve not felt like a family since then. She was the glue, our matriarch. I don’t know any of my extended family’s phone numbers and am not friends on Facebook. When she died, I gave my cousins my number and asked for us to get closer and lean on each other to get through this, but no one ever called. In maybe ten years, I’m sure my brother and I will eventually find our people to spend our lives with, and maybe have some kids. We’ll start new traditions and see Christmas through the eyes of our kids, and just maybe some of that spirit will come back again. I always knew growing up would mean that things would change, and I wasn’t scared of that or upset. I just didn’t realize it would be so fast or incontrovertible. I thought I was going to have less family when my grandmother died, but it just showed that family is who acts like family, and my family is my parents and my brother. And because they still try to forge bonds with our disinterested extended family, I don’t get to be with them on Christmas right now. If they met us halfway or if they offered to let us stay in the guest rooms so we’d not have to turn around and come home in the same day, if they cared at all, I’d keep trying. But... you can’t make people care, and it hurts to keep trying to make them. I know, in time it’ll work itself out. But right now, my Christmas wish is just to be able to spend it with my family. Enjoy your low key Christmas this year, and thank your lucky stars you have two interested families to choose between. I hope next year is your best yet.
In the US our biscuits are buttery, salty pastries. What would you call them in the UK? (Of course, what Brits call biscuits we call cookies in the US.)
Congregating in the living room or an area is quite normal, but for my family all the younger members kind of head elsewhere like a yard or basement as sitting in the living room can be quite boring. The people generally consist of the grandparents, aunts, uncles, their kids/cousins, siblings. It's not quite as dense as a family reunion which is always a case of "I don't know most of the people here, and I want to curl up on a piece of furniture or something and be alone."
This is pretty much exactly my family Christmas. My grandparents on my dad's side had seven sons, and my grandparents had several schnauzer dogs to add to the cacophony. TOTAL CHAOS!!
Christmas on Tuesday makes travel awkward for people with jobs, right? You two have a nice relaxing Christmas day in Chicago. Maybe get the vibe you used to get on Boxing Day. Curl up and enjoy good movies and gratitude.
my friend from aus loves to assume all Americans are the same (idky) so one time she asked why ALL Americans go hard for Christmas and I just find it so funny that she thinks every last American does that? Like we’re not all Christians LMAO secondly because people like to party and celebrate.
Jess Edits Assuming all Americans are the same is one of the most common misconceptions!! Unfortunately, people don’t defend Americans, but this channel does!! 🇺🇸🇬🇧❤️
I'm 11th. I'm sure I'm the first one to be 11th. If you combine that with being the 22nd day of Vlogmas, that's got to mean something. 11 and 22. Woah.
This year there isnt going to be a big family party Too many empty chairs at the table My uncle my two aunts and my mom all passed away so Christmas is a sad one for all of us But we will have our own smaller scale dinners of our own Parties arent our vibe maybe next Christmas we can resume .
Donna LeVasseur I'm sorry to hear you've lost so many people. I've gone through a similar experience. Just know that it does get easier. Blessings on you and your family.
Family starts small. Family grows up. Family gets married. More 'family' involved. Then friends join in. Then friends of friends. Norman Rockwell it's not. Alcohol involved? Grandma gets run over by reindeer. (That's their story, anyway) Scrooge had the right idea. 🤣😠
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Most of my Christmases, back in Edinburgh, were smaller, just immediate family, Mom Dad me and my sister. This after Dad was home after the War. after waking up, going through our toys, then breakfast. All kids would meet in the street to share our new toys with friends, It helped, seeing I was related to half of my Street. With cousins and half cousins.
In America, pretty much the same, went to Mom's first, then we'd visit sister, brother in law, and the kids. Then visiting friends, after taking my mom home. So it was always fun, just not as loud or noisy., lol
I'm not sure, if it's still the same, in the British Army now, as it was back when I served, But the English took off for Christmas and we Scot's were off, for New Year or Hogmanay.
I did spend two Christmases, in the Army overseas, Which totally surprised me. We were woken up, by our Officers and Sergeants, serving us Tea and Roll, in Bed. after we got dressed for Breakfast, in the Mess Hall, we all sat down at the Tables, and were served by the officers and NCO's. Then they entertained us, during the afternoon with some Hi jinks on the parade ground.
