Christmas 2022

karadekoolaid said:
But it´s curious how we cling to religious items and ceremonies. A White wedding? The local priest at the funeral? (and advent calendars, of course...)
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No church wedding here. Registry office and I doubt there will be a funeral unless my husband feels the need. I certainly don't. My Grannie doesn't have a headstone or grave site. There is a bench in her name but that's it.

The advent calendar is an excuse for chocolates where I wouldn't normally. It's definitely not a religious thing (didn't actually have one growing up). The same with the Christmas stocking (didn't have one) and the Christmas tree, (that we did have once my mother remarried).

To be honest, Christmas day is overlooked in this house. We refer to boxing day as St Stephen's Day though because of our time in Ireland and my FIL and hubby's SIL being Irish. Then before hogmanay, we have our wedding anniversary (27th) and 2 immediate family birthdays (both 29th). Additionally there are 2 birthdays not celebrated, my real father's birthday is Christmas day, and a late friend was on the 26th, and another on the 1st. To be honest it's easier to celebrate the days nothing happens between 25th & the 1st which is only the 28th! but that's because two happen on the 29th instead....

There's a 2 week period in March that has similar issues wrt family birthdays, wedding anniversaries and mother's day.
 
karadekoolaid said:
Well - here´s another one!!
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Me too. I wasn't christened which is unusual for people of our generation and particularly for working class parents, which mine were, karadekoolaid. Both my parents were agnostic. I've no time for any of it and I certainly wouldn't have ever had a white wedding. In fact, I'm anti marriage partly because of the religious connections.

I do Xmas for the family thing and as SatNavSaysStraightOn says, its a celebration of a solstice. In fact that's why that time of year was chosen as the 'birth of Jesus' by Christians.

This year, for the first since before the pandemic, my youngest two grown up kids are coming here for Xmas dinner.
 
Lovely advent gifts today, white chocolate spread and Callisons, a French confectionary with orange fruit puree & marzipan.
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This my menu as of now. It can change.

Christmas Eve Menu:

Clams Casino
Shrimp Cocktail and Cocktail Sauce
Linguine with White Clam Sauce
Pan-Fried Shrimp
Niçoise Salade
Garlic Bread

Sparkling Apple Cranberry Cider
Soda
Pinot Grigio

Christmas Day Menu:

Appy/Lunch

Stuffed Mushrooms

Cheese & Meat Platter

  • Smoked Gouda
  • Gouda
  • Brie
  • Blue cheese
  • Port Wine Cheese spread
  • Sopressata
  • Pepperoni
  • Candied Pecans
  • Dried Cherries
  • Green Olives
  • Kalamata Olives
  • Sour Cherry Spread
  • Grapes
  • Baguette

Dinner

Eye round roast
Burgundy gravy
Baby spinach
Baked Potatoes with sour cream & chives
(Mini) Yorkshire Pudding

Dessert

Apple Pie
Peach Cobbler
Whipped Cream

Beverage

Sparkling Apple Cranberry Cider
Soda
Egg Nog
Riunite Lambrusco
 
For our two days of Christmas we're keeping it simple this year.

Christmas eve with just my partner and me, Christmas day with partner and stepsons .

Christmas Breakfast 1:
Stollen with marzipan
Luxury bake off bread
Duck rilettes
Jams
Orange juice
Boiled eggs

Christmas eve menu:
Foie gras, green apple, onion confit, sourdough baguette

Swiss cheese fondue , bread , veg, fruits

Eton mess with cranberry compote and custard.

Christmas Breakfast 2:
Crèpes with salidou ( French butter caramel) and apple

Second Christmas dinner with two autistic young men:
Fries, croquettes, cheese snacks, hotdogs, apple sauce, mayonaise.

Chocolate Yule log with white chocolate frosting . And optional red fruits.
 
When we moved my Mother from California to Arizona, she got rid of alot of her things.
Most of her Christmas decorations were either sold or donated.
IMG_2339.JPG

Santa left this in my garage (along some other decorations) for her 🎅
Mom was just over the moon excited that I brought her all of these things AND set it all up for her... she has mobility issues, but won't admit it, YET!
 
