Turkey? Or the centrepiece dish?

[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.

[salsabike]

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.

You sound like someone who loves her family and is worried about her dad's health...seems pretty reasonable to me. I hope you guys have a wonderful day no matter what you eat!

[Irulan]

A traditional Jewish dinner might include roast chicken or a brisket, tsimms; challah, but for Hanukkah, laktes. Lots of latkes. (potato pankcakes)

[GLC1968]

We always had a big-ish Christmas dinner growing up, but nothing specific was served every year. We opted for something special that we wouldn't have on a regular day though. Rarely turkey (turkey was reserved for Thanksgiving in our household), but we often did Prime Rib or some other such expensive cut of beef. Kringle and eggs for Christmas breakfast (always) and there is the random assortment of fancy cheeses and a Honeybaked Ham out to munch on all day....

My mom is the ultimate collector of random guests (we have a small family), so Christmas was always about meeting new people and laughing with others (often strangers) while we all stuffed our faces full of good food.

This year, it'll be just myself and my husband...so I have no idea what we'll do (except we will have Kringle and eggs for breakfast). It might be time to start creating our own traditions.

[tulip]

What is Kringle?

[zoom-zoom]

What is Kringle?

Kind of like danish (it's also a Danish pastry)...flaky, sweet, goopy with icing and fruit topping. Man, I miss it. I grew up in WI and am of mostly Scandinavian descent (my kid is even named Dane).

[deeaimond]

If we have a gathering for Christmas, we usually have some kind of barbeque, and I'll brine and roast a turkey. Didn't do it last year though, coz I was here in the US, but now I'll be home for christmas, but I doubt it, since i only arrive christmas eve 10pm and there won't be time. Hopefully next year.
People miss my turkey more than they miss me

[Crankin]

I had about ten for Chanukah last Sunday. Besides the latkes, I did make a turkey, but it was mostly because it's easy; pop it in the oven and let it cook. My DH carves it and does most of the cooking when turkey is involved. I also had a kugel (noodle pudding) and others brought fruit salad and regular salad.
A lot of the time, we just make the latkes and have sort of a dairy dinner, with tuna salad, kugel, and fruit.

[GLC1968]

Kind of like danish (it's also a Danish pastry)...flaky, sweet, goopy with icing and fruit topping. Man, I miss it. I grew up in WI and am of mostly Scandinavian descent (my kid is even named Dane).

We spent a few years in the Milwaukee area when I was growing up and that's where we discovered Kringle and added it to our traditions. Every year, Kringles from O&H bakery (in Racine) go out to all the members of our family all over the country so that we all are 'sharing' Christmas breakfast even if we can't be in the same place.



http://www.ohdanishbakery.com/

[spokewench]

Most of the time, it is prime rib for Christmas with twice baked potatoes. Occasionally, a duck or a goose. with twice baked potatoes and weird jello dessert.

My husband's family favors ham and scalloped potatoes, etc.

I am not a fan of Christmas dinner - these meals are just too heavy for me!