The same was repeated for our Christmas Dinner. With a huge spread on the table. Soups, salads, Turkey, desserts etc.
In the evening, our "servants" for the day, put on a variety show. and then a Party afterwards served Beer and wine, and as they say, on the House,
Then just talking and laughing with our Officers, From Commanding Officers on down.
They did a great job, making sure, we wouldn't get home sick, and It worked.
Being the British Army, where traditions die hard, I hope it's still the same for those serving today. Although, I am sure not as easy in a War Zone
Anyway, wishing our US Service men and women and those British men and women, serving together, a Very Merry Christmas.
Triple digit temperatures in July. Yes, it's time to watch everything I can about winter to get my mind off the heat.
Yeah, it depends on the family. I too am introverted and don't really like huge Christmases with 50 people. It becomes a bit like Thanksgiving sometimes (especially when you're married) and you have to schedule out your appearances, and before the day's up you have been to 3 houses and eaten 3 huge meals and you have 4 Amazon gift cards. I much prefer what it used to be when I was a child....Christmas morning at home, then Christmas with the grandparents followed by dinner.
caomhan84 I agree. Growing up, we weren’t close with my dad’s family, so I ended up just having Christmas with my mom’s parents every year. Not stressful at all. My brother and I aren’t married yet but I think we’re going to agree to switch between having Christmas with my parents and our in-laws, and the year we both spend with in-laws, if my parents get along with one set, they’ll go with us to the in-laws’ Christmas. They don’t really love hosting anyway (health issues) so it’d be a relief in that way. They also won’t be alone. And it will keep my brother and me from alternating Christmas with my parents, thus never getting Christmas with each other. I *think* that’s the way to do it. Unless both my brothers in-laws and mine don’t jive with my parents for some reason. The stress of juggling is just really foreign to my family so starting now doesn’t seem like a great idea. And no one wants to be the day/week after Christmas family, and because of my family’s health issues, we would need recovery days after being out and active. So it’s difficult but... I just know there’s a solution somewhere! The key is not to start a bad tradition that you then feel bad about changing.
Since getting married, the overwhelming number of gatherings has been one of the biggest adjustments. If we went to every single gathering, we would go to FIVE Christmases (thanks, divorced in-laws!). We have had to "schedule appearances" and try to create equity by going to certain families' houses for one gathering and then switching. Fortunately, unlike you, we avoid the multiple gatherings in one day somehow. That would be hectic!
Your description of how you spent Christmas back home sounds exactly like how my family does Christmas in the US.
My family tends to get together for Thanksgiving instead of Christmas. Christmas we just ship our presents to each other.
Our Christmas in America is usually just me, my husband, amd our three boys. It's very slow and leisurely, we try to savor it, because they are almost grown.
Christmas Eve my Whole family on my dad's side always gather together every year at my cousins house 😁 Its loud its obnoxious its fabulous and I wouldnt have it any other way 😍
I think you did a great job describing Christmas in the US.
We have a small family. Our Christmas gathering (6 people) is more like your British Christmas.
Happy Christmas to your British and American families.
Same to you!
"The dogs are bigger here." You crack me up! Merry Christmas!
Same to you!
I laughed at that too.
Cats are bigger too and are attackers of Christmas trees
@@donnalevasseur4818 😂
I think the biggest cat I ever saw was in Canada but yes, "attackers of Christmas trees". 😂
I have only seen a couple of your videos, but they are great! I hope to watch some more. My family down South has big Christmas celebrations like you portrayed. It is something we look forward to all year, and the children REALLY love it. Best wishes to you, my friend. You seem to have have such a great, fun-loving spirit with a broad view on things that loves both Americans and British people! I hope you and your British and American family are doing well. Take care.
Tarah’s family IS your family! Especially since you have mentioned that you are fond of them and they you...so, they are family!
Happy Christmas, from the deep South! Maybe a "Gofundme" page could be started to get you and Tara to the UK for Christmas next year. I, for one, would love to see some vlogs of your home and family and their Christmas traditions.
