Holiday Traditions

[BiBunny]

New Year's Day Meal = Brussels Sprout Challenge, the rematch.

So, knowing that the boys would be expecting the green grenades, I took extra special care in hiding them on the plates, one for each of them. As I was in the kitchen, I heard them start to complain, and then daughter offered to eat them but only if she was paid a pound per sprout. I walked in to see both boys handing over their money to her, together with the offending vegetable.

Clever girl, I thought.

Then, the boys both found another sprout hidden on each of their plates......

I looked at daughter who was helpless with laughter - she'd added an extra sprout from her own plate to both of theirs when they weren't looking, then accepted them back together with the cash

VERY clever girl....

Your daughter will go far in life.

 

[midwestyankee]

Your daughter will go far in life.

Isn't that the truth?

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

So... what is the next holiday coming up?
Orthodox New Year on the 14th?
MLK day on the 19th?
Probably the next one for me is Groundhogs Day on Feb 2. I only observe it because I have a relative whose birthday that is. I have no real GD practices that vary from birthday practices, other than checking to see how much winter is left...
I guess the next biggy in the states is Valentine's Day.
What about other countries? Anything in the horizon?

 

[midwestyankee]

So... what is the next holiday coming up?
Orthodox New Year on the 14th?
MLK day on the 19th?
Probably the next one for me is Groundhogs Day on Feb 2. I only observe it because I have a relative whose birthday that is. I have no real GD practices that vary from birthday practices, other than checking to see how much winter is left...
I guess the next biggy in the states is Valentine's Day.
What about other countries? Anything in the horizon?

 

[seela]

So... what is the next holiday coming up?
Orthodox New Year on the 14th?
MLK day on the 19th?
Probably the next one for me is Groundhogs Day on Feb 2. I only observe it because I have a relative whose birthday that is. I have no real GD practices that vary from birthday practices, other than checking to see how much winter is left...
I guess the next biggy in the states is Valentine's Day.
What about other countries? Anything in the horizon?

Our Birthday Season kicked in this week. From now until the end of February there are 9 birthdays that we celebrate in some capacity, including J's and mine.

But the next holiday is Easter. Groundhogs Day is just a weird thing I've seen on TV (although groundhogs are cute, I admit that, so a holiday to put them on the spotlight is awesome) and Valentine's Day is no biggie here, and actually it's called Friend's day and it isn't all that lovey-dovey, but like the name suggests, about friendship in general instead.

 

[desertslave]

Master's birthday is next for me, and then V-Day which will be our 10th wedding anniversary. We've earned a celebration this year, since we've achieved what friends and not-so-friendly thought impossible.

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

So... what is the next holiday coming up?
Orthodox New Year on the 14th?
MLK day on the 19th?
Probably the next one for me is Groundhogs Day on Feb 2. I only observe it because I have a relative whose birthday that is. I have no real GD practices that vary from birthday practices, other than checking to see how much winter is left...
I guess the next biggy in the states is Valentine's Day.
What about other countries? Anything in the horizon?

Veeeerrry funny MWY...
But you're early

Our Birthday Season kicked in this week. From now until the end of February there are 9 birthdays that we celebrate in some capacity, including J's and mine.

But the next holiday is Easter. Groundhogs Day is just a weird thing I've seen on TV (although groundhogs are cute, I admit that, so a holiday to put them on the spotlight is awesome) and Valentine's Day is no biggie here, and actually it's called Friend's day and it isn't all that lovey-dovey, but like the name suggests, about friendship in general instead.

A birthday season! Is there some customary drinking that goes on in July, resulting in a lot of Feb birthdays there? I rather like the friendship theme. V-Day does seem a little crazy here...
And a happy early birthday to you both

Master's birthday is next for me, and then V-Day which will be our 10th wedding anniversary. We've earned a celebration this year, since we've achieved what friends and not-so-friendly thought impossible.

Awesome!! Are you going anywhere? Or celebrate at home with friends? 10 years is a lovely accomplishment

 

[seela]

A birthday season! Is there some customary drinking that goes on in July, resulting in a lot of Feb birthdays there? I rather like the friendship theme. V-Day does seem a little crazy here...
And a happy early birthday to you both

It's so light in summer that people can't sleep?

And thanks!

 

[desertslave]

Veeeerrry funny MWY...
But you're early



A birthday season! Is there some customary drinking that goes on in July, resulting in a lot of Feb birthdays there? I rather like the friendship theme. V-Day does seem a little crazy here...
And a happy early birthday to you both



Awesome!! Are you going anywhere? Or celebrate at home with friends? 10 years is a lovely accomplishment

Thank you! We never did get away from (for...whatever) Christmas, so hopefully we will. We're in a bit of a money limbo (Mom's estate is on the verge of being settled and we're working on a re-fi of our home), but if we get even some of it settled in time, that's the plan.

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

Thank you! We never did get away from (for...whatever) Christmas, so hopefully we will. We're in a bit of a money limbo (Mom's estate is on the verge of being settled and we're working on a re-fi of our home), but if we get even some of it settled in time, that's the plan.

I hope it works out for you

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

Valentines!!

