tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764159777348916628.post2896086908563703529..comments2024-02-18T00:11:11.490-08:00Comments on Heroines of Fantasy: Winter TraditionsHeroines of Fantasyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07169664399606524540noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764159777348916628.post-10310604504919042712012-12-03T11:55:54.795-08:002012-12-03T11:55:54.795-08:00Debbie--those are still very ITALIAN! I love it.
...Debbie--those are still very ITALIAN! I love it.<br /><br />A dollar to anyone else who knows what bracioles are! hehee!Terri-Lynnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468004163467894720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764159777348916628.post-14768388713188287452012-12-03T11:49:02.549-08:002012-12-03T11:49:02.549-08:00When I was younger we did the seven fishes at my S...When I was younger we did the seven fishes at my Sicilian grandmothers, but my husband, I and the kids don't love fish. So on xmas eve we have our neighbors over (17 yrs now) and have chicken, bracioles, Stromboli artichokes and a few stuffed clam and shrimp cocktail. Oh, and lots of vino!<br /><br />Nice post.Debbie Christianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12949473453277720476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764159777348916628.post-13046451835796323342012-12-03T10:45:44.665-08:002012-12-03T10:45:44.665-08:00Karin--we always had one gift to open on Christmas...Karin--we always had one gift to open on Christmas Eve, in Italian tradition, and the rest from Santa on Christmas morning. I carried that tradition on with my kids, with a slight twist--they all got special Christmas jammies on Christmas Eve. They loved it, and it remains one of those holiday traditions they think on fondly.<br /><br />Frank and I always exchanged gifts on Christmas Eve, at midnight, after all the kids were in bed. We still do.Terri-Lynnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468004163467894720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764159777348916628.post-35742145665237973722012-12-03T10:03:36.142-08:002012-12-03T10:03:36.142-08:00Growing up, the best part of Christmas were the Ge...Growing up, the best part of Christmas were the German Christmas carols, and getting all the goodies from my grandparents overseas in the mail. Especially the traditional German sweetbread, called "Stolen" (many of our friends kept asking where we had stolen it from...), handmade by my Grandmother.<br /><br />In Germany, presents are opened on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day. My parents reached a nice intercultural compromise on this by having the family dinner and gift exchange Christmas Eve, and then letting Santa come and leave presents American-style for Christmas morning. We kids always thought we had the best deal that way -- we got 2 days of presents instead of just one!<br /><br />Now, Christmas is an amalgamation of German, American and Costa Rican traditions. One thing I love about Costa Rican Christmases is how everyone starts celebrating on December 1. Why wait until Christmas Eve if you can party the whole month through? The traditional holiday food there are tamales wrapped in banana leaves, with liberal portions of the one-and-only Salsa Lisano -- very different from the Mexican-style tamales that tend to be more common here in the US. And December in Costa Rica is a great time to grill; the weather is mild and sunny, so holiday get-togethers inevitably involve grilled steaks, kabobs, and other great treats. <br /><br />I could go on and on, but I guess I'll stop there. I've always enjoyed the Christmas season, no matter where I am or who I am with. <br /><br />Thanks for a great post, Terri. And Merry Christmas!<br />Karin Rita Gastreichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13788750258292938903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764159777348916628.post-28553306397207323812012-12-03T09:33:30.136-08:002012-12-03T09:33:30.136-08:00Darke--BUTTER TARTS!!! Oh, yum. I had GOOD ones on...Darke--BUTTER TARTS!!! Oh, yum. I had GOOD ones only once, but they were beyond divine. Usually, what passes for butter tarts in the US is pretty damn gross.Terri-Lynnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468004163467894720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764159777348916628.post-73320122609384935532012-12-03T09:20:14.349-08:002012-12-03T09:20:14.349-08:00This will be the first year in several where we...This will be the first year in several where we'll have the time and money to make stuff. I'm hoping to make a pile of goodies and put them on plates for the neighbours. Even the one I don't like. :P Butter tarts, shortbread, cookies, banana bread and fudge. Although I'm leery of the banana bread. Last time I made it, it didn't turn out very well. :( <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14849835587452669592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764159777348916628.post-72159489265083369152012-12-03T09:06:22.812-08:002012-12-03T09:06:22.812-08:00Sharon--yours is the BEST shortbread I've ever...Sharon--yours is the BEST shortbread I've ever had. Last December was my first CoLoNy meeting, and I damn near gave myself a stroke trying to resist. I did take a few pieces home, saying they were for my kids. I think ONE piece actually got far enough to give them a crumb or two.Terri-Lynnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468004163467894720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764159777348916628.post-72511643826531950782012-12-03T08:36:05.370-08:002012-12-03T08:36:05.370-08:00My scottish grandmother made thick, buttery, mouth...My scottish grandmother made thick, buttery, mouthwatering scotch shortbread every christmas. She'd load the chunks into big round tins and deliver them to family and friends during the christmas season. I have tried to carry on the christmas tradition by making Nana's shortbread and, following her specific secrets, have come close to replicating the same flavors. Traditions are a beautiful reminder of our past. Yikes I just realized I've gone wheat-free this year. Well, I'm still making and eating those cookies...for Nana!<br />Great post!<br />SharonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764159777348916628.post-42033833502739393022012-12-03T08:27:44.356-08:002012-