Soaps’ Most Memorable Christmas Traditions!

It’s the time of year for families to gather and celebrate the holidays and customs. That’s true for clans on your favorite soap operas, too! Here’s a look at some of soaps’ most memorable Christmas traditions!

General Hospital
It’s never fun being sick, but hospitalized kids at General Hospital are given a treat — a reading of a Christmas story and an appearance by Santa Claus!

In the past, Dr. Steve Hardy (the late John Beradino), Dr. Alan Quartermaine (Stuart Damon), and Edward Quartermaine (John Ingle) have participated but this year Dr. Monica Quartermaine (Leslie Charleson) read to the kids and nurse Bobbie Spencer (Jacklyn Zeman) played Santa!

The Bold and the Beautiful
The Forrester mansion is the place to be on Christmas Eve. Patriarch Eric Forrester (John McCook) will play the piano and lead everyone in Christmas carols and everyone is welcome — even rivals.

The late Stephanie (Susan Flannery) allowed Sally (the late Darlene Conley) and her son C.J. (then Kyle Sabihy) to dinner one Christmas despite their on-going rivalry.

As the World Turns
Gone but not forgotten, the show’s fans loved the family gatherings at the Hughes, Snyder, and Walsh homes. There was great contrast between the homeyness of the Snyder farm and the professionally-decorated trees (three, in fact) at the Walsh mansion.

The holiday joy at the Hughes home was always two-fold as Frannie (Julianne Moore) celebrated her birthday on Christmas Eve.

Guiding Light
For years, a character named Nick came to Springfield, bringing gifts in the form of insights to characters who had lost their way.

One year, Nick encouraged Alan Spaulding (the late Chris Bernau) to bring a holiday meal to a school for the blind — now THAT was a miracle!

Santa Barbara
This show also had their own Santa who would visit characters like Julia (Nancy Lee Grahn) and Mason (Lane Davies) and help them find their way.

Santa Barbara also enjoyed doing their own version of Christmas movies like A Christmas Carol with characters finding out what life would be like if they weren’t around.

Days of Our Lives
Soap opera’s most well-known holiday tradition is the Horton clan (and beloved friends) gathering in the family living room to hang holiday ornaments on the Christmas tree.

Each one has a family member’s name on it and whether they’re on the show or not, their bulb makes it to the tree. One year, the ornament belonging to Bonnie (Judi Evans) was so big, the Horton tree went toppling over!

Which soap opera holiday tradition do you look forward to seeing the most?