Posts Tagged: Christmas traditions

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2
Mar 11

Family Traditions at Christmas Time

Christmas Eve is the day our family gets together for our special holiday season dinner. The menu never changes because that is one of our very important Christmas traditions. The ‘absolutely-do-not-ever-change’ items are Rolladen, pickled red cabbage, cooked garlic sausage, potato salad, brussell sprouts, pickled beets and pickled herring. I can add other items, and do, without too much harassment. And although many of our family dinners are now buffet-style, our Christmas Eve dinner is always a sit-down one even though we now number twenty-four.

After dinner and everything has been cleared away, it is gift opening time. A volunteer Santa gives out the gifts to the children first before the adults open their gifts. Because our family has grown so large, it now takes us over two hours to open all of the gifts. While we open our presents, we play Christmas music in the background.

Before Christmas we have traditions that are child oriented. They are ones that I did with my own children and which I now continue to do with my grandchildren. My parents did a few of them with my brothers and me. Some of them are:

-The children decorate gingerbread houses, gingerbread trains and gingerbread men;
-They help to make cookie dough and then decorate the cookies before baking;
-We do various Christmas crafts – i.e.: decorate snowmen and snowflakes, etc.;
-The children help to decorate the tree with gobs of tinsel hung on each branch;
-We go to see the annual Santa Claus parade;
-They write a letter to Santa;
-We visit Santa at the Mall;
-Go Christmas caroling in the neighborhood;
-Drive around and look at Christmas lights;
-And go to advertised local Christmas activities.

Because these traditions have been part of my children’s and grandchildren’s lives from very early ages, they will in all likelihood continue many of them with their own families. I have seen it with my own children. Last year on Christmas Eve day we had an unusually heavy snowfall. I worried about my family driving in terrible conditions and suggested that we postpone our Christmas Eve celebrations until the roads were better. None of my five children agreed with me. They all insisted that we can’t postpone our Christmas Eve celebrations. Thankfully everyone arrived safely and as expected, we all had a wonderful time.

Another holiday season tradition is our New Year’s Day dinner out at a restaurant. It is relatively new to our family as we have only been doing it for about ten years. It is practical in that after all the festivities of the Christmas season and New Year’s Eve celebrations no one is particularly anxious to host a New Year’s Day dinner as well.

This year I have written our first annual family newsletter which I hope will become another family tradition. (It will be an end-of-the-year newsletter) I interviewed each of the grandchildren and put what they wanted to say into the newsletter as near as possible to their own way of speaking and added their pictures and bylines. For the babies I wrote up something for them and added their pictures and bylines also. I then did a review of the whole year with family pictures of various functions which were held throughout the year.

On New Years day of 2000, I wrote a letter to each of my five children and the two grandchildren I had at that time and placed them into a tin box. On New Years day of 2010, I will write another letter to each of my children and grandchildren and will add letters to the new grandchildren to put into the box. And on New Years day of 2020, we plan to open it up and read all the letters, perhaps at our annual New Years dinner out.

I believe a family that has traditions which are important to each of them will tend to be a closer unit Traditions seem to be the glue that sticks us together.

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18
Feb 11

Christmas Candy Canes

Have you ever wondered why the candy cane is red and white and how it became a Christmas favorite?

Would you believe that the candy cane was actually invented as a tool to keep children quiet? It’s true. Just like children today, kids in the 1670’s in Germany had trouble sitting reverently through church. Then a choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral, came up with a plan to keep the children quiet and happy. He took a well known candy, a “sugar stick” and bent one end to resemble that of a Shepherd’s staff. He gave it to the children during the long church Christmas ceremonies. That was the quietest church service they had had in a long time!

Candy canes quickly became a tradition – at first mostly reserved for Christmas themed religious ceremonies, but they eventually found their way amongst the other sweets on the family Christmas tree.

For many years, candy canes were all white. In the 1920’s, a man by the name of Bob McCormack began making the his candy with a red stripe to symbolize the blood Jesus shed for us. At first, Bob painted his candy canes for family and friends every year by hand. That all changed when his brother-in-law, a Catholic priest by the name of Gregory Keller, invented a machine that automated the candy cane creation process in about 1950.

Today when we eat a candy cane at Christmastime, we can think of the symbols of Christ that it holds-The shape represents the shepherds’ staff and reminds us that angels came to announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem. It also reminds us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd! The white color reminds us that Jesus lived a pure, clean life. The red stripe represents the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.

You can make these fun cookies with your kids as you teach them about the symbols in the candy cane.

Candy Cane Cookies
1 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sifted confectioners sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoon almond flavoring
OR 3/4 teaspoon peppermint flavoring
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy
1/2 cup white sugar

Preheat oven to 375 F. Mix butter sugar, egg, and flavorings thoroughly. Add flour and salt, Mix well. Shape dough into a disk and wrap with plastic wrap; chill for at least 2 hours or until easy to handle.

Roll into 4 inch strips; place on baking sheet. Curve top down to form handle or cane. Bake 9 minutes. While still warm, remove from pan and sprinkle with candy and sugar mixture. Dough may be divided in half and colored with 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring if desired. Roll each color into strips, place side by side, press together lightly and twist like a rope.