But seriously it was nice listening to your perspective. It's obvious you really enjoy your enlarged family, even if the American half force hugs on you. Treasure the noisy ones, even with forced hugs 🤗 My last Christmas with lots of family and noise was 2019, and then everybody died in 2020, and everyone else was isolated in nursing homes, so we had "window visits" with them on Christmas Day, and had to shout at each other through the glass. That was a trial especially for the hard of hearing. No hugs allowed.
Your description of American Xmas is exactly what my family holidays are like in MN. Kids open presents in the morning and adults drink coffee, talk boisterously and exchange cards. The dogs all get presents too (a bone and a new collar.) (The cats get coal, because they are ungrateful.) The first half of the day is dominated by our breakfast/brunch buffet with eggs, breakfast casserole, biscuits and gravy, hash browns, etc. More and more people filter in throughout the day, kids share their new toys and go out in the snow while adults switch to beer and cocktails and everyone just laughs and tells stories and enjoys the day together. In my family we typically forego the big afternoon Xmas dinner in favor of a deli platter with sides like broccoli salad and potato casserole; which enables everyone to eat as they arrive and not feel like they have to choke down a 2nd or 3rd Xmas dinner if they have already eaten.
When I was younger we opened presents at home...went to one set of grandparents for dinner ...a small gathering...then off to my other grandmas for a big mass of aunts uncles and cousins all in one day...nowadays Christmas tends to spread out over several days of smaller gatherings...
Love how he can compare the two counties and love them both. Merry Christmas, and I love the Dr. Who shirt! Someday I hope I get to spend Christmas in London.
When I was younger and more of my grandparents siblings were alive, what we would do is have a big family gathering on Christmas eve (grandparents, parents, great aunts and uncles, aunts and uncles cousins ect ect) and then Christmas morning would be immediate family, usually in the living room in PJs with a movie on while everyone opens gifts.
Since more of my great aunts and uncles have passed we dont really do this anymore. My moms generation and certainly mine, dont have the room or time to put it together. And my generation of cousins and such aren't quite as close as previous generations or dont live in state.
I spend most of my holidays with just my parents, but I think the large celebrations are the most common thing people here do.
So different from mine. We had a very quiet family. We all dislike noise. But, it was wonderful. It just depends on the personalities.
I think you hit the nail on the head when you talked about things being bigger. The reason the gatherings are bigger (in many cases) is because the country is huge and many families are scattered hundreds, if not thousands of miles away. So when we gather we go a bit overboard.
I Hope You and Tara will have children in the future, you guys will make amazing parents 😍
Oh boy...it’s apparent you haven’t seen a lot of Americans at Christmas. Lol. The one uncle who always shows up drunk, the teenagers arguing over who has to sit at the, “kids table,” the in-laws that show up 2 hours early, the in-laws that show up 2 hours late, the fabulous decision to “use the fireplace” and you all end up running out into the snow-coughing up smoke and gagging, the political rows, relatives bringing the same exact dish because they prefer the taste of theirs better, the cousin who has suddenly become a vegan and at least one cat, yacking up a furball-during Grace. Merry Christmas!!😂😂❤️❤️
I now can't wait for Christmas!!🇨🇦💖✌
Naeda Tanner , Lol! I’ll set one more place. 😂Lol!
Hahaha! That sounds like our family. I bet that was a big culture shock. Love this episode.
I'm glad you enjoy your in-laws and Christmases here in America, Laurence. I hope you get to go home to Britain next year and celebrate there. I'll be home with my kitties, myself. Happy holidays to you and Tarah, Laurence! xx
I love a quiet Xmas, just my Woobie and me. Thank you for another holiday vlog! ❤
I'm so glad you have had such good experiences celebrating Christmas in the U.S. Merry Christmas to you and your whole American family. I do hope you get to visit your British family soon. Love your videos!
Christmas is about family and love and laughter Happy (Merry) Christmas to you and Tarah and extend my wishes to hers and your fam too.
Merry Christmas and GOD Bless! :)
We've always spent all day at home and sometime around Christmas itself, we'd go around and visit everyone else.
Warm hugs and good cheer to you and the little woman!
