When I was a lad, we'd all gather around the Meat Tree for Christmas. It was a lovely little pine, hung with strings of sausages, decorated with little sparkly livers and hearts and tongues, with a fetive star made from cunningly shaped thinly sliced ham at the top. Oh, how we'd laugh as we watched father and mother do the traditional gravy-sprinkling dance around the tree, and then we'd have a meatball fight. What are a few of your family's Christmas traditions?
...that sounds auspiciously like something Ralf would say... *ahem* Lessee...traditions...uhm.................. I don't think I have any. x____x
Being Jewish it is a wonderful day to go skiing, seeing as how the slopes are wide open and the lift lines very short! We did so every year when I was a kid.
Hmm my traditions... Let me think, oh yeah! ^^ Well, the Christmas Dinner usually takes place at my Grandma's (who lives next door) at evening, about seven o'clock. The whole family (aunts and uncles, cousins etc.) comes there to have a chat share Christmas wafer and wish each other the best. Then we sit down to eat the traditional 12 (a Polish tradition) dish supper/dinner. The only thing that simply HAS to be among the dishes is a carp, which everybody must taste (except for me since I'm vegetarian ). Then my uncle goes to "greet Santa" and to watch over his reindeers and comes back dressed as the Coca-Cola looking Santa (specially for the kids ). After Santa's visit, we all sit down and have some cake (mmm popy-seed cake ).
we used to go here its the largest single story wooden building in NZ. Some family friends own it and we (my family and extended family - 17 people in total) would house sit for them over Christmas. its so cool there, you could do whatever you wanted, play in the woods or lie in the hot hot sun, and it would take about 15mins to round everyone up for meals.
I'm not from the West and don't celebrate Christmas(eventhough I'm a Christian). But I do believe I got a Mask toy as a Christmas present when I was 10.
Champagne and pancakes for breakfast on Christmas day, then cold meats (turkey, ham etc) and salad for lunch with the extended family, and lots of sitting in the sun and beer n nibbles. Gotta love Christmas in summer :thumbsup:
Ah, yes, Christmas in summer... My favorite Chismas ever was the one when we left dreary old Ohio and went to my cousins' house in San Diego, CA. Nothing like swimming in an outdoor, unheated pool on Christmas morning when you've spent your whole life in the Snow Belt.
I know how you feel. I live in Pennsylvania, so this time of year always freezes everybody to the bone. I was supposed to spend this Christmas in San Jose, CA, but plans fell through. So, another frosty Christmas for me. As for traditions, I actually remembered some! First, we get up early in the morning (Well, I do, at about 6 or so), then kill time for a few hours playing video games until my parents and my little brother to wake up. He's usually the one that gets them up. So, we sit around for about half an hour until everybody wakes up, and open gifts. Then, we waste about 3 or 4 hours, then go to my grandmother's for lunch. It's a small gathering. Me, my mom, step father, brother, uncle, cousin, and grandmother. We eat a fairly large meal, then get some desert (this awesome thing that nobody knows the proper name of but is really good. Ice cream and pudding and cool whip mixed in a graham cracker crust). Afterwards, everybody opens presents there. Then we sit around for about an hour or two until my uncle gets bored and leaves. Then, it's another hour or two wait, then a 45-minute-drive to my step-father's parents' house for supper and Christmas cards. Fun times...
In the last few years, Christmas wasn't friosty at all here - wghich is highly unusual at least. World climate change at full work ! Here, my sister and my patents and me, we usually meet and give ano another some presents. We often go out for a long "family walk" through nature or through woods, and visit relatives, of possible (meaning if they are not occupied by their own traditions).
I love a summer Christmas, I can't imagine it cold/snowy - you'd have to have your BBQs indoors instead of at the beach.
Butter-pecan ice cream and pudding? If so, we may be related - we don't know what it's called, either.:dribble:
Frozen Praline Pie. There are several variants out there. Edit: Forgot to add my own. Usually, we kill (or have killed) something made of meat, and eat it after it is roasted. Yum.