Spondylitis Association of America Forums General Discussion Off-Topic Forum Holiday traditions

Okay, what's your favorite holiday tradition?

Do you hide a pickle in your tree? Do you always eat the same thing on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? (Sorry for the slant, it's all I know )

Given that we all have limited energy, what is the one thing you won't let slide because it's just too meaningful for you?

slant?

I always fall asleep under the Christmas tree the night that we put it up. Going on 30 years of that tradition and I get to share it with my daughter now.

I've been thinking of this since yesterday. My daughter had to write about a family tradition for school. After trying to come up with something, I am at a loss. It has hit me, now, that with the recent loss of both my parents, that our holiday traditions went with them.

My daughter and I just put up the tree this past weekend, and we will make my famous butter cutout cookies, but the rest of our holiday traditions, well, we will not be able to carry out. It all revolved around going to grandma and grandpa's. I know we can start our own traditions, but it's really sad to realize that our Christmas holiday traditions are over.

It is true that I have to parcel out my energy just to get ready for Christmas, but we WILL make my cookies, come H#$% or highwater!!

If I can get my fingers to cooperate, perhaps we can sing Christmas carols around the piano. That should prove interesting. LOL

Crystal

I just realized that we have New Year's Day tradition that I've carried over from my childhood. I always cook a pork roast in sauerkraut and serve with mashed potatoes on NYD....I think it's suppose to bring you good luck all year long. So far, I don't think it's working!! LOL

Crystal

IrishElf,

Slant - bias, skewed towards Christmas rather than being politically correct and just saying "holiday".

Given that we spend every Christmas Day that we don't have family around with our Jewish friends, whose daughter LOVES our tree, I probably shouldn't worry so much about it. I just didn't want to offend or exclude those who have different religions, or none at all.

Crystal,

I know what you mean. My MIL kept the holiday traditions going. She passed away about 5 years ago. We moved most of the festivities to my house for the first two years, with pretty good success, but then my FIL remarried and now we're lucky if we get to see him on Christmas. Last year my new MIL wanted to make spaghetti for Christmas dinner because she could cook it in advance and it would be easier. This was after we 1) offered to have it at our house, and 2) offered to do all the cooking and cleanup. Luckily my FIL told her no spaghetti.

There are certain things we still insist on doing. Every year each family member gets a new ornament. Which means every couple of years we need a bigger tree

We have several traditions
1) We have to make butter cookie cut-outs
2) Someone in the family has to make Baklava
3) We always make Bagna Cauda for dinner (does
anyone know what that is?)
4) Santa always leaves a trail of candy canes
from the kids bedrooms to the Christmas tree
5) I always buy my Mom a pair of shoes as one of
her presents because a girl can never have
enough shoes (its our inside joke)
6) The kids always have a new set of PJs to wear
to bed on Christmas Eve.

Oh...the most important one

Christmas would not be Christmas without Johnny Mathis playing in the background while the kids opened up their presents in the morning!

I guess for me Christmas tradition is in the heart.

Whatever I'm doing and with whatever family member I'm doing it; it is always special.

With both my parents gone, our son moved away, my DH and I just do whatever we feel like doing. Sometimes we go "visiting", sometimes we make calls instead.

The little ones always get to open a present on christmas eve, well, us too hehe. You have to leave "Santa" milk and cookies before you go to bed. Always christmas music playing all christmas day, has to be a variety of all music styles though. The candy cane thing is funny. One year we made little bunny prints on easter for our little girl and laid them from the door to an Easter basket, that was so cool. I dont think anyone Jewish would be offended by the word Christmas?? That would be like getting irratated with the word Haunakah (sp? sorry any jewish friends. Too much wishy washyness about the political correctness of the "Holidays". How long have the two traditions gotten along just fine in America? Maybe I'm wrong though.

My daughter who is 31 and has a little one of her own now says it just isn't Christmas without the Andy Williams Christmas album playing. We have a christmas tradition that was started by my husbands grandmother and that is sometime during the holidays we have to have captains chowder. It is chocked full of seafood goodies. Crap, lobster, clams, fish Yum. Another one is to receive a new ornament from my husband. I don't have any ornaments that are the same on my tree they are all different. Some are done by artist friends of mine some I have done, ones the kids through the years have made and ones my husband has bought me. The one ornament that will be passed down the family tree is the Christmas Spider.

My family has many funny Xmas traditions ,,, one of the ones we laugh about most is how my 87 year old mom always manages at some point to slip into the conversation, that this is going to be her last Christmas ... Of course, we know that at some point it will be true, but we laugh because she's been saying it every year since 1972, the first Christmas after my dad died.

We always find a different running punchline each year and use it to liven up the conversation when someone starts to tell a story we've all heard a million times ...