The grinch himself is the one person who has disliked your video. Love your videos and your perspective, this channels vlogmas was probably one of my absolute favs, and the whole reason I found your channel and subscribed
I hope you get to see your family soon.
I love your videos and you are correct we have loud,boisterous family get togethers at holidays.We had 60 people at my house for Christmas and that was just one side of the family.
No, to understand a Chicago Christmas you watch Chevy Chase's documentary on the subject
This year was the first I've spent with someone else's family other than my own. It wasn't terrible.
Happy Christmas to you and your family. This was lovely as we got to see your extended family.
Same to you!
I'm in Chicago too celebrating Christmas. Merry Christmas!
Happy Christmas,Laurence and Tarah! Love to the Cat
Merry Christmas, Laurence and Tara!
Merry Christmas to you and Tara.
Same to you!
This vlogmas series is so heartwarming ❤❤
One of my favorite British Christmas shows was the one with Alf and his family on, oh what was it... "Til Death Us Do Part" or something like that. Happy Christmas to you and your large family!
I would love it if I had a John Williams soundtrack for my life!
I live in Indianapolis And my family christmas’ are very similar to your childhood ones. We do Christmas Day with just immediate family and we do Christmas crackers, but my immediate family is still super loud!
Christmas in my family is always packed and loud
Merry Christmas Laurence! I've enjoyed your #Vlogmas. I even bought Crackers for my famy to enjoy this year!
From one Chicagoian to another, Happy Christmas! Enjoy the sun today! (You have about 20 minutes left of it)
Ooh, haven't been outside today. Ah well.
@@LostinthePond It's ok, There will be 20 minutes of sun tomorrow as well. :)
We used to spend Christmas with my grandparents in the 50s but it would turn out that my aunt and uncle and two cousins would be there also sometimes too someone who was alone, but it was very nice. Adults would play cards and us kids would usually watch tv. Never been in a really large family gathering though. Now that our daughters grown just the two of us for a nice quiet Christmas. Sometimes that's better, especially if the weathers cold and snowy so you can stay in and keep warm. Oh, love that hat of yours. And is it true that in the UK presents aren't under the tree but in a stocking at the foot of your bed? Saw that on You Tube.
It's very nice to spend a big Christmas with family...catching up, chatting and eating allll the wrong things. But I really long for a nice, quite Christmas with a special old fart. With games and movies and sweets and a homemade dinner. I really would enjoy that... slow and easy... a little snow and nowhere to be but on the couch with a blanket and a creamy hot coco.
Merry Christmas! You should check out the music video to "The Season's Upon Us" by the Dropkick Murphys. It perfectly captures that sense of being mobbed by a huge extended family on Christmas and how crazy and fun it can be.
You won't have to hug now with Covid, plus you probably won't have that many to hug anyway. Texting and skyping is hard to do for hugging. I bet you have fond memories of Christmas with just you and the wife that one year. My hubby and I did that one year with Thanksgiving. Just the two of us while getting to know each other. Sometimes I wish it was like that each year. Just relaxing, finding a little restaurant that will do the food and all the work.
Christmas was usually just me and my family....sometimes we would be with my aunts, uncles, and grandparents....the cousins are all married with families of their own.....but the grandparents are dead so that kind of ended....the big get together is Thanksgiving. Well, for the whole family, anyway.
I pronounce familiarity as fam-mil-e-air-i-t. If you type a word into Google it will be defined for you by Google. They will also provide a speaker icon for you to click and hear the word as they would pronounce it. So next time you are stumbling on how to pronounce a word you could always search for it on Google and click the speaker icon for the audience, a.k.a. us, to hear.
Happy Christmas and New Year, by the way.
Lucky you in pajamas as a kid. We had to dress up for picture taking
Merry Crimbo you jolly old bloke from Michigan.
Happy merry Christmas. Another great vlogmas. I just spent 11 hours in the car with family. Sort of. Well will be an ex family, but even he is still family. I digress. Anyhow, I am really enjoying your vlogs.
Its a nice bonus that you can be a hit just with the sound of your voice. Luckily most of my family are introverts too. We aren't all that rambunctious.
I get along with my in-laws too.
