Christmas Eve/Christmas Day food traditions

18 years ago

We don't get really fancy. Christmas Eve is always a family style grab-a-plate and sit where you can kind of occasion. Suits us just fine. But we always have shrimp cocktail along with the honey-baked spiral ham. Usually scalloped potatoes and potato salad and baked beans.

The kids are so excited about opening their presents that they don't eat much.

Usually on Christmas day, depending on if the out-laws are in town or not, I will make a lasagna and homemade garlic bread. Last year was just ham on fresh baked rolls and appetizers so everyone could grab a little bit of this or that. We had a one year old baby over and trying to coordinate a sit-down affair wasn't the best idea. Worked out real well.

This year the kid is 2 and we are driving to BIL's place. That way we can leave when we want LOL.

Not having kids, I didn't realize it took 3 hours to feed a baby.

Feed the baby, rock the baby, burp the baby etc etc.

Are those people EVER leaving? I wondered to myself...

Anyway...what are your traditions for this time of year?

Duane

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Comments (15)

Mary_in_pnw
18 years ago
Anything goes on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day is turkey and trimmings, or ham and trimmings. One year I think it was grilled salmon and all the trimmings. This is the Pacific Northwest after all. Once we even tried steaks. This Christmas it's turkey. One food that must always be served for Christmas is brussel sprouts. I'm not really sure why, but it isn't Christmas without them. I think mom grew up with that tradition.

Merry Christmas Duane!

Mary
gflynn
18 years ago
As Dr. Laura says, when picking a mate there is no better compromise then "no compromise".

We have it pretty good because both of our parents live an easy driving distance and celebrate everything out of sync. As a result we will go to my parents on Christmas Eve and her parents Christmas day.

Thanksgiving was similar; we had two turkeys instead of one. First her parents home noon to 5pm and my parents 6pm on. Then we got a free turkey for buying lots of groceries at Weis and that makes 3 turkeys! (Wow! the count would love this story)