After my dad died, the official family Christmas moved to my sister's home, and she is very good at keeping all the traditions going. The only one she stopped was that every year my mom used to make a plum pudding and hang it in the garage for a couple weeks to ferment. (I used to wonder about the car exhausts permeating the cloth mom wrapped the pudding in, but never mind that...) On Christmas, my mom would pour some kind of liquor over it, and light it. It had a blue flame, which she then extinguished. My sister and I thought it was yucky, so my mom and dad were the only ones who ate the plum pudding ...

Spenser23

Your mom's not Scottish is she? That pudding sounds too close to Haggis for comfort As for Jews being offended by the word Christmas, I didn't really mean that. I meant I didn't want anyone to feel left out. Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, atheist and agnostic are all welcome to discuss their traditions on this thread. I worked with a Muslim woman who celebrated Ramadan around Thanksgiving one year. While most of us were talking about what kind and how much food we were going to eat, she fasted every day from sunup to sundown. She could not even have water. It made me appreciate the depth of her dedication to her faith. She also talked about how lively and special the night's meal was. We've also celebrated Rosh Hashana with Jewish friends. The spirit of kinship and faith was overwhelming. It was also pretty funny when my son, who was around 5 at the time, decided EVERYTHING needed to be dipped in the salt water before he ate it

Our Christmas traditions are going to communion with my DH's family. My daughters get to open one present early, it's always a fancy dress of somesort to wear to communion.

We also spend Christmas Eve with his parents and Christmas day with mine, except this year. My husband's grandmother is sick and this may be her last year so we will be spending both days with her, and then spend the day after Christmas (also my mothers birthday) with my family.

Let's see, what else. Oh, my husband is always the one to put the star on the tree.

A few years ago my oldest daughter asked a very good question. "If it's Jesus' birthday why isn't there a birthday cake?" So now every year I make a "Jesus Cake". We sing happy birthday, blow out candles and have a piece. The type of cake changes every year. Whatever new recipe sounds yummy, and I feel like making it.

And that's it!!

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah, everyone!

Also, we celebrate Hanukah, but I don't feel like typing anymore. Just traditional stuff, hopefully we won't be in the hospital this year.

Every year, without fail, my sister and I have to sing 12 Days of Christmas to my dad. He absolutely hates that song, so we do it just to irritate him. Every year when we're done, he'll say, "Well, I'm glad that's over for another year." This year will be better because my eight year old daughter is going to sing with us.

My husband's family lives in south Texas. When we visit them at Christmas we have tamales, queso, salsa and beans on Christmas Eve. Then the kids go out looking at lights. When they return, Santa has been to the house and they open presents then. No having to wait til the next morning!

Michelle

Oh YUM YUM Michelle! I adore home made Tamales! I used to eat the ones in a can...can you believe that? One year a lady my DH worked with gave him some of the REAL ones. I won't have canned in my house anymore, I got so spoiled!

My grandmother lived in Corpus Christi. We used to have tamales every Christmas. I really miss them.

Something I read earlier this evening reminded me of one of my most precious holiday tradition memories. My grandma, my mom's mom, used to make all her children (6 of them) a homemade fruitcake for Christmas.

It was WONDERFUL. Soaked in rum forever, at least it felt like forever. Those fruitcakes were the best thing going. I looked forward to getting ours every year. Nothing at all like what you find in stores, or even in bakeries.

I really miss my grandma's fruitcake....really miss my grandma, too.

Crystal

Crystal, you and I must be two of the ten people in the world who loves fruitcake! I have bought fruitcake from various places in the past, but none seems quite right. I have considered some of the monestaries, where the cakes are supposed to be exceptionally good, but I can't afford the price they ask.

Ah yes, the tamales from south Texas are delicious. However, I have found a place here in Amarillo that makes homemade tamales and they are almost as good.

The lady in McAllen who makes these sells about 15 different varieties. Last year we bought some cream cheese and jalapeno. They were so good I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! (That has special meaning to all of us, I know! )

Michelle

Just to let you all know, I have enjoyed this thread more than any other lately.

Lots of memories brought back!

Thanks

Av guy

Michelle,

The tamales sound wonderful. I have a friend who makes them (I don't have to go to all that work). I think my favorite of hers is the chicken. Of course Pedro's Tamales are good in a pinch, especially since it's virtually down the street. If there good enough for the White House...

Elf,

I was quite shocked they have tamales in cans. But if I lived further north... If you get a chance to come down this way I'll spoil you.

jenny

That is SO SWEET Jenny! I've seriously been thinking of checking the Mexican restaurants here to see if someone uses the "old family recipe" for Tamales.

But those cream cheese and jalapeno ones sound really good too.