We've got Valentines Day coming up this weekend. Who's got plans? How do you celebrate, personally? Do you have any cultural traditions associated with Valentine's Day?

Personally, I can't be with my Valentine this year When I can, I typically ask for a home cooked meal, fancy as possible. Flowers and chocolates and wine are never discouraged but I don't need them. Many past experiences of trying to go out for dinner that day have ended in misery, so I just don't attempt it. My final attempt was in a very small, upscale ($100 a plate) restaurant with a reservation in place, and I STILL waited 90 minutes.

I will go out to a club or bar later in the night. That's usually not so bad. But I think I much prefer celebrating it on another day, celebrating it privately, or just celebrating my relationship throughout the year as Stag mentioned in another thread.

Does anybody have plans? This tends to be one of those holidays people love to hate, I know... If that's you, why do you hate it?

 

[MeekMe]

We don't have a going out tradition. The only thing that happens most years is I make homemade peanut butter cups for Mister. Sometimes we cook a nice meal together and just enjoy ourselves for an evening. Going out is just not going to happen as most restaurants are packed full.

I think we might be making a new tradition for v-day involving rope.

 

[LallyH]

We never celebrated Valentines Day before kids because I've never had any interest in it, but once the children became old enough to understand about it, we did try to make more of an effort. Occasionally one of us would buy the other one a card, but the other one would always forget

I think hubby feels it should be more of a special day, because he has been squirming about telling me that he will be at the other side of the country watching a football game on 'the day'. As is my wifely duty, I let him suffer for a while before letting him know that I wasn't upset at all

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

Homemade peanut butter cups sound awesome! Pics in the cooking thread, please!

Warning! Seela, you may want to look away, as Nutella is involved
I saw these pop tart/ pop hearts. So cute! I might try them.

Lally - I just love your interpretation of wifely duty

 

[seela]

Warning! Seela, you may want to look away, as Nutella is involved
I saw these pop tart/ pop hearts. So cute! I might try them.

Nah, it's fine, the Nutella wasn't visible, but thanks for the warning.

Like I wrote earlier, here V-day is called Friend's day. I don't really celebrate it, but I send cards to a couple of friends who live so far away that we rarely meet. I got two cards myself today.

 

[IrisAlthea]

I get cards from shopkeepers who want me to buy heartshaped and/or pink stuff. That's about it.
We have never celebrated Valentine's. It's not really a big tradition here.

I did get my first big bunch of tulips for spring a few days ago. That's something of a tradition for us and it helps brighten this grey time before it really start to feel like spring.

 

[Cumference]

I get cards from shopkeepers who want me to buy heartshaped and/or pink stuff. That's about it.
We have never celebrated Valentine's. It's not really a big tradition here.

I did get my first big bunch of tulips for spring a few days ago. That's something of a tradition for us and it helps brighten this grey time before it really start to feel like spring.

Same for us with regards to Valentine.
The shopkeepers do all they can, and a few fools walk into the trap.

Flowers on the other hand!
Seeing the first flowers peeking out of the soil, that is worth celebrating!

Snowdrops and eranthis!

 

[IrisAlthea]

Same for us with regards to Valentine.
The shopkeepers do all they can, and a few fools walk into the trap.

Flowers on the other hand!
Seeing the first flowers peeking out of the soil, that is worth celebrating!

Snowdrops and eranthis!

Yup, eranthis are smiling at me every morning in the sunny corner of the garden.

Vintergäck in Swedish - it is such a great name for them.
( means mocking winter)

 

[Cumference]

"Vintergæk" in Danish.

And I'll buy some sleeping narcissus as soon as they are in the shops.
("Påskelilje" in Danish. Meaning "easter lilly")

 

[IrisAlthea]

"Vintergæk" in Danish.

And I'll buy some sleeping narcissus as soon as they are in the shops.
("Påskelilje" in Danish. Meaning "easter lilly")

I did something like this for New Years Eve:

The yellow ones are called påskliljor here too, but ours are always way too early and I always worry that the frost will take them, but they seem indestructible.

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

Well that sounds way more lovely than hothouse roses that don't even smell nice!

 

[Cumference]

Around here, a lot of people put hyacinth bulbs in glasses in late winter, to let them start early and set flowers:

I think that hyacinths indoors are simply too fragrant to be pleasant.

 

[IrisAlthea]

Around here, a lot of people put hyacinth bulbs in glasses in late winter, to let them start early and set flowers:

I think that hyacinths indoors are simply too fragrant to be pleasant.

They are very popular around Christmas here. One is enough though, because of the fragrance, I think.

Another popular flower around Cristmas is the Amaryllis and this time of year you can usually find them really cheap.
It does help with the winter blues but I keep trying to save them an get them to flower next year again an keep failing. Frustrating!

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

So you start these indoors and then plant them outside once the freeze has passed??

 

[Cumference]

We have quite a few hyacinths in the garden, that will flower every spring.

I think it is a question of not putting them out too late.
If they only get water, they will burn off all the stored energy. That is OK for the first, early blooming, but then they need to start stockpiling nutrients for next year.

Whenever we get hyacinths as a present, I'll transfer them to the garden as soon as it is socially acceptable.