Greg
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OT: What are your Christmas Eve traditions?
Q
Comments (30)
Christmas Eve was (and still is) magical to me. As a child we would go to my grandmother's and have a buffet of baked ham, deviled eggs, potato salad, home made baked beans and her famous chocolate cake. Then we got to open the gifts from my grandparents, aunt & uncle (they were teens when we were kids). My grandmother's house was filled with family heirlooms and was so warm and cozy when lit up for Christmas. She had a fireplace in both the kitchen and living room and they both were blazing. It seemed liked it always snowed on Christmas Eve in those days, and I can remember carolers coming to the door. Not to be a downer, but my Dad was an alcoholic and my parents fought a lot in the weeks before Christmas because of all the "festivities". I never knew if we were going to have a Christmas at all. Then, somehow, they always made up on Christmas Eve. I attributed it to the magic of my Grandmother's house. Grandma is now gone, but I have taken over the Christmas Eve tradition. I follow her exact menu (with a few additions). We go to a candlelit service at 5:30, and then all my siblings come over with their kids. We tortue the kids by eating first, and then they each get to open a gift (we do a gift exchange). My parents and even my 102 year old grandfather attend and get the biggest kick out of watching the kids. It is a lot of work, but worth every minute spent preparing.
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Christmas Day/Christmas Eve (4 pic)
Q
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The guitar heros went over just fine. They didn't even use it yesterday, they were into the Wii games. The DD playing got, it for the son who was setting on the sofa on the left. DD's DH's parents have the Wii system and they've always loved playing that at Mammaw and Papaw's, so they got themselves (the kids) one for Christmas. LOL Big kids. Well, SIL and his Dad play golf all the time. DD get hot when she sends DH over to his folks to pick up some folding chairs or something, and it takes 2 hours to go 1 mile and back. I love the picture of my Mom and Lily too. Full circle. Leslie
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A wonderful Christmas Eve tradition!
Q
Comments (11)
I wish we had the luxury at our house to spend the evening reading, but alas, we host Christmas Eve for my parents, then head off to 9pm Mass b/c it's the most beautiful of all the Masses at our church. By the time we get home, the kids are exhausted and headed to bed, while dh and I (well, ME) stay up wrapping gifts and putting out those and the Santa gifts under the tree. But, the idea of spending the evening quietly reading sounds amazing to me as I am a voracious reader. I used to give all of my kids books in their stockings each year, but sadly, my boys do not like reading (one has a learning disability) so I rarely do it for them anymore. Last year, I did give them both books, but my older son never even read the one I gave him but *I* read it just a couple of months ago (The Outsiders). Thankfully my girls like to read, so I still give them books. Bothell, that is a lovely idea. My kids each get an ornament every year. This was a tradition MIL had with her kids. She carefully labeled each one with their name and the year (she has five kids). When dh and I got married, she sent us his box of ornaments. Many of them adorn our tree every year - we don't have room for all of them b/c now my kids' ornaments have taken over. I do the same thing, label them with name and year, and they each have their own storage bins. I love your idea to pair ornaments with books. How fun!
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It's Christmas Eve in my house
Q
Comments (10)
(Sort of) sorry to add a bit more stress, on you who "work", as in being employed for essential compensation. One more reason to be thankfully retired, not having to juggle the timing of when to celebrate holidays. Could you use a Christmas gift from ole ... (let's call it "old" this time - as it involves suggestions/((advice)) from one who claims to be a senior) ... old joyful/joyfuelled. Sometimes I approach a smoker, usually one standing the required 75 feet or so outside the door of a store or mall and with a smile and a bit of a lilt in my voice, I say that how s/he chooses to live his/her life is their business ... but ... how would s/he like to retire early? As you can imagine, I receive a variety of responses, but try to keep the conversation in a humorous, light-hearted fashion. Perhaps it's substantially curiosity, coupled with their impression that it looks as though this (old) guy isn't about give them a hard time, but quite a few are willing to pursue the conversation. I suggest that they write down the cost of their smoking for at least a month, but I suggest that a quarter or a half or a year may be better ... and give thought to whether they might like to retire early ... and whether transferring a good (and increasing?) portion of that money to investing for an earlier retirement might be a good idea? Plus ... it's been pretty well established that non-smoking may add years, and more than likely healthier years, at that, to one's life. If the conversation is going well I may ask whether they might be interested in using some of their spare time to start a new hobby. As a financial planner for some time, I've suggested to quite a few people that learning how money works can be an interesting hobby - and it pays well! As does learning about taxes! Back to old joyful's gift to you. If you're a smoker - you might like to consider the message so far as part of it. Is it time to have a hard look at the results of Christmas at your home/in your extended family connection, as to whether, in the light of remembering that much of the media advertising related to the season pretty well paints a picture of Christmas as equalling shopping ... ... the gifts that are exchanged really provide sufficient value to the recipients among your family and loved ones to make them worth their cost?? Many families choose to choose names and give to only one adult, and others choose to concentrate on gatherings of loved ones. Some choose also to agree among their connected ones to devote a percentage of their Christmas giving to helping needy fellow humans. For a number, they might be tempted to reconsider the above ... when the credit card statements arrive in the new year. (Anyone up for an addition to the new year's resolution list?). If you don't/aren't able to pay the credit card bill in full each month, if you don't know the rate of interest you're assessed ... in your wise and effective management of your money, it's important that you find out! On many store-issued cards it's often up near 30% annual rate, compounded monthly, and on bank-issued and similar agencies, up just under 20% - but several percentage points higher on cash advances. For those of you with ongoinng balances owing on your credit card(s) ... how faithful are you at fulfilling promises that you make to yourself?? If your record is bad - ignore what I'm about to say - please - please!!! Quite likely your bank/credit union may be willing to lend you money at 5% or less: less if you have collateral or co-singer (who'll have to pay if you default!). Your promise is to buy no more using the card till the loan is paid off ... ... and after that, your iron-clad promise to yourself is that those amounts owing must be paid in full every billing period!! Anyone who fails should have arranged with four friends to give him/(her?) a kick in the rump every month so long as that new credit card balance runs over that month. The lower rate if interest will enable the loan to be paid off much earlier! And don't e.g me started on these horrible pay day loans - $20. fee to borrow $200. for up to two weeeks?!?! Horrible! I hope that you all have a joyful, companionable and blessed Christmas/holiday and a new year that brings the fulfilment of one/some of your dreams ... and the envisioning of some new and worthwhile ones! Remember, please ... learning how money works is an interesting hobby - that pays well. Taxes, too. old joyful (ole joyfuelled)
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nctomatoman
18 years ago
Christmas Eve - Beef Stew with popovers, a nice Zinfandel or Shiraz or Merlot, plate of the various Christmas cookies that we make for dessert.