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TastyReuben said:
We’ll be going to see The Nutcracker this year as well.
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There was an internet black hole or something, we did not get the tickets after all for Nutcracker. My mpay said transaction ok, my bank said, not passed, the theater did not respond, did not confirm, when going to a performance in person, I asked, it seems someone was faster, and snatched those seats before us, or so they said...the black hole still sounds a better explanation...

For comparison, there is a Nutcracker frenzy over here, the theater only seats about 400 people, and they had 15.000 requests, or so the rumour has it. their server was down for days...people were queueing for hours outside the cashier...

but they could have...yeah, exactly...

anyways, we shall be watching an online version of some other Nutcracker this year...it will be fine.
 
msmofet said:
This my menu as of now. It can change.

Christmas Eve Menu:

Clams Casino
Shrimp Cocktail and Cocktail Sauce
Linguine with White Clam Sauce
Pan-Fried Shrimp
Niçoise Salade
Garlic Bread

Sparkling Apple Cranberry Cider
Soda
Pinot Grigio

Christmas Day Menu:

Appy/Lunch

Stuffed Mushrooms

Cheese & Meat Platter

  • Smoked Gouda
  • Gouda
  • Brie
  • Blue cheese
  • Port Wine Cheese spread
  • Sopressata
  • Pepperoni
  • Candied Pecans
  • Dried Cherries
  • Green Olives
  • Kalamata Olives
  • Sour Cherry Spread
  • Grapes
  • Baguette

Dinner

Eye round roast
Burgundy gravy
Baby spinach
Baked Potatoes with sour cream & chives
(Mini) Yorkshire Pudding

Dessert

Apple Pie
Peach Cobbler
Whipped Cream

Beverage

Sparkling Apple Cranberry Cider
Soda
Egg Nog
Riunite Lambrusco
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Knock knock...uninvited guest here :D...just kidding.
It sounds fabulous!
 
Food ,peace and joy...is my motto...will have more details...but for now the Advent Kranzl, the Christmas tree and just the daily tasks.
3 doctor's appointments with my Dad in December, he is ok for now, his teeth have an issue in addition to all else...
Last day of work is 23rd Dec, so it will be a quick switch to Xmas Eve prep...
Looking forward to Xmas...very much so.
 
Today was the first day it had reached over 20°C here at home. It did it well and truly with a +25°C job (hotter in Canberra but I'm 400m higher in altitude etc). So I really know summer and Christmas is on the way now because tomorrow will be the first day with all the windows and doors closed and the heat reflective blinds closed all day in an attempt to keep the house that little bit cooler. I've also broken out my shirt sleeved & shorts PJ set. It's still dropping down to 11°C at night, so something is needed, just not liking sleeves or long legs. I even got as far as removing my woolly socks and slippers today.

Much warmer and all of the advent chocolates and not just the British vegan chocolates will need to be in the fridge to survive the day through.
 
msmofet said:
This my menu as of now. It can change.

Christmas Eve Menu:

Clams Casino
Shrimp Cocktail and Cocktail Sauce
Linguine with White Clam Sauce
Pan-Fried Shrimp
Niçoise Salade
Garlic Bread

Sparkling Apple Cranberry Cider
Soda
Pinot Grigio

Christmas Day Menu:

Appy/Lunch

Stuffed Mushrooms

Cheese & Meat Platter

  • Smoked Gouda
  • Gouda
  • Brie
  • Blue cheese
  • Port Wine Cheese spread
  • Sopressata
  • Pepperoni
  • Candied Pecans
  • Dried Cherries
  • Green Olives
  • Kalamata Olives
  • Sour Cherry Spread
  • Grapes
  • Baguette

Dinner

Eye round roast
Burgundy gravy
Baby spinach
Baked Potatoes with sour cream & chives
(Mini) Yorkshire Pudding

Dessert

Apple Pie
Peach Cobbler
Whipped Cream

Beverage

Sparkling Apple Cranberry Cider
Soda
Egg Nog
Riunite Lambrusco
Click to expand...
That's a helluva menu! How many people are you feeding?

That's another thing I have to do today - work out some festive starters and snacks for the days leading up to Christmas.
 
TastyReuben said:
That's a helluva menu! How many people are you feeding?

That's another thing I have to do today - work out some festive starters and snacks for the days leading up to Christmas.
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We like variety. I make a small amount of each dish. Usually just enough for the day and one leftover day.
 
...and I'm going to try and get some Christmas cards ready to send. I'm really behind this year.
 
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