Holiday Traditions

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

Oh I wish. I did walk out of one of the convents though. I have never been on a bike. I did run away with a South American on horseback though. (Briefly....I found out he was married and rode straight back).

Well then, you have lived correctly, by my book

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[MichaelinChina]

Hey, I just learnt something about bonfire night!

Bristol has a carnival ( small carnivals with floats are quite frequent in the West Country) and the Bristol one dates back to the gunpowder plot discovery.

That's why it's also called Guy Fawkes' night; even as a kid in Australia we called it that.

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[MichaelinChina]

Lol, read back. . Its rarely called Guy Fawkes here now.

I knew that, I just did not know the carnival culture was related.

Yeah, it turned into 'Çracker Night' somewhere along the line, and the celebration itself has completely disappeared in Australia now owing to the fact that fireworks are not able to be bought by the general public. Although some do manage to get them illegally.
The banning was due I think to injuries as well as the risk of bush, and house, fires.

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[MichaelinChina]

Fireworks are popular in the westcountry. Its easy to buy them here I think. People have them at home, and community events. There were some last night up on a hill that we can see from here and know well, that I expect was young people setting them off for fun. Pretty, but, unsafe. But.....they drive up there and drink and drive around too.....so *shrug*. I suppose the fireworks at least they are risking more themselves in our climate thn when they drink/ drug drive.

Yes well Australia has developed into a 'nanny state'. Not so here, although the authorities are cracking down a bit. At business openings, a long line of fireworks/bungers is coiled up and down the footpath and let off. Damn loud! and lots of smoke! And of course major celebrations involve constant fireworks displays all round the city. Spring Festival is early next year; can't wait!

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[MichaelinChina]

Lantern Festival - after Spring festival -is really lovely.

But the latest trend (even during Dragon Festival) is vendors selling what are in essence plastic bags with a candle in them. People buy them, light them and the hot air takes them up high in the sky. Very pretty.

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[MichaelinChina]

Agh, those lanterns I would like to see banned, . They are stunningly beautiful I agree, but not great when they meet hay barns or in fields.

No problem really, they burn out high in the sky.

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

No problem really, they burn out high in the sky.

We want to hear all about the festival's as they happen, please!! Traditions, food, meaning behind the celebrations etc. Let us know how they are celebrated as they occur?

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[Cumference]

No problem really, they burn out high in the sky.

Around here they unfortunately don't.

They were banned recently here, after yet another fire (this time in a historical building), caused by a sky lantern.



Not to mention this one:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smethwick_fire_2013
Security cameras actually saw it land!

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[seela]

It's Father's Day, and as per our tradition J and I celebrate Not-a-Father's Day. I baked him muffins and made the icing look like a cat, because our cat is the closest thing to a child he and I are ever going to have. It looked like a 5 year old decorated the muffins, so I suppose it's sort of topical, too.

I sent my dad a card and a book earlier this week and called him today. He's in the middle of nowhere hiking alone. It's raining and cold, but he sounded happy.

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

Sounds like your father's day is much like ours, though it's earlier in the year. June, I think. A meal or a special treat, small gifts, expressions of appreciation. Glad your dad is having a good one

Elle - unless you want to post something, I will have to Google it as I don't remember ever having learned anything about it.

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[seela]

Sounds like your father's day is much like ours, though it's earlier in the year. June, I think. A meal or a special treat, small gifts, expressions of appreciation. Glad your dad is having a good one

We have mother's and father's day exactly 6 months apart. Makes it easy to remember one if you remember the other.

Neither of them have been a big deal in our family and normally I just call him on the father's day, but this year I found a book he would like in the book fear that I went to so I thought I'd send it.

In hindsight it would have made a good Christmas gift too, one less to buy. Oh well.

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

its a hindu, sikh and jain festival and celebrates light and knowledge. Its over a few days. Light is the predominant feature. I think its celebrated at a different time of year in the southern hemisphere, being reflective of season.

It might be a readon some seem to put christmas lights up very early....if they are of these religions

Oooohhh! Ok, we have something here, a light festival, involving lots of lanterns. I missed it last year, maybe this year too

 

[midwestyankee]

World's Best Eggnog Recipe

We're approaching the time (some more quickly than others, eh, C_'n_C?) when eggnog feels like the perfect beverage for the season. Here is the world's best eggnog recipe, taken from the old Joy of Cooking cookbook. the added commentary is from the website where I stole the recipe.

The best eggnog in the world is made according to the "Eggnog in Quantity" recipe in Joy of Cooking. Rombauer and Becker should be both beatified and knighted for this recipe. The stuff is thick and sweet and stealthily potent. It will ruin you for other eggnogs.

Here is the recipe, reproduced without the permission of the authors or Scribner, the publisher. It's copyright (c) 1995 Scribner, New York, NY.

Beat separately until light in color:

12 egg yolks

Beat in gradually:

1 lb. confectioners' sugar

Add very slowly, beating constantly:

2 cups dark rum, brandy, bourbon or rye

These liquors may each form the basic ingredients of the nog or may be combined to taste. Let mixture stand covered for 1 hour to dispell the "eggy" taste.

Add, beating constantly:

2 to 4 cups of liquor chosen

2 quarts whipping cream

(1 cup peach brandy)

Refrigerate covered for 3 hours. Beat until stiff but not dry:

8 to 12 egg whites

Fold them lightly into the other ingredients. Serve the eggnog sprinkled with:

Freshly grated nutmeg​

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[desertslave]

Elle, make MWY's recipe, then. He is right, it is sublime! I like making the base with 1/2 brandy and 1/2 bourbon, and using 2 cups each dark rum and bourbon for the 2nd part. I've made it that way several times and it was always very agreeable (as were those who drank it ).

Joy of Cooking is and always will be my absolute go-to cookbook. I still make my turkey their way, and will not be swayed by brining or deep frying. Master has always liked my version, too.