Christmas Day - Roasted Beef Tenderloin, mashed potatoes, gravy, carrots Vichy, Peas, fresh baked bread, Champagne and a big red for wines - Chocolate charlotte with whipped cream and raspberry coulis for dessert.

But this year it is different - my wife and I are travelling to RI to spend Dec 25-31 with my parents....so it will be whatever is served to us!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, all!
Craig
annschickenfarm
18 years ago
After I met my husband,and started to celebrate the holidays with his family,We adopted their tradition of a big seafood feast on christmas eve.Shrimp,King crab,Calamari,baby octopus,ect.Christmas day is usually left overs and lots of baked treats.
Ann.
Glenn_50
18 years ago
In New Zealand Christmas Eve isn't celebrated quite like you folk do. Xmas Eve is usually last minute shopping, work booze ups etc, Xmas Day is the big day with Turkey, Ham etc. Have ripe tomatoes, volunteer new potatoes and runner beans fresh out of the garden.We have 15 coming for Dinner. Used to be 30 but nature has taken care of a few and the remainder aren't breeding for some reason or other.
Glenn
hedwarr
18 years ago
Wow Duane, your menu is a carbon copy of ours at Christmas, to a tee!!!
coronabarb
18 years ago
"Wow! the count would love this story"

Count Von Count? Haven't watched Sesame Street in quite a long time. ;-)

I used to make homemade chili for Christmas Eve, but we started a new *tradition* a few years ago of going out to eat. :-)

Two years ago, I got tired of the turkey/ham/whatever thing, so I started making Rib Roast...YUM! It beats ham and turkey any day. And I sure do like the idea of a Seafood Feast, Ann. Not sure if I would want to give up the dinner out on Christmas Eve or usurp the Roast Beast. Those lobsters in Sam's Club sure looked good today.

barb
griley
18 years ago
Christmas Eve is always at my parents where we have whatever anyone is in the mood to make. We had sandwiches and finger foods last year and grazed all night while we played board games and opened our gifts. I think we're doing the same tonight.

Christmas day is at bf's parents and we always have pork and lamb. Bf's mom is from Sicily and there is always pasta as a side dish, among other things that vary from year to year. Delicious. She also breaks out the bakala...that, I could do without...salted cod mixed with something, served cold...yuck!
winnjoe
18 years ago
I like the Ukrainian style for Christmas Eve: meatless, dairyless. Gotta love three different types of herring. If sour cream is dairy, I cheat. Joe
shesalittlebear
18 years ago
My husband and I don't have any of our own traditions yet. Usually, we go to his family one year (four hours away). The following year is spent with my family (in L.A. or Sacramento). At his mother's house we eat tamales (don't tell him, but they aren't very good).

At my maternal Grandmother's house (Sacramento), we used to eat tamales, but now she doesn't like to make them (hers and her sister's are the best). At my paternal grandmothers, it's usually a potluck and tamales (not very good either). It's the party house. At mom's house, we have a ham or turkey or seafood --always a very decadent American style dinner.

This year, DH and my brother had X-mas eve at my house. Per my brother's request, I made baked chicken (thighs), mashed potatoes, Toblerone cheesecake, green beans with crimini mushrooms and a nice salad with greens, dried cranberries, seedless red grapes, fuji apples, celery, English cucumbers and pecans.