I have 28 cousins on my mom's side. And of course they all came from aunts & uncles. Talk about insanity, especially since most are now married with kids. Although several have moved out of state. Our extended family was always Christmas Eve, and the nuclear family was Christmas Day.
I vote for you to spend next Christmas with your family in the UK. Oh, you didn't ask for a poll? Well, just do what you want then :-D (But think how happy your family would be to see you...and make it a surprise!)
Another brilliant video! I’m bummed that you won’t be coming down to visit the Hoosier heartland for Christmas, but I wanted to give you a good tip. The next time you decide to visit Indiana, you should stop at the South Street smokehouse in Lafayette. I know how much you love pecan pie, and they have a deep fried pecan pie that is to die for! You will love it!
Good tip. Thanks!
I’m still enjoying Vlogmas!
As of this typing, my family is getting together at my mom's house for dinner in a few hours. We will have dinner and exchange gifts. Don't tell my mom but I got her a new Sony Blu Ray player. The only family members that won't attend is my brother and his wife who lives in Arizona. He will call (or telephone as you say) to give his love.
Not a Christmas observation here, and I do know you were being humorous, - the UK has as many breeds of dog (including the colossal Mastiff!!😮) that there are in the US! 🐶🐶🐾
Happy Christmas! 🎄
The McAllister's went to France in the first Home Alone movie, not Florida. 😊
Merry Christmas m8
Same to you!
Maybe at some point you can make a Christmas video of the different traditions from all the regions of the U.K. Nadolig LLawen (Happy Christmas) 🎂 🍺.
Love your t-shirt!
I have a friend that EVERY one( grandma etc) gets underpants for Xmas and they have to wear them on their heads all day long.
Merry Christmas! Please go see your family because you don’t want regrets! A good friend of mine who lives in a different state then her family and hasn’t seen them in 4 years found out her mom has stage 4 terminal cancer. She’s visiting her mom & family for Christmas and has some regrets this is the last Christmas with her mom. 😥 Don’t take anything for granted! Hugs to you & Tarah! 🎄♥️🥰 I know you love both your British & American family. That’s a blessing 👍🏼♥️
Love the shirt!!
I am over family. I love being in a large empty house, the radio on the X-mas music station, as I sit down to my large empty dining room table laden with a sumptuous seasonal tablescape as I dig into my feast for ONE!. No fucks or hugs to give. Not bovvered, pure bliss.
How are Winters in England? Are they that different from Chicago Winters?
It’s always interesting to hear your take on traditions from your point of view. I have recently gotten a pen friend in Sidmouth and it’s been fun hearing her thoughts on traditions and the differences as well.
My family is basically all sick. I am too, have been since I was 11 when I broke my tail bone and shocked my spine! I was diagnosed with a chronic pain condition my mom also has and I never got better. My father’s family isn’t really involved in our lives, but the good thing is it meant every Christmas wasn’t stressed and rushed, going from one family to the other. But since my grandmother died, my grandfather refuses to have us congregate at his house, which is in the middle of where the families live. Even if we brought the food and cleaned up after, he didn’t want us there. Its been five years since I had Christmas with extended family, because six hours to drive in one day to have a meal is too much pain to add. Some years my mom can’t go either, and this year I don’t think she’ll make it; she’s due for surgery next month and really needs it now, but is having to wait. So I’m not sure if I’ll say goodbye to all of them and watch them leave after we hurriedly open presents, or if I’ll just watch most of them leave. It’s been hard to get in the Christmas spirit since Grandmom died because... we’ve not felt like a family since then. She was the glue, our matriarch. I don’t know any of my extended family’s phone numbers and am not friends on Facebook. When she died, I gave my cousins my number and asked for us to get closer and lean on each other to get through this, but no one ever called.
In maybe ten years, I’m sure my brother and I will eventually find our people to spend our lives with, and maybe have some kids. We’ll start new traditions and see Christmas through the eyes of our kids, and just maybe some of that spirit will come back again. I always knew growing up would mean that things would change, and I wasn’t scared of that or upset. I just didn’t realize it would be so fast or incontrovertible. I thought I was going to have less family when my grandmother died, but it just showed that family is who acts like family, and my family is my parents and my brother. And because they still try to forge bonds with our disinterested extended family, I don’t get to be with them on Christmas right now.