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30
Nov 10

Different Christmas Traditions Around the World

Christmas is celebrated around the world. While every family or community has their own traditions, there are certain regional traditions that are very specific and vary widely from region to region.

In Italy, from Rome south the traditional Christmas Eve dinner is that of seven fish. Throughout Italy, the Christmas Eve meals are traditionally meatless, given that the day is a day of abstinences in the Catholic Church. Another wonderful Italian culinary Christmas tradition is that of the Milanese Panattone. A sweet bread loaded with raisins, candied fruits and nuts. It is perfect for breakfast and makes incredible French toast.

Just north of Italy is Germany, where there is a rich tradition of the outdoor Christmas Markets. Despite the cold temperatures German families head outside to shop for classic Christmas goodies and to enjoy regional specific Christmas goodies. This tradition dates back to the 14th Century. The markets open during the end of November and stay open until right before Christmas Eve,

Another German tradition is that of Gluehwein and Stollen. Spiced Wine and the traditional German Christmas cake, loaded with raisins and nuts and covered in a sugar glaze are a time honored Christmas treat in German homes.

In Greece, Christmas is celebrated on December 25, unlike the celebration of Easter, which follows the Orthodox calendar. While Christmas in Greece is very important, it is a much more solemn holiday than in the West and therefore there are less gaudy decorations and more focus on the religious nature of the holiday.

In England the tradition of Wassailing dates back to the middle ages. Wassil, a heady mix of honey, ale and spices, is best shared among a group. Severed in a bowl or huge pewter or wooden mug, it would be passed around the group as a greeting. Traditionally the bowl would be carried from house to house celebrate and share a holiday greeting.

In England, Boxing Day is the day following Christmas. Traditionally and historically a day set aside for the poor, it is now a national holiday in England. In the 18th century and forward, the Lord and Lady of the manor would “box” up their leftovers and small gifts to provide to the servants of the manor house and tenants on their land. Since many of the household servants and other poorly paid workers would be required to work on Christmas Day, Boxing Day was the day they would go to visit their family.

In England during the 21st century, Boxing Day is a day to visit family, a day to offer small tokens to tradesmen, such as the milkman or postman. Families often gather to play board games and share a meal, enjoy a walk in the countryside or indulge in a break with tradition and go shopping, checking out the New Year sales early.

In Mexico the celebration of Christmas begins on December 16th with the nine days of Las Posadas. Las Posadas is a nine-day celebration, which includes candle lit processions and lively parties. Another wonderful Christmas tradition is the Shepard’s plays. Professional groups and armatures put on these reenactments of the Christmas stories alike.

In Mexican houses, the principal Christmas decoration is the Nativity Scene. It is often built by hand and assembled over the course of the season.

In Brazil, the tradition of Las Pasadas is also widely practices, only in the Brazilian version of the plays, it is a shepherdess who is following the star and a gypsy woman who has designs on stealing the figure of the Christ child fro the nativity scene.

Brazil has a very multicultural history and many of their traditions vary widely by region, based upon immigration patterns. The same is to be said for Australia. It is also important to not that in both of these multicultural countries that it is summer, so many families celebrate Christmas by dining outdoors and enjoying the abundant sunshine and warm temperatures.

In India, even though Christians are a minority group, Christmas is still celebrated and is a good mix of British traditions from the colonial period and rich regional additions. In some areas banana trees and mango trees are decorated with lights. Greetings are shared with neighbors and parties are hosted. In urban areas, hotels and nightclub host office and families parties. Santa Klaus pays a visit to good boys and girls.

In Japan, less than 1% of the population is Christian, but Christmas is celebrated nonetheless. For Christians the holiday is less about exchanging gifts with family members and more about sharing good cheer with the poor and especially those who are in the hospital. Many businesses and private homes decorate with evergreens and bows.

No matter how the holiday is celebrated, Christmas is about love and compassion & food and family. The greatest gifts of the season are togetherness and love, no matter the language or the food.

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8
Aug 10

Christmas Traditions: 7 Christmas Food Rituals That You Can Start This Year

Rituals are the glue that hold us together. We like doing certain things at certain times of the year. We pass down traditions from Gramma to kidlet. And Christmas is the perfect time to have some food-based rituals.

Here are 7 of my food rituals that you can share with your family this year:

1. Have a tree trimming party. I always get my tree the same day each year (December 15th, because I get a live tree). My favourite dinner for the first night we set up the tree is fish chowder and blender drinks (like frozen margaritas). Maybe you set up your artificial tree on December 1st, or right after American Thanksgiving… it doesn’t matter. You can celebrate by having the first eggnog of the year.

2. Bake cookies to give away as gifts. Choose something you enjoy, that you can easily accomplish (such as Spicy Orange Gingersnaps or Easy Bar Shortbread Cookies with green sprinkles). Wrap up a dozen cookies in a small cardboard box from the Dollar Store, and give them as gifts. You probably have four people near you who’d love to have something homemade … your landlord, Uncle Don, your child’s teacher, the lady who cleans the office, your elderly neighbour. You can make cookies for your spouse to take to work to share with co-workers. Don’t overdo it. Pick one or two types, and send a dozen. Too much effort smells like you’re trying too hard, and it makes you exhausted which takes the fun out of everything.