NCTomatoman,

If you would please share the recipe for Beef Stew with popovers and Chocolate Charlotte. Thanks.
bitterwort
18 years ago
We're a mixed household, so we experiment with making our own traditions. I know that tamales are a tradition for some, so I made them yesterday. I can see why your grandmother doesn't like to make them any more, shesalittlebear--it was an all-day affair! LOL If you don't have your maternal grandmother's recipe, I would suggest you get it and preserve it for your family. And if you did have it and were willing to share, I'd love a copy.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, etc.!
Shelley
spyfferoni
18 years ago
We do traditional American for Thanksgiving and then traditional Puertorican for Navidad. That is: arroz con gandules(spanish rice w/pigeon peas), roast pork, pasteles(the carribean version of tamales---instead of corn, the dough/masa is made out of finely grated Yucca or finely grated green bananas and some other tubers that aren't common here(yautia---aka Malanga, aka Taro root). They are then wrapped in banana leaves after they are filled with a meat mixture(usually pork). You thought tamles were a pain in the butt to make!!! Even with the food processor I spend 4 hours just making the masa---ever peel green bananas??? The other sides are usually potato salad, pan con ajo(garlic bread), and for dessert arroz con dulce (a concoction similar to rice pudding---very sweet and made with coconut cream), and tembleque---a custard made out of coconut milk, sugar, and cornstarch that is cooked on the stove and then poored into a dish to chill and sprinkled w/cinnamon. In Puerto Rico they drink coquito(like egg nog, only has coconut milk in it and usually rum). Yummy---unless you don't care for coconut. It is a lot of fun for my kids to learn about the Christmas traditions there. They get gifts from relatives here on Christmas, and more gifts from relatives in Puerto Rico on January 6th---Three Kings Day.
Sorry I wrote a novel about our Christmas traditions.

Tyffanie
shesalittlebear
18 years ago
Hi Shelley,

I would love your recipe for tamales. I am sure that they are fabulous.

When I was younger, my grandmother never had the patience to teach us how to make tamales. She would always complain about us mixing the masa too much, overfilling the tamales, tamales looking sloppy, we were too slow or us not washing the leaves right. My grandma is the ultimate perfectionist and solo cook.

My great aunt (same grandmother's sister) was/is the complete opposite. She really enjoyed showing us how to make tamales. Unfortunately, she lives in El Paso and we live in Sacramento, CA. She hasn't visited for X-mas in several years. Her grand-daughter, who is only a year younger than me, knows how to make all of the traditional Mexican dishes...Thanks to HER grandma.

My favorite types of tamales are cheese and green chiles. Yum, yum.

Hi Tyffanie,

Your Christmas dinner sure sounds yummy. If possible, please share your recipes for arroz con dulce, tembleque
and coquitos.

Cheers,

Angelique
big_mike
18 years ago
Baked potato soup or chili for Christmas Eve, since we're really busy that night. The kids come in for gift exchange and dinner, then we go to Christmas Eve services. We have to be done by 10:30 so the kids can go to their in-laws and go to midnight mass. Christmas is at Brother in law #5 and Christmas night is at Brother in law #2.
jenna_sc
18 years ago
My BF and I both work in retail, so we're tired after work on Christmas Eve. For the last few years I buy lots of easy nibble stuff to serve that night-good cheeses, olives, red wine, specialty breads of varying kinds, roasted nuts, tangerines and fresh pineapple...you get the idea.

Christmas morning we sleep late and have a real treat for breakfast: bacon! (We're vegetarians 99% of the time) I make a big breakfast of bacon, french toast, freshly squeezed oj, coffee.

My grandmother used to make the richest southern christmas food around. I miss her dinners now that she's gone. There was turkey, ham, cornbread dressing, giblet gravy, lots of sides....homemade caramel cake covered with crushed pecans, 6 layer chocolate cake, sweet cinnamon toasted pecans, coconut cakes, chess pies, etc. etc. And always there were loads of tangerines and navel oranges around, and walnuts.

Jen

Christmas Eve/Christmas Day food traditions

Comments (15)

Mary_in_pnw

gflynn

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