I make some killer cheese stuffed peppers, rolled in corn meal. For the life of me I can't remember the name though. Chili's Reanjos (sp)
My DH loves them. Will probably make them Christmas eve for him. Maybe I can get some Tamales too. YUMMM

You guys like jalepena poppers? Stuffed jalepena peppers with cream cheese, wrapped in bacon and baked for about 25 to 40 minutes. Hard to believe how much of "the hot" is taking away when you remove the seeds from the pepper.
Our family loves them, has them every Christmas and other holidays.

We don't wrap in bacon. We bread them and deep fry them. Serve with lettuce, grated cheese and tomatoes. They're yummy.

Wrapping in bacon is a version of Rumaki. Didn't know you were so fancy huh?

Elf,

I think you mean Chile Rellenos. One of my favorites! I like it with a ranchero sauce.

I'm getting really hungry now. I may have to go to Taco Bueno and get a snack (it's the only place open this late).

MSJAY,

Jalepeno poppers is one of my daughters favorites. My Dad loves to watch her eat them. I don't know where she puts it all!!

I'm originally from New Mexico, where the chile rellenos are made with large green chiles stuffed with cheddar or cream cheese, sometimes pepperjack, breaded and fried. I never cared for them, but they are favorite among native New Mexicans.

Anyone like posole? I love it! I made some the other night when my sister came to town.

Crystal, how did your grandma make her fruitcake? I would love to know if it's not a secret family recipe.

Ah food....one of the great things about the holidays!

I wish I knew......my younger brother probably has the recipe, as he absconded with all my mom's recipes after my dad died last Christmas Eve. And he's not speaking to me since he feels that I didn't help take care of dad enough. Of course, me having a heart attack, and all the other diseases I have doesnt count.

Sorry, didn't mean to grouse. Anyhow, I wish I had the recipe....I would surely share it.

Crystal

Gosh Crystal, that's horrible. I've had some problems with my sister and they've recently resolved. I wish that for you. I hope Christmas Eve is filled with good memories of your father. A good friend of mine died 7 years ago (cancer) and for a few years I felt ache when October came around, especially on the day. Now, I only feel good about her and great memories. I try not to think of the last year of her life and the horrors that cancer and the meds can cause. Now her suffering has ended and i think she watches over me as I'm sure your father does for you too. Take care sweet Crystal. Your brother will see things for what they are in time. Brad

Brad,

I truly hope you are right, as he has turned on my older brother and his family, also. It's so very sad.

OK, don't want to hijack this thread, just wanted to say thank you for the good wishes. I'm having a really hard week.

Crystal

I know that Christmas is over and the New Year has rung in, I haven't been here in a while and enjoyed reading this thread so I thought I would list my Christmas traditions..maybe it would inspire someone to start one of their own in a future year.
As a family we have several, these are what I started with my children. Every Christmas we all as a family make treats/gifts for our neighbors and deliver them the week before Christmas. On Christmas eve we have a traditional Christmas dinner, Ham, clam chowder and the trimmings, we all gather round and read "twas the night before Christmas", watch a Christmas themed movie, anything from the Grinch, to the santa clause, to the cartoon versions of rudolph etc... the children get to open one gift Christmas eve, we make our traditional Christmas morning breakfast on Christmas eve..( it must set overnight ) which means the hard part is done all you need to do is cook it. This meal is only prepared for and eaten Christmas morning it is our Holiday french toast with special holiday syrup.. A family favorite.

jewelee
would you like to share your overnight french toast recipe? Sounds interesting.

I make cinammon pull-apart rolls the night before that I just pop in the oven Christmas morning.

Sure! I would love to share them...They are just too delicious to keep to ourselves. My kids and I talk every year about opening a place where you can eat these everyday..but that would then interfere with the significance of it being our traditional Christmas morning breakfast..

Here it is...
ingredients you will need:
Texas toast or other thick sliced bread
6 beaten eggs
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp.baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
2 TBS sugar
skim milk
Make your batter as you would for regular french toast just add the extra ingredients (cinn, baking powder, sugar)
In fact I dont even 'measure' ingredients now just as long as you get them all in there..
Soak bread in batter and put in dish..(I have made huge batches and layed out on cookie sheet and would seperate layers with wax paper)..if there is leftover batter you can pour over top layer of bread cover with plastic wrap and put in refrigerator overnight. Brown on Griddle next morning.. Now
the Syrup..
Put in heavy saucepan
1c. light corn syrup
1/2c water
1 1/2 C sugar
Bring to a boil and boil for about 7-10 min
( while it thickens just a bit )about soft ball stage 234* remove from heat and while stirring add 1 pint of whipping cream..stir until mixed.
Enjoy!
If you try these let me know how you like them.
We have tried them with regular syrup and they just aren't the same.. good but not delicious!