3. Have some baking or special meals that you only eat during the holidays. As a child, we only had Cherry Surprises in December, never in the summer. When I first made this childhood favourite for my new husband, I had to explain that they were a once-yearly event. He didn’t really understand why. If they’re so good, why not eat them year-round? But let me tell you, this year, starting in November, he’s asking “are we having Cherry Surprises this year?” The answer surely is yes. Pick a couple of things and save them for time of year.

4. Try one new recipe each year and drop one thing you don’t like from your list. Food traditions aren’t supposed to be stressful, they’re supposed to bring comfort and happiness. If making four kinds of tarts the night before your office party is too much, then skip it this year. Make orange gingersnaps early (they freeze well) and defrost them the night before. Try a new recipe this year, maybe chicken liver p鈚?from scratch, but if it’s not absolutely fabulous then go back to buying it from the deli. Make this your new rule: If it’s not fabulous, I’m not doing it. Try something new. Rid yourself of routines you’re tired of, or that aren’t working for you anymore.

5. Decorate cookies with children during the holiday season. If you don’t have kids of your own, you can borrow some. Make sugar cookies covered with different coloured sparkles, silver balls, chocolate jimmies, squirts of icing. Or decorate gingerbread men with M&Ms and vanilla icing. You don’t have to make the cookies from scratch if that’s too much work — you can decorate whatever you buy from the grocery store. The point is to have a yearly tradition with your kids, grandkids, nieces, or neighbours.

6. Buy yourself a food treat each year and try something new. I like to buy myself weird little cans of juice (guava?) or imported mints, and then I put them in my own stocking to open Christmas morning. It’s an opportunity to explore. You can have a tiny food adventure for under $5. Or invite your friends to share the tradition with you.

7. Plan a super easy breakfast for Christmas morning. Mash up some frozen strawberries and mix with orange juice. Add champagne if you don’t have to drive. Buy part-baked croissants and put them in the oven to have with your juice. Serve with homemade strawberry-rhubarb jam, a gift from Auntie Shelley. Christmas brunch on the west coast wouldn’t be complete without Japanese mandarin oranges. On the east coast, it’s clementines. In Montreal, we have fresh pineapple from somewhere down-under.

[link to image of Spicy Orange Gingersnaps: http://www.oneroastchicken.com/images/IMG_1051_1_1_1.jpg]

[link to html version of article: http://www.oneroastchicken.com/blogs/7christmasrituals.htm]

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21
Mar 10

Christmas Traditions – Why it is Vital to Keep the Child Inside All of Us Alive

The innocence ends for all of us eventually, and for some that time comes at unfortunately a very young age. Sometimes sickness, familial conflicts, or a multitude of other negative forces take hold of what should be a glorious time of our lives, our childhood. However, no matter what our age, nor our background, it is never too late to turn our gaze towards the youth of our world, try to see the world through their young and innocent eyes, and either relive through them or live for the first time the joy that each year’s Christmas season should bring.

Our children do grow up fast, and because of that certainty of life, it is essential that we help them celebrate in this uncertain world, their whimsical fantasies of youth and enjoy their childhood the way God intended. With the innocence and exuberance for life that only a child is capable of.

Sometimes it takes having our own children to revive that same exuberance that we remember feeling at a young age. When my father passed away just two days prior to Christmas day when I was but a mere 11 years of age, I became numb to the well wishers and helpful humanitarians that came to the aid of our spirit zapped family. Yet to this day, I cannot and hope to never forget with each passing year, the long lasting importance of what they did for us. Whether it was bringing a freshly prepared meal for us to eat, or a kindly wrapped present in the absence of any, their thoughtfulness will always be appreciated.

It was many years before I was able to feel the same joy and exuberance from the Christmas traditions of my early youth, but eventually it did return, and with even greater intensity as I was able to welcome my own two beautiful children in to our world. The importance of them being able to feel the same excitement that I was fortunate to experience was not only important, but essential.

That is why I implore anyone who feels the same rush of excitement that a child feels during Christmas to consider volunteering your time where possible to a worthy children’s charity or organization for those less fortunate. No child should ever be deprived of their right to celebrate the same Christmas traditions that are afforded the more fortunate. You might be surprised at how just a few minutes out of a day can go a long way towards bringing happiness to a less fortunate child. They may not thank you now, but it will have a long lasting impact on their lives, and they will most likely want to repeat the kindness for someone else less fortunate later in their own life.

So, I beseech all of us to try and see the world through child-like eyes, and give back to those youth of the world who are maybe not in a position to celebrate the Christmas season the way it should be. By keeping the child inside of us alive, we are in a great position to help out wherever possible.

Merry Christmas!

Stephen Baird is an author, artisan, and founder of the well respected Christmas display firm Village Fantasies, designers of animated and life like Harvest and Christmas villagescapes for the holiday season. Expansive and detailed with textured landscapes and realism so unmatched, the displays by Village Fantasies take viewers to a place where storybook dreams come to life http://www.villagefantasies.com