If they met us halfway or if they offered to let us stay in the guest rooms so we’d not have to turn around and come home in the same day, if they cared at all, I’d keep trying. But... you can’t make people care, and it hurts to keep trying to make them.
I know, in time it’ll work itself out. But right now, my Christmas wish is just to be able to spend it with my family.
Enjoy your low key Christmas this year, and thank your lucky stars you have two interested families to choose between. I hope next year is your best yet.
In the US our biscuits are buttery, salty pastries. What would you call them in the UK? (Of course, what Brits call biscuits we call cookies in the US.)
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a better example of Christmas with in-laws and other extended family in an average income home
Really? I thought they were upper middle class.
Howard Wiggins- My mistake, the griswalds are upper middle class for sure.
Yes it is a word.
Your mother is a saint.
You can buy Christmas crackers in the US, they're just hard to find.
Congregating in the living room or an area is quite normal, but for my family all the younger members kind of head elsewhere like a yard or basement as sitting in the living room can be quite boring. The people generally consist of the grandparents, aunts, uncles, their kids/cousins, siblings. It's not quite as dense as a family reunion which is always a case of "I don't know most of the people here, and I want to curl up on a piece of furniture or something and be alone."
I wish you had mentioned the xmas movies that play on TV all day long! Is that a thing in Britain?
What do you mean by "normal service"?
Awe just about five minutes in you are saying that next year things will be back to normal
love your tee shirt
Ahh, but as an introvert... The bigger the crowd, the more you can disappear!
The McAllisters went to France, not Florida!!
In the sequel they went to FL
@@tamf61 But he ends up in NYC for Christmas, not at home.
a gentleman doesn't wear a hat indoors.
Our host is dressed as a hip hop rappist!
Return to normalcy..... Little did you know when you uploaded this..... 😱😨😰🥸🤡😭
Let's talk about how the placing of the people in the thumbnail makes that grandma look like a demon.
This is pretty much exactly my family Christmas. My grandparents on my dad's side had seven sons, and my grandparents had several schnauzer dogs to add to the cacophony. TOTAL CHAOS!!
Christmas on Tuesday makes travel awkward for people with jobs, right? You two have a nice relaxing Christmas day in Chicago. Maybe get the vibe you used to get on Boxing Day. Curl up and enjoy good movies and gratitude.
my friend from aus loves to assume all Americans are the same (idky) so one time she asked why ALL Americans go hard for Christmas and I just find it so funny that she thinks every last American does that? Like we’re not all Christians LMAO secondly because people like to party and celebrate.
Jess Edits
Assuming all Americans are the same is one of the most common misconceptions!! Unfortunately, people don’t defend Americans, but this channel does!! 🇺🇸🇬🇧❤️
Most Americans still spend time in church around Christmas, don't they? We always did midnight mass.
Nice run down, but I was hoping for a more detailed description of family member types. The more the merrier at Christmas.
I'm 11th. I'm sure I'm the first one to be 11th. If you combine that with being the 22nd day of Vlogmas, that's got to mean something. 11 and 22. Woah.
And Tarah is 33. This is getting spooky.
*whoa
This year there isnt going to be a big family party Too many empty chairs at the table My uncle my two aunts and my mom all passed away so Christmas is a sad one for all of us But we will have our own smaller scale dinners of our own Parties arent our vibe maybe next Christmas we can resume .
Donna LeVasseur I'm sorry to hear you've lost so many people. I've gone through a similar experience. Just know that it does get easier. Blessings on you and your family.
Thank you Christine
And Merry Christmas to you.
@@donnalevasseur4818 Thank you, Donna. I wish you a peaceful and joyful New Year.
Family starts small. Family grows up. Family gets married. More 'family' involved. Then friends join in. Then friends of friends. Norman Rockwell it's not. Alcohol involved? Grandma gets run over by reindeer. (That's their story, anyway) Scrooge had the right idea. 🤣😠
There is a clicking noise in the background of this video. It sounds like a loud clock or metronome.