Thanks Jewelee,

I will try it this weekend. The syrup sounds really interesting....I cant wait to try that. I'll be back to tell you how the kids and I liked it. I make this italian sausage soup whose taste completely changes after you put in the evaporated milk so the whipping cream in this recipe probably makes this to-die-for huh?

I love to cook....well, mostly bake...I like to collect recipies as my hobby and I tell my kids that when I die, I will hopefully have a book put together of all my favorites for each of them... as my legacy and so they wont starve.

Thanks for sharing
christie

Christie,

I too love to cook/bake and I too collect recipes and create new things to make.. I must have learned this from my grandmother.. was interesting when she passed everyone wanted the "book" of recipes.. there was only one, so we photo copied it.. good that you are making one for everyone. Another good idea..thanks for sharing. Look forward to hearing how you and your family enjoyed our family favorite french toast.. YUMMY! Can hardly wait till next Christmas so we can eat them again..lol

Although we didn't have our traditional Xmas this year because of all the strife-here our ours normally.

Every Xmas Eve it's to Jerry's mothers for yes.....home made tamales. Then we watch movies.

Sometime throughout the season I have to watch at least one version of A Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life. I'm still trying to watch the entire A Christmas Story(they play it a full 24 hours on TNT and somehow I have never managed to watch it from beginning to end)

For the kids, it's the cut out cookies, watching Frosty the snowman, and one night we light a fire, drag the mattresses to the living room and fall asleep with the Christmas tree lights on. Of course I have to be the last one out so I can turn off the tree and make sure the house doesn't burn down.

Hopefully next year will be better.

Sarah

Sarah

Now homemade tamales sounds fun to make. I have never done that before. Is it hard? Got a recipe to share? You could get the whole family involved with that.

christie

Dunno how it started but every Christmas Eve we go to my mom's and play Balderdash. It is so much fun... we get to sit around and make up the meaning of words. There are some halarious answers....!

Did you know the plural of 'shoe'?
Get this....

1 shoe.... 2 shoon!

It just cracks me up still!

Ahhhh, go ahead... everyone else does... yah Day... you got the strangest sense of humor!

sigh. chuckle. grin. (I still think it is funny!)

Anyway, it is an excuse to spend time together conversating and eating.
Day~

Games can be fun....I know what you mean.

Last New Years we hosted a "couples" bunko night. It was a lot fun with a lot of laughter.

This year we got so many phone calls weeks pior to New Years asking us to do it again...It was the HUSBANDS that wanted to come back.

I also think is good to show your kids that anyone can have a good time at home playing games no matter how old you are.

You know CB, it's beginning to sound like we ought to start a topic...Favorite recipes.

These mentioned are teriffic.

Sarah...did you get your MIL's recipe for tamales?

Jenny, yes, that's what I meant, ty...YUM YUM

Elf:
Now you know I live alone! Put all those great recipes up there, I will make them, I will eat them, I will gain another five pounds, I will go to rheumatologist, and I will get chewed out Let me thank all of you in advance!

LOL

Then we can organize a parade of the BUTT Sistas

Yeah, I be Bertha, Bertha Butt, one of the Butt sistas.

Believe me, making all those tamales is a family affair....an all day job. Slathering that corn much on those husks is messy. And you can always tell who made which ones by the thickness. I'll ask her for the recipe and post it.

I posted the recipe once for the "frijoles ala charra" (charro beans, baracho beans, bean soup) whatever you want to call it. If anyone is interested I'll put it up again.

Another good dish I got from her (very fattening, but very very good) is (there really is no name for it, so I call it sour cream ham noodles.

Take a 12 oz pkg of elbow macaroni and boil them (Jerry likes them "al dente") and then throw in a whole stick of butter. Chop up a 16 oz package of cooked ham(don't use the smoked or honey ham, I just buy the Kroger brand) into little squares, throw it in, add two cans of drained corn and a 24oz container of sour cream. I don't use the whole container, but found out 16 oz is too little and 24 is too much. After mixing it all together(it'll be cold by then, I go ahead and put it in the refrigerator for about an hour or two (if time permits-it lets the sour cream absorb into the noodles a little), then either microwave it or put it in a 300 degree oven until hot.

I would make it at Thanksgiving for my family and no one would touch it for a few years. After they finally broke down and tried it, it's one of their favorites. It does sound different, but it's really good.

Jerry's mom is an excellent cook, she makes chile rellenos(sp?), chicken mole, and even mole enchiladas. She could sell her spanish rice to restaurants. We go home miserably stuffed every time we visit.

Bunco? I used to play with a group of ladies until I had Kyle. It was so much fun, but the ladies I played with were kind of frigid and then I noticed there was some cheating going on and ended up quitting. Cheating over a 10.00 gift? I miss it though. Just hard to find 12 people to get a group going.

Pictionary has always been our game. None of us can draw worth a damn, so it's pretty funny.

Sarah