We have rouladen on Christmas eve.

I wish now that we would've started a Christmas Eve tradition meal. But we always just have lots and lots of appetizers.

These last few years our Turkey dinner is on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, we eat the leftovers. I love turkey sandwiches!

We go to my folks house after church for snacks.

When I was growing up we always had oyster stew. My husband's family always has 7 fishes dinner (though I'm not sure we actually have 7 different fishes).

pizza! it's finish up the last minute gifts and stocking stuffers...we'll have the evening to ourselves...we go over to dd2's at 3 christmas day...

Nothing special here, just finishing up for Christmas Day and then to bed.

Sue

Christmas Eve dinner was the onetime we could count on being together so we started a tradition of having steaks and then opening presents. We gather with my family for Christmas Day (this year we will be here). So far, our son has been home on Christmas Eve and we have continued this tradition.

We usually have ham and salads and rolls for Christmas Eve dinner and then head out to a candlelight service. When we return, a little present for each kid has magically appeared, holding a pair of Christmas pajamas.

When my mom was alive, we would always have macaroni and cheese for Christmas Eve dinner. It was quick and easy to make and clean up and always plenty for all.

After my mom died, Dad and I were usually invited to the home of life-long friends where we had tortiere (French-Canadian pork pie - yum!) and salt fish (not so yum).

Then when Dad started seeing the wonderful lady who eventually became my step-mother, we would go to her family Christmas Eve where we had BBQ steaks with all the fixings.

Now DH and I order in Chinese food, go and visit his sister and then go to church.

So there is no real tradition to follow for Christmas Eve - I loved them all!

Shrimp and grits with garlicky greens (spinach) at DD's house. Yum.

Linda

When my niece and nephew were small, my brother and his then-wife would come with the kids and stay all nite. My parents would come over. We'd serve cold cuts, a big pot of soup, cheese, etc etc. Then we'd go see the animated lights in the city park and the kids would call "Santa". They had a booth set up with Santa's helpers and a phone so the kids could call. It was very cute.
My ex-DH is from Quebec and we'd all come back and have coffee and tortiere. We loved the tortiere! My parents and brother not so much.

We don't get together Christmas Eve now that we're all older.

Chicken and dressing, ham, fruit salad, mac and cheese, greens, sweet potato casserole, cornbread, rolls, chocolate pie, pecan pie. That's about all...oh and deviled eggs. It is the same every Christmas Eve.

My friend's family always has pea soup and homemade bread.

I have never heard of tortiere. Is it a sweet or savory dish?

We don't have a tradition anymore. Used to be the kids and grandkids would all come over to my house and I'd read
The Christmas Story and The Night Before Christmas to the little ones. Now they are all grown and live in other states. Makes me so sad. My one year old twin granddaughters live right around the corner, but they are going to visit the other grandparents in Nebraska this year. We aren't doing anything. Well, that's not true. I'm going to church, but hubby doesn't go, so I'll just go by myself as I always do.
Dee in Michigan

No real traditions here. This year I think I'll put on a nice beef stew in the slow cooker. I'll be busy all day so it will be nice to have something ready when we want it. A nice crusty loaf will be good with it.

Tortiere is a savoury pork pie traditionally served in Quebec. Here is the recipe from Canadian Living magazine:

This classic is usually made with ground pork, often with the addition of potatoes for thickening. Mushrooms are unconventional, but tourtiere fans will be happy with the extra flavour.

TORTIERE

1-1/2 cups (375 mL) cubed peeled potatoes
2 lb (907 gr) lean ground pork
2 cups (500 mL) sliced mushrooms
3/4 cup (175 mL) finely chopped celery
3/4 cup (175 mL) chicken stock
2 onions, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 tsp (4 mL) salt
1/2 tsp (2 mL) pepper
1/2 tsp (2 mL) dried savory
1/2 tsp (2 mL) dried thyme
1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground cloves
1/4 tsp (1 mL) cinnamon

Really Flaky Pastry  recipe at the end

In saucepan of boiling salted water, cover and cook potato until tender, about 12 minutes. Drain and mash; set aside.

Meanwhile, in deep skillet, saute pork over medium-high heat, mashing with fork, until no longer pink, about 8 minutes. Drain off fat.

Add mushrooms, celery, stock, onions, garlic, salt, pepper, savory, thyme, cloves, cinnamon and bay leaf; bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until almost no liquid remains, about 25 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Mix in potatoes. Let cool.

