Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
![]() |
|
General Cooking (rec.food.cooking) For general food and cooking discussion. Foods of all kinds, food procurement, cooking methods and techniques, eating, etc. |
Reply |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
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 Tenzite Fukutonaru. |
|
|||
|
|||
![]() |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
Damsel in dis Dress > wrote in
: > Carol, whose Christmas tree is up! > Just as Carol says.... But there are the ever present office parties, social gatherings, Church services and other special events leading up to the big day. My favorite is the selection and decorating of the tree. The cold walk thru the tree lot , looking for a decent tree that is just right. Setting it up . Putting on the xmas music, making the hot chocolate, digging out the ornaments (the new and the old). Putting those ugly but cherished popsicle stick creations the kids made at school on the tree. And enjoying the day. Sometimes the family and friends collect to do trees. -- Starchless in Manitoba. Type 2 Diabetic |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
(Takuya) wrote in
om: > 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. Customarily, among French-Canadians, Christmas was not a time of gift giving. That was New Year's. The belief was that Christmas was a remembrance of the birth of Emmanuel the Christ and should be honoured, not polluted with material consideration. One went to midnight mass and afterwards one family invited others (usually pre- arranged and mostly relatives) to come eat (le réveillon) which usually lasted until the wee hours. In Québec, the customary fare consisted of tourtière http://www.recfoodcooking.org/signature.php?page=22 and ragoût de boulettes (a variation of fricadelles), homemade ketchup and pickled beets, then pies. One common pie was ferlouche which is made with flour, water, butter and sugar, sometimes with raisins. These were farmers whose access to exterior goods was limited so they made do with what they had. The urban dwellers also followed the same customs until fairly recently. I remember going to midnight mass and réveillon in the early 1960's. Christmas Day was usually spent in rest and short visits to neighbours. It was customary to have a 40 oz bottle of gin for the festive time and to offer the men a small glass upon arrival. Now, Christmas is celebrated à l'anglaise in many French-Canadian families simply because it's impossible to avoid. However, as irreligious as I am, I still put up a crèche (a manger scene) at Christmas. I am not opposed to people celebrating Christmas, I just am not terribly fond of the gift giving aspect. Pick another day in the year to give gifts and call it Gift-Giving Day...sometime in February maybe when we can all use cheering up. -- "It is easier for a rich man to enter heaven seated comfortably on the back of a camel, than it is for a poor man to pass through the eye of a needle." Supply Side Jesus |
|
|||
|
|||
![]() |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
>(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. On Christmas day I go out to eat Chinese food. >> Talking about your story, you were totally lucky to turn misfortune >> into a blessing. We have the same saying in Japan. Wazawai Tenzite >> Fukutonaru Fukutonaru you too! ---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =--- ---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =--- ********* "Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation." Sheldon ```````````` |
|
|||
|
|||
![]() "Michel Boucher" > wrote in message ... > (Takuya) wrote in > om: > Customarily, among French-Canadians, Christmas was not a time of gift > giving. That was New Year's. More so in Québec than for French-Canadians in other parts of Canada, for obvious reasons. > The belief was that Christmas was a > remembrance of the birth of Emmanuel the Christ and should be > honoured, not polluted with material consideration. One went to > midnight mass and afterwards one family invited others (usually pre- > arranged and mostly relatives) to come eat (le réveillon) which > usually lasted until the wee hours. In Québec, the customary fare > consisted of tourtière In New Brunswick our family opened presents after Midnight Mass and then the relatives & friends all congregated at our house (we were the youngest kids) for the réveillon, which often lasted until 4 a.m. and involved copious amount of food and booze. The menu was 'pté à la viande' which is a variation on the tourtière. The meat, which could be chicken, beef, pork & often deer & moose, is stewed with onions & spices and then chopped to put in the pastry. Some families also include potatoes, but it's not something I like. Desserts at our house were usually various cookies and squares rather than pies (for us, due to the Anglo influence, a Christmas pie was a mincemeat pie). > Christmas Day was usually spent in rest and short visits to > neighbours. It was customary to have a 40 oz bottle of gin for the > festive time and to offer the men a small glass upon arrival. There was a constant coming and going at our house, and no one who was of age got away without having some kind of alcoholic beverage. Christmas dinner was at night and usually involved friends of the family who'd had their own family dinners at noon. The menu for said dinner varied. Turkey was the usual fare, but Mom sometimes roasted a goose instead, and a few times, much to the delight of the friends who already had their turkey dinners, she made a boiled dinner instead (something that, now that I live in Newfoundland and Labrador, is considered part of the traditional Christmas meal) > Now, Christmas is celebrated à l'anglaise in many French-Canadian > families simply because it's impossible to avoid. However, as > irreligious as I am, I still put up a crèche (a manger scene) at > Christmas. It's the first Christmas decoration that goes up in our home. Once I got married, to an Anglo, we combined both our families' celebration. The children were taken to the early Mass by my parents while hubby and I gathered with his parents at the home of family friends for eggnog and socializing. Then Midnight Mass for both of us and then back home to wake up the kids to open presents and to attend the réveillon. In the morning the kids were dressed and we went to "Grammy & Grampy's" house to open more presents and for Christmas dinner, which featured turkey, plum pudding with hard sauce and mincemeat tarts. Then back to my folks' place for another turkey Christmas dinner. Now that the kids are all grown up (though the 2 boys are always home for Xmas) & we live nowhere near any relatives, Christmas Eve is spent quietly watching a Xmas themed movie. Then we attend Midnight Mass as a family. The drive back home after Midnight Mass involves a spin through the neighbourhood to see the decorations and then home for hot chocolate & presents and usually a phone call to the relatives back home who are hosting the family réveillon, which now features a partridge or rabbit 'bouillon' and sugar pie. Stockings are hung, so that there is something to open Xmas morning, and then it's off to bed. Christmas Day is spent quietly; the dinner menu can feature anything from turkey to curry. Gabby |
|
|||
|
|||
![]() "Takuya" > wrote in message om... >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 Tenzite > Fukutonaru. About the same thing you do on New Years Day. Just add Church in place of the temple or shrine. Dimitri |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
We always opened our presents on Christmas morning, which, when we were
kids, really could mean the night before (mom, dad, the sun's coming up, it's Christmas morning!). We had a box of See's candy on the table that got opened on Xmas morning, stockings with oranges and apples, walnuts on the table. I seem to remember lots of football on tv. We didn't live near relatives, so we spent the day playing with all the gifts. Later, my brother and sister and I (and our families) would come to my parents house to open gifts and have dinner. For dinner, we'd have roast beef and a ham, green beans or peas, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, pies, etc. Usually pretty basic foods since everyone was so picky. Now I make a pork loin marinated overnight, roasted until it falls apart. delicious. Scalloped potatoes, fresh cranberry sauce. An apple pie. It's a good meal. I still box a small box of See's. |
|
|||
|
|||
![]() |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
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 Tenzite > Fukutonaru. Nothing. My 'nod' to the Christmas tradition is to hang a wreath on the front door. To eat is whatever sounds good. Jill |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
"Gabby" > wrote in
: > "Michel Boucher" > wrote in message > ... >> (Takuya) wrote in >> om: >> Customarily, among French-Canadians, Christmas was not a time of >> gift giving. That was New Year's. > > More so in Québec than for French-Canadians in other parts of > Canada, for obvious reasons. I was speaking in a historical sense. Things have changed in the last fifty years or so, in New Brunswick as well as in Québec. In our family, we gave the presents at Christmas because people came to Montréal for the réveillon from as far away as Ottawa and Québec and would not be back on New Years' Day. In our case, it was purely practical. -- "It is easier for a rich man to enter heaven seated comfortably on the back of a camel, than it is for a poor man to pass through the eye of a needle." Supply Side Jesus |
|
|||
|
|||
![]() |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
"jmcquown" > wrote in
> : > >Nothing. My 'nod' to the Christmas tradition is to hang a wreath on the >front door. To eat is whatever sounds good. > >Jill I guess that we're with you this year Jill. Just gonna be Nanc and I having a quiet day. No clue what I'm makin' yet either. Guess that I'd better get thinking on it huh? ;-) -- Steve Who was the first person to say, "See that chicken there... I'm gonna eat the next thing that comes outta it's ass?" |
|
|||
|
|||
![]() "Michel Boucher" > wrote in message ... > "Gabby" > wrote in > : >> More so in Québec than for French-Canadians in other parts of >> Canada, for obvious reasons. > > I was speaking in a historical sense. Things have changed in the > last fifty years or so, in New Brunswick as well as in Québec. Oh, I realized that you were not speaking of something that happens much today. But I'm 51 and my parents had never experienced 'étrennes du Jour de l'An' either. As a kid, I learned about the tradition from watching television and my parents explained it as "a Québec tradition". Gabby |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
Dog3 wrote:
> > I don't remember who it was that posted the lobster/butter sauce post but > I'd vote for that if I were you ![]() > > Michael <- very chatty tonight Actually, that's what we had last year. I'll have to ask "da boss". ;-) By the way, it's GREAT to see you back! -- Steve Who was the first person to say, "See that chicken there... I'm gonna eat the next thing that comes outta it's ass?" |
|
|||
|
|||
![]() |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
>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 Tenzite >Fukutonaru. > My brother's wife was mostly raised in Japan and made some Christmas meals in the traditional American way for the holidays. I moved away from family many years ago so I don't know what the meal will be. I wouldn't mind going out for dinner - a first. Like in Vegas or Mexico. Usually, I've cooked a ham for Christmas. That was sort of how it was done, a turkey for Thanksgiving and a ham for Christmas. Wishing you all happy holidays! |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
Dog3 wrote:
> Steve Calvin > chugged a beer and wrote in > : > > >>Dog3 wrote: >> >>>I don't remember who it was that posted the lobster/butter sauce post >>>but I'd vote for that if I were you ![]() >>> >>>Michael <- very chatty tonight >> >>Actually, that's what we had last year. I'll have to ask "da boss". >>;-) >> >>By the way, it's GREAT to see you back! >> >> > > > I haven't left, at least for the past year. You have me confused with > Archon (Michael). I knew this was going to happen. He's much nicer than I > am. Perhaps I should be flattered. > > Dog3 <blush> my apologies -- Steve Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence. |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
Dog3 wrote:
> "jmcquown" > chugged a beer and wrote in > : > >> 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. >>> >> Nothing. My 'nod' to the Christmas tradition is to hang a wreath on >> the front door. To eat is whatever sounds good. >> >> Jill > > Wanna come here and be with us? You'll have a blast at my mother's > party, if she has it. If not, we can always do our own party at her > house. She will not be home, we can trash the place ![]() > > Michael Would LOVE to! You gonna send me a plane ticket? <G> Jill |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
Usually we host Christmas day with both of our parents, Rich's
brother and our niece, plus various family friends. This year we are pulling back, we're pretty much exhausted and worn out, so we're still having our moms (complicated family relationships snipped out here), and a family friend, maybe Rich's brother and his daughter. However, we will be going to our priest's house where his family is hosting a potluck feast. My mom can make her stuffing, since it is really good, MIL can make her devilled eggs, if BIL comes he will make a dessert, my friend will make some sort of hors-d'oevre type thing, and I will make some egg bread or something like that. Regards, Ranee -- Remove Do Not and Spam to email "She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands." Prov 31:13 See my Blog at: http://arabianknits.blogspot.com/ |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
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 Tenzite > Fukutonaru. Here in Queensland, Oz, our Christmas Dinner is doubling in size from 2 to 4! Last year DH and I had dinner on the deck (warm 25degC/80deg+/-F), by candlelight, something delicious, possibly seafood, can't recall. This year my twin sister and 89y.o. mother are joining us from interstate which will be fabulous. They are staying from 12/16 to 12/31 so we will wine and dine everyday very well as we all adore cooking. Christmas Dinner will be in the evening when it is cooler (alot of Aussies still do the big turkey/plum pudding deal at midday). This year I will wait until my twin arrives and jointly work on the menu. Possibilities are hot or cold gallantine of poultry (chicken or duck); seafood. When we used to live in cooler climes I made a wonderful rich pecan studded plum pudding but it's a little rich for hot nights. However...my DH just said this week he is hankering for one. We'll think about that one...My sister is wanting to make an icecream bombe of various layers of icecream with a final thin marzipan 'icing' over it, tinted the palest of greens and decorated with red currants (from memory) - quite a show-stopper. i have an icecream maker and now a very good freezer (-23degC). Certainly for larger dinners, the locals here feast on seafood platters of shrimp, crab, lobster and oysters with beautiful salads dressed with fresh mango slices and melons. Egg nog is not an Aussie tradition (no snow!). Everyone here heads for the beach for a swim and cool off on Christmas Day. Lots of families have a Christmas lunch picnic beachside which is fun for the littlies. Christmas Eve in my street, the neighbours will get together at dusk and admire the Christmas lights and have a drink on someone's front lawn. Not many people go to church anymore. This is just my version of Christmas, other families may do it quite differently. Merry Christmas Everyone or Happy Holidays! May 2005 be healthly, fun and full of wonderful cooking. Bronwyn Qld Oz |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
On Wed, 08 Dec 2004 09:53:15 GMT, Dog3 >
wrote: > haven't left, at least for the past year. You have me confused with > Archon (Michael). I knew this was going to happen. He's much nicer than I > am. Perhaps I should be flattered. > > Dog3 Keep the pen name and no one will be confused, big dog. ![]() sf Practice safe eating - always use condiments |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
On 8 Dec 2004 14:53:13 -0800, "Bronnie"
> wrote: > our Christmas Dinner is doubling in size from 2 > to 4! Last year DH and I had dinner on the deck (warm > 25degC/80deg+/-F), by candlelight, As a kid, I went from a snowy xmas season enviornment to one w/o snow, but not as warm as yours.... I'm assuming that you're a native of OZ, so I'd like to know what your take is on the Northern Hemisphere xmas snow idea. Do you feel out of the loop/cheated? Or is it just one of those things that has always been different from what's considered "the rest" of the English speaking world? How did you deal with Santa Claus and the concept of snow as a kid? Is Christmas more religious than commercial down under? Just curious. Thanx sf Practice safe eating - always use condiments |
|
|||
|
|||
![]() "Dog3" > wrote in message ... > sf > chugged a beer and wrote in > : > >> On Wed, 08 Dec 2004 09:53:15 GMT, Dog3 > >> wrote: >> >>> haven't left, at least for the past year. You have me confused with >>> Archon (Michael). I knew this was going to happen. He's much nicer >>> than I am. Perhaps I should be flattered. >>> >>> Dog3 >> >> Keep the pen name and no one will be confused, big dog. >> >> ![]() > > I'm so used to signing Michael. I'm glad Archon is back. I enjoy his > posts. *sigh* I guess I'll sign off as Dog3 from now on. > > Dog3 >=========== Why? At the top of your posts it always shows " "Dog3" <dog3@.....". Therefore, you can still type "Michael" and if anyone should be in doubt they need only to look at the top of the page/post. <shrug> Do whatchawanna do! Cyndi |
|
|||
|
|||
![]() "Dog3" > wrote in message ... > sf > chugged a beer and wrote in > : > >> On Wed, 08 Dec 2004 09:53:15 GMT, Dog3 > >> wrote: >> >>> haven't left, at least for the past year. You have me confused with >>> Archon (Michael). I knew this was going to happen. He's much nicer >>> than I am. Perhaps I should be flattered. >>> >>> Dog3 >> >> Keep the pen name and no one will be confused, big dog. >> >> ![]() > > I'm so used to signing Michael. I'm glad Archon is back. I enjoy his > posts. *sigh* I guess I'll sign off as Dog3 from now on. > > Dog3 >=========== Why? At the top of your posts it always shows " "Dog3" <dog3@.....". Therefore, you can still type "Michael" and if anyone should be in doubt they need only to look at the top of the page/post. <shrug> Do whatchawanna do! Cyndi |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
Rick & Cyndi wrote:
> "Dog3" > wrote in message > ... >> sf > chugged a beer and wrote in >> : >> >>> On Wed, 08 Dec 2004 09:53:15 GMT, Dog3 > >>> wrote: >>> >>>> haven't left, at least for the past year. You have me confused with >>>> Archon (Michael). I knew this was going to happen. He's much nicer >>>> than I am. Perhaps I should be flattered. >>>> >>>> Dog3 >>> >>> Keep the pen name and no one will be confused, big dog. >>> >>> ![]() >> >> I'm so used to signing Michael. I'm glad Archon is back. I enjoy his >> posts. *sigh* I guess I'll sign off as Dog3 from now on. >> >> Dog3 >> =========== > > Why? At the top of your posts it always shows " "Dog3" <dog3@.....". > Therefore, you can still type "Michael" and if anyone should be in doubt > they need only to look at the top of the page/post. <shrug> Do whatchawanna > do! > > Cyndi In a "real" newsreader (that should stir things up here!) you can always look in the "FROM" column, too. I don't see the problem. |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
Rick & Cyndi wrote:
> "Dog3" > wrote in message > ... >> sf > chugged a beer and wrote in >> : >> >>> On Wed, 08 Dec 2004 09:53:15 GMT, Dog3 > >>> wrote: >>> >>>> haven't left, at least for the past year. You have me confused with >>>> Archon (Michael). I knew this was going to happen. He's much nicer >>>> than I am. Perhaps I should be flattered. >>>> >>>> Dog3 >>> >>> Keep the pen name and no one will be confused, big dog. >>> >>> ![]() >> >> I'm so used to signing Michael. I'm glad Archon is back. I enjoy his >> posts. *sigh* I guess I'll sign off as Dog3 from now on. >> >> Dog3 >> =========== > > Why? At the top of your posts it always shows " "Dog3" <dog3@.....". > Therefore, you can still type "Michael" and if anyone should be in doubt > they need only to look at the top of the page/post. <shrug> Do whatchawanna > do! > > Cyndi In a "real" newsreader (that should stir things up here!) you can always look in the "FROM" column, too. I don't see the problem. |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
On Thu, 09 Dec 2004 14:03:22 GMT, "Rick & Cyndi" >
wrote: >Why? At the top of your posts it always shows " "Dog3" <dog3@.....". >Therefore, you can still type "Michael" and if anyone should be in doubt >they need only to look at the top of the page/post. I *told* you Cyndi was a genius! Carol -- "Years ago my mother used to say to me... She'd say, 'In this world Elwood, you must be oh-so smart or oh-so pleasant.' Well, for years I was smart.... I recommend pleasant. You may quote me." *James Stewart* in the 1950 movie, _Harvey_ |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
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. |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
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. |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
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. |
|
|||
|
|||
![]() "Dog3" > wrote in message ... > Damsel in dis Dress > chugged a beer and > wrote in : > >> On Thu, 09 Dec 2004 14:03:22 GMT, "Rick & Cyndi" > >> wrote: >> >>>Why? At the top of your posts it always shows " "Dog3" <dog3@.....". >>>Therefore, you can still type "Michael" and if anyone should be in doubt >>>they need only to look at the top of the page/post. >> >> I *told* you Cyndi was a genius! >> >> Carol > > Get yur behind to St. Louis. I want to feed you some White Castles. > > Michael ============== No, no, no, no, no, nooooooooooo... Krystal burgers (down south) are FAR better!!! White Castle burgers, while they look a bit like Krystal burgers, are "greasy cardboard'. In fact, the little paper/cardboard container that they're served in are better tasting. But then again, we all know that you don't eat White Castle burgers for their taste... it's simply a "I drank more than I should have and need to get something in my stomach" or "it's late, I'm starved and that's the only place open"! I would, however, love to get back to St. Louis and doing some major feasting on "the hill". There were so many places I wanted to go to when I lived nearby but never got around to it (or could afford!). Cyndi |
|
|||
|
|||
![]() "Dog3" > wrote in message ... > Damsel in dis Dress > chugged a beer and > wrote in : > >> On Thu, 09 Dec 2004 14:03:22 GMT, "Rick & Cyndi" > >> wrote: >> >>>Why? At the top of your posts it always shows " "Dog3" <dog3@.....". >>>Therefore, you can still type "Michael" and if anyone should be in doubt >>>they need only to look at the top of the page/post. >> >> I *told* you Cyndi was a genius! >> >> Carol > > Get yur behind to St. Louis. I want to feed you some White Castles. > > Michael ============== No, no, no, no, no, nooooooooooo... Krystal burgers (down south) are FAR better!!! White Castle burgers, while they look a bit like Krystal burgers, are "greasy cardboard'. In fact, the little paper/cardboard container that they're served in are better tasting. But then again, we all know that you don't eat White Castle burgers for their taste... it's simply a "I drank more than I should have and need to get something in my stomach" or "it's late, I'm starved and that's the only place open"! I would, however, love to get back to St. Louis and doing some major feasting on "the hill". There were so many places I wanted to go to when I lived nearby but never got around to it (or could afford!). Cyndi |
|
|||
|
|||
![]() "Damsel in dis Dress" > wrote in message ... > On Thu, 09 Dec 2004 14:03:22 GMT, "Rick & Cyndi" > > wrote: > >>Why? At the top of your posts it always shows " "Dog3" <dog3@.....". >>Therefore, you can still type "Michael" and if anyone should be in doubt >>they need only to look at the top of the page/post. > > I *told* you Cyndi was a genius! > > Carol > -- >=========== < B L U S H > Thanks, Cyndi |
|
|||
|
|||
![]() "Damsel in dis Dress" > wrote in message ... > On Thu, 09 Dec 2004 14:03:22 GMT, "Rick & Cyndi" > > wrote: > >>Why? At the top of your posts it always shows " "Dog3" <dog3@.....". >>Therefore, you can still type "Michael" and if anyone should be in doubt >>they need only to look at the top of the page/post. > > I *told* you Cyndi was a genius! > > Carol > -- >=========== < B L U S H > Thanks, Cyndi |
|
|||
|
|||
![]() sf wrote: > On 8 Dec 2004 14:53:13 -0800, "Bronnie" > > wrote: > > > our Christmas Dinner is doubling in size from 2 > > to 4! Last year DH and I had dinner on the deck (warm > > 25degC/80deg+/-F), by candlelight, > > As a kid, I went from a snowy xmas season enviornment to one > w/o snow, but not as warm as yours.... > > I'm assuming that you're a native of OZ, so I'd like to know > what your take is on the Northern Hemisphere xmas snow idea. > Do you feel out of the loop/cheated? Or is it just one of > those things that has always been different from what's > considered "the rest" of the English speaking world? How > did you deal with Santa Claus and the concept of snow as a > kid? Is Christmas more religious than commercial down > under? > > Just curious. > Thanx > > sf > Practice safe eating - always use condiments G'day, Yeah, we do feel cheated somewhat about the lack of snow!! Growing up, the whole Christmas/nativity story was about snowy settings; Xmas cards, store decorations, depict the northern hemisphere style. As a child I don't recall questioning it, I remember liking all the presents! We have some cards with Santa surfboarding in red shorts, but it doesn't have the same ring about it. I am not sure he can really swim.... So, we all dash through the snow and have hearty fires in the grate in our imagination whilst the reality is heat, flies and beer. However, we are all still into home Xmas decorations and Christmas lights outside, Xmas trees - real and artifical. I had my first snowy Xmas visiting friends in Niagara Falls, Ont. in my early 20's and was blown away by whole experience. I had another one in Virginia one year which was great. In 2001 my husband and I won a trip to Austria and spent 10 days in Vienna and Salzburg over Xmas week, just beautiful. To answer your question about the Aussie reaction to the real meaning of Xmas, well, just my take, but I think it is pretty much commercial these days, too many excesses, and way too expensive gift giving etc. Obviously, some of the population go to church and celebrate the Christianity of it, carol services and the like...but we don't have the equivalent of 'middle American bible belt'. The weather has something to do with it, the kids would prefer to be playing outside and going to the beach rather than indoor activities. Now, these ramblings are just my thoughts...we don't have children/grandchildren and I really think children bring out that innocence and enjoyment of it all. Back to the OP, being Japanese, I heard the other day that Japanese schools were trying to introduce the Xmas story to their students and one school got a bit muddled up and depicted Santa nailed to the cross! True! Ho! Ho! Ho! Bronwyn |
|
|||
|
|||
![]() sf wrote: > On 8 Dec 2004 14:53:13 -0800, "Bronnie" > > wrote: > > > our Christmas Dinner is doubling in size from 2 > > to 4! Last year DH and I had dinner on the deck (warm > > 25degC/80deg+/-F), by candlelight, > > As a kid, I went from a snowy xmas season enviornment to one > w/o snow, but not as warm as yours.... > > I'm assuming that you're a native of OZ, so I'd like to know > what your take is on the Northern Hemisphere xmas snow idea. > Do you feel out of the loop/cheated? Or is it just one of > those things that has always been different from what's > considered "the rest" of the English speaking world? How > did you deal with Santa Claus and the concept of snow as a > kid? Is Christmas more religious than commercial down > under? > > Just curious. > Thanx > > sf > Practice safe eating - always use condiments G'day, Yeah, we do feel cheated somewhat about the lack of snow!! Growing up, the whole Christmas/nativity story was about snowy settings; Xmas cards, store decorations, depict the northern hemisphere style. As a child I don't recall questioning it, I remember liking all the presents! We have some cards with Santa surfboarding in red shorts, but it doesn't have the same ring about it. I am not sure he can really swim.... So, we all dash through the snow and have hearty fires in the grate in our imagination whilst the reality is heat, flies and beer. However, we are all still into home Xmas decorations and Christmas lights outside, Xmas trees - real and artifical. I had my first snowy Xmas visiting friends in Niagara Falls, Ont. in my early 20's and was blown away by whole experience. I had another one in Virginia one year which was great. In 2001 my husband and I won a trip to Austria and spent 10 days in Vienna and Salzburg over Xmas week, just beautiful. To answer your question about the Aussie reaction to the real meaning of Xmas, well, just my take, but I think it is pretty much commercial these days, too many excesses, and way too expensive gift giving etc. Obviously, some of the population go to church and celebrate the Christianity of it, carol services and the like...but we don't have the equivalent of 'middle American bible belt'. The weather has something to do with it, the kids would prefer to be playing outside and going to the beach rather than indoor activities. Now, these ramblings are just my thoughts...we don't have children/grandchildren and I really think children bring out that innocence and enjoyment of it all. Back to the OP, being Japanese, I heard the other day that Japanese schools were trying to introduce the Xmas story to their students and one school got a bit muddled up and depicted Santa nailed to the cross! True! Ho! Ho! Ho! Bronwyn |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
On Thu, 09 Dec 2004 13:25:51 GMT, Dog3 >
wrote: > > I'm so used to signing Michael. I'm glad Archon is back. I enjoy his > posts. *sigh* I guess I'll sign off as Dog3 from now on. As you well know, I prefer pen names... but since you like to sign off as Michael, have you considered combining the two? sf Practice safe eating - always use condiments |
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
"Takuya" > wrote in message
om... >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. As a child growing up in South Louisiana's cajun country, we always started the day with midnight Mass and went home to steaming bowls of gumbo, usually chicken and andouille. In the morning, we gathered up gifts and joined the rest of my mother's family at my maternal grandmother's house for dinner and gift exchange. After marriage, my wife and I hosted Christmas at our home in Thibodaux with family and friends. Since our move to Alaska, my wife travels back to Louisiana every Christmas to spend time with our granddaughter. (A non-social Chow Chow keeps us from traveling together.) I usually have Christmas dinner with friends. But this year a friend (another Louisiana transplant) and I will prepare a meal at my house and invite a several of the contract workers. It's difficult to get professionals to relocate to Nome, so many of our hospital employees are short term traveling workers with very sparsely furnished kitchens in their corporate housing. The menu will be rather simple: roast turkey, cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce (chances are neither of our 2 grocery stores will have fresh cranberries, it will have to be canned), asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes. I think I have some picked crab meat in the freezer and, if I do, I'll make Paul Prudhomme's Crabmeat Avery, a favorite appetizer of ours. Not sure of the rest of the menu, but it will include a couple of bottle of homemade wine and some sort of dessert. Maybe molten lava cakes if I can find some good chocolate. The ground is covered with snow which won't melt until May, so it's looks like a Christmas card here for six months at a stretch. Happy holidays, Robert |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|