Takuya wrote:

> I grew up in a Japanese traditional local area, so have never
> celebrated Christmas. I have no idea what you Westerners do or eat on
> the day. If not mind,please let me know.
> Talking about your story, you were totally lucky to turn misfortune
> into a blessing. We have the same saying in Japan. Wazawai

Christmas is more than the one day. It builds up for weeks with lots of
shopping, present wrapping and parties. Stores and malls are decorated
with Christmas themes. We break out seasonal treats, mince meat, fruit
cakes, nuts, chocolates, can canes, egg nog. It's a time for families to
get together, and there are a lot of gifts, especially for children.

Traditions in North America differ because there are so many cultural
groups who have immigrated. I follow the tradition of my French Canadian
friends with a met pie, usually tortiere (ground pork pie), and sometimes
a steak and mushroom pie. We eat light because light because later in the
evening we go to my brother's for a party.

On Christmas morning we get up and open presents. When that is finished
we cook a nice breakfast. Later in the the afternoon we head down to my
mother's house for dinner ( it will be at a brother's house this year)
for a turkey dinner. Standard fair is a nice big turkey with a bread
stuffing (lots of herbs, onions, celery and bread crumbs), gravy,
cranberry sauce (not canned... yech). We usually have mashed potatoes
because they are a vehicle for gravy. Vegetables usually include corn,
carrots, green beans, mashed turnip, and a tossed salad and cole slaw.

My mother always makes a carrot pudding and caramel sauce for dessert. It
is steamed for hours and flambeed. Then there will be a tray of sweets,
mince meat tarts, shortbread cookies, various squares.

After dinner we have the "$5 gift" exchange. Everyone brings something
worth no more than$5 and we draw numbers. We take turns selecting a
wrapped gift. When it's your turn you get to select either an unwrapped
gift or you can take something that someone else has, but there each gift
can only be taken three times. The third person gets to keep it.