On lightly floured surface, roll out 1 of the pastry discs to scant 1/4-inch (5 mm) thickness. Fit into 9-inch (23 cm) pie plate. Spoon in filling. Roll out remaining pastry. Brush pie rim with water; cover with top pastry and press edge to seal. Trim and flute.

Roll out scraps; cut out holiday shapes. (Make-ahead: Wrap tourtiere and shapes separately; refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Or overwrap in heavy-duty foil and freeze for up to 2 weeks; thaw in refrigerator. Add 20 to 30 minutes to baking time, covering with foil after 45 minutes; remove foil for last 10 minutes.)

Mix egg yolk with 2 tsp (10 mL) water; brush three-quarters over top. Arrange cutouts on top; brush with remaining egg wash. Cut steam vents in top.

Bake in bottom third of 400 F (200 C) oven until hot and golden brown, about 50 minutes.

REALLY FLAKY PASTRY
Ingredients:
3 cups (750 mL) all-purpose flour
1 tsp (5 mL) salt
1/2 cup (125 mL) each cold butter and lard, cubed
1 egg
2 tsp (10 mL) vinegar
Ice water
Preparation:
In bowl, whisk flour with salt. Using pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in butter and lard until in coarse crumbs with larger pieces.
In liquid measure, beat egg with vinegar, add enough ice water to make 2/3 cup (150 mL). Drizzle over flour mixture, tossing with fork until ragged dough forms.
Press into 2 discs. Wrap and refrigerate until chilled, about 30 minutes. (Make-ahead: Refrigerate for up to 3 days.)

When kids were little and we had lots of family around I alwys had Chritmas Eve.I had Spaghetti and jellos and chips and dip nd punch and wtuffed dates We always had it after 8 or 9 pm since Bro in law didnt get home from work until then.
My sis and her boys would come down with the presents for our house and they'd put them around the tree then after everyone ate we'd haul their presnts to their house etc. and have cookies I think we sang carols nd maybe played gmes.

The best holiday tradition here. I'm of Polish decent. Our Christmas Eve meal is a big deal. The whole family gets together and has traditional Polish Fare, three kinds of Pierogi, potato pieces boiled then sauteed in oil and onions, fish, mushrooms, peas, rice, prunes, olives, candy, wine and soft drinks followed by cookies, nut and poppyseed roll for dessert. Before the meal there is a large rectangular shaped wafer (consistency of communion wafer) everyone has a piece and those at the table break off a piece or yours and you of theirs and eats it, it's called Oplatki. I've always loved our traditional Christmas Eve better than any other Holiday tradition.

Christmas Eve was always Chilli w/beans or Tacos and Toastadas. Veggies with Dip for late comers.

We seem to do something different each Christmas Eve depending on where we are. But it's usually something simple, not a big turkey with all the trimmings etc. Some years it was shrimp (YUM) others, pot roast etc. One year it was delivery pizza as MIL was sick!

We always make sausage balls for the next morning though!

Our standard fare includes ham and hot German potato salad.

Our Christmas Eve was always just as important as Christmas Day. Christmas Eve is my family, Christmas Day is my husbands family. On the eve this year, we're having rib roast, seafood pasta with shrimp, scallops and lobster, lots of appetizers, salads and dessert. Christmas Day is either a Roast, Ham or Turkey, lasagna, lots of appetizers and dessert. Drinks flow freely both days LOL.

We always have some kind of meatless meal. This is a very scaled back version of the seven fishes dinner which I believe is practiced by the Poles and Italians and maybe other ethnic groups. Since it's just DD's and me, I think we will have lobster ravioli and a nice green salad.

Tamales!

We have muffalettas and broccoli cheese soup.

My family comes to my house for Christmas Eve. We have baked haddock, shrimp cocktail, stuffed cabbage, cauliflower gratin, green and yellow beans. Dessert is nut rolls from DH's family in NY.

In my younger married years, I held an annual 'Chili Supper' on Christmas Eve and had from 25-40 neighbors there. Always made my roaster full of chili (w/corn in it!)
Mid life, I went to an Open House for 4 hours on the Eve..lots of great appetizers, etc and always served my Long Island Oyster Stew.
In my retired years here in FL..I have held a bountiful Xmas morning breakfast at my home for 20-25 folks..this was especially nice as most didn't get to go back north to be w/their children.