Holiday Traditions

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

I have never eated tamales. . Wikipedia, that font of all information ( good and misinformed alike) says they are celebration food and includes christmas in the list of appropriate occasions. Good enough for me.

I want a tamal now.

Also, lots of people eat lots of chocolate at Christmas....i don't tend to, because though i consider it a winter confection more than a spring one, so ok here in northern hemisphere, i think of candies like divinity , and marzipan fruits, and candied peels, Marron glace, and so on.

You did that right... very good!
One tamal, two tamales

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[IrisAlthea]

Happy St Nicholas (and Krampus ) to those celebrating it!

Happy Independence day to me!

We did, thank you!
It's not normally celebrated in Sweden though.

Happy belated Independence Day!

 

[J_R_Ashunwhy]

Christmas in my household is celebrated 'nightmare before Christmas' style: I have a black tree dressed with pumpkin and bat garlands, and all of my ornaments are of monsters, skeletons, pirates, daleks etc. Most of my additional decorations-- such as my black and silver door wreath with a skull-- go up for Halloween, but stay up until just after Christmas. All decorations come down the day after Christmas, if not on Christmas itself.

I'm usually the one stuck baking for Christmas, not just for myself, but for my extended family. Thus far:
pumpkin spice bread: baked and frozen
apfelkuchen: baked and frozen
fruitcake: baked and spiked
lebkuchen: dough make and frozen
a dozen and a half other cookies....not yet started O.O
homemade fudge...will be made the week of

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

Christmas in my household is celebrated 'nightmare before Christmas' style: I have a black tree dressed with pumpkin and bat garlands, and all of my ornaments are of monsters, skeletons, pirates, daleks etc. Most of my additional decorations-- such as my black and silver door wreath with a skull-- go up for Halloween, but stay up until just after Christmas. All decorations come down the day after Christmas, if not on Christmas itself.

I'm usually the one stuck baking for Christmas, not just for myself, but for my extended family. Thus far:
pumpkin spice bread: baked and frozen
apfelkuchen: baked and frozen
fruitcake: baked and spiked
lebkuchen: dough make and frozen
a dozen and a half other cookies....not yet started O.O
homemade fudge...will be made the week of

Interesting - I haven't ever encountered anyone before who combines Halloween and Christmas.
I like it!
And somehow I perceive that you are not so much getting stuck doing the Christmas baking, but doing it because you are the best at it

 

[J_R_Ashunwhy]

***deleted***

 

[seela]

Trevlig luciadag!

No lussekatter for me today, but I'm gonna go watch the procession later.

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

St. Lucy's Day. I looked it up, so this is for anyone who is unfamiliar (as i was!):

In Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland, Lucy (called Lucia) is venerated on December 13 in a ceremony where a girl is elected to portray Lucia. Wearing a white gown with a red sash and a crown of candles on her head, she walks at the head of a procession of women, each holding a candle. The candles symbolize the fire that refused to take St. Lucy's life when she was sentenced to be burned. The women sing a Lucia song while entering the room, to the melody of the traditional Neapolitan song Santa Lucia; the Italian lyrics describe the view from Santa Lucia in Naples, the various Scandinavian lyrics are fashioned for the occasion, describing the light with which Lucia overcomes the darkness. Each Scandinavian country has lyrics in their native tongues. After finishing this song, the procession sings Christmas carols or more songs about Lucia.

I'm not sure what lussekatter might be though. Possibly adopting a cat in St. Lucy's name? Ok, probably not Somebody enlighten me if you care to

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

A bun.

Awww... too bad! No kitties
I rather like my version!

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

Kitties would be lovely. . I had a very old relative named after this saint, from the Scandi side of family. But we never mark it. And actually, I never saw celebrations anywhere. Its like the saints day my family never acknowledge

I smell the possibility for a new tradition in the making in your household!

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

You might be right.

G was also complaining that we only got baubles out for Christmas, and though I decorate the house with a wreath on the door reflecting different times of year, special days etc, and different little accents .....he said Christmas is just amazing because of the beauty.

I was wondering how I could decorate with different colour theme and turn his birthday into a 'bauble' day. Not quite sure yet how to do this practically. Will have to tie in with time of year and still colours he loves and perhaps just be one room....

In that case, I vote for the bedroom

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

Not so good for entertaining maybe?

Depends on how much you want to freak out your guests

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

Are you saying you do not want to come upstairs to see Gianbattista's baubles?

If you've seen two, you've seen them all

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[pensivepoet]

If you've seen two, you've seen them all

*laughed*

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

A question for those who know...

What constitutes a typical English Christmas dinner? I have a friend asking me to ask the crowd here at large. I personally would expand on that and ask... What does a traditional English Christmas dinner consist of, and what is typical now, if it's different? I can't imagine everyone eating goose?

 

[desertslave]

Goose is certainly viewed as traditional, but honestly Christmas goose is very greasy. I remember reading somewhere that Michaelmas (Sept. 29) goose is much better.

Anyway, here's a good article on traditional feasts.

http://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/13/nyregion/food-a-traditional-english-christmas-feast.html

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

Thanks ds! I can't help but wonder, though, is that everything? Shrimp on toast, potatoes, Brussels sprouts, a bird, and a pudding? Doesn't sound like much of a feast, does it?

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[pensivepoet]

Dammit Elle. You didn't sleep, did you?