Turkey? Or the centrepiece dish?

[shootingstar]

We don't cook turkey for Christmas or Thxgiving. He and I each come from non-turkey families for both holidays. Both of our mothers were never keen to prepare turkey. When I grew up, we tended to have chicken for Christmas dinner.

We usually choose to make a seafood dish for our Christmas meal. (actually we usually have it on Christmas Eve.)

[tulip]

We don't have a Christmas meal, unless you count bagels and lox while opening presents on Christmas morning a Christmas meal.

[badger]

we usually go for dim sum on Christmas day.

We never did turkey, either, so sometimes it was chicken, sometimes ham, and once my dad made carp. That was first and last time carp ever made its way into our household...

[OakLeaf]

Usually there's a homegrown squash involved. Last year it was semolina-delicata gnocchi alla Romana. The year before it was kabocha stuffed with a mixed nut dressing. Not sure what it'll be this year, but we've got tons of butternut (although Thanksgiving was all butternut, with ravioli and pie...)

[shootingstar]

we usually go for dim sum on Christmas day.

We never did turkey, either, so sometimes it was chicken, sometimes ham, and once my dad made carp. That was first and last time carp ever made its way into our household...

Honest, I've never done dim sum as a Christmas meal in Chinatown /wherever. Usually 1-2 items if someone brings them for potluck dinner, they are side dishes, not centrepiece dishes. Though mind you, real homemade dim sum, takes time and abit of care, especially for several different types. Like making a ton of different cookies.

Tulip, what is the centrepiece dish that you would have for Hannakuh? Or have I got it wrong?

[Bike Chick]

I make a huge pot of gumbo on Christmas Eve and my mother-in-law always makes a platter of sushi for both Christmas and Thanksgiving....yummy

[crazycanuck]

We're doing a bbq on Christmas day w friends.

Mmmmm...Bbq followed by a dip in the pool Very nice when it's forecasted to be 36C

[zoom-zoom]

Growing up we would usually have a few favorite items...lasagne, steak, and boiled shrimp in the shell. I don't recall ever having anything more labor-intensive than that, since it was typically just mom, dad, and the 3 of us kids (grandparents usually were in Florida...snowbirds).

[channlluv]

We don't do a formal Christmas dinner, either. I make a big crockpot of my All-day Chili and people help themselves as they arrive. There's a banquet of homemade cookies, cakes and pies, too. There are never leftovers, thank goodness.

Roxy

[papaver]

I have to cook for twelve this Friday and on Thursday for 6. But no turkey either.

[shootingstar]

I have to cook for twelve this Friday and on Thursday for 6. But no turkey either.

I perceived turkey as more of North American tendency, that is for those who choose to observe Christmas or choose to eat meat.

In his family, his mother had goose or duck. Which sounds elegant to turkey eaters here but not unusual if one thinks about the types of farmed birds common in some European countries.

Turkey is just alien to traditional Asian cuisine. Seriously, take a look at any traditional (not fusion) Asian cuisine recipe book.

I've never seen it on a traditional menu in restaurants.

So really, my parents encountered turkey for the lst time when they came Canada.

[papaver]

Yep lot's of goose and duck here too...

[salsabike]

Dungeness crab and steamer clams. We do the Christmas dinner for my husband's family here, and that's what we do every year. Big hit.

There is no Hanukkah dinner that I have ever heard of, unless individuals have started their own unique tradition. It's actually a pretty minor holiday. The main Jewish holiday is Passover, and that does have a dinner with a variety of dishes that have symbolic importance.

[tulip]

Tulip, what is the centrepiece dish that you would have for Hannakuh? Or have I got it wrong?

I'm not Jewish. We just don't have a Christmas dinner is all. I guess once or twice we have, when I was a child, but with Thanksgiving just over, we rarely do a big Christmas dinner.

The bagels and lox are just a special treat for breakfast, while opening presents.

[shootingstar]

I'm not Jewish. We just don't have a Christmas dinner is all. I guess once or twice we have, when I was a child, but with Thanksgiving just over, we rarely do a big Christmas dinner.

The bagels and lox are just a special treat for breakfast, while opening presents.

My family is not religious at all.
But parents jumped on the bandwagon when they came to Canada ..you know anything involving home-cooked nice meal, decorations, songs and presents sounded like a good thing to my parents. You have to see the parallels of just the celebratory stuff to Chinese New Years' except the foods traditionally eaten then have different meaning, but the bright colours found for Chistmas and Chinese New Year's, ie. red for berries, Santa Claus suit, etc. parallels with red in Chinese New Year.

It's not tough to "sell" Christmas to certain non-Christian based cultures.

My family views Christmas a great reason for yet another mega-family get together with multi-course, special foods, etc. and celebrate family bonding.

I must sound awfully simplistic. But as the years march along, memories of this become more precious and I confess, nostalgia grows especially when people are still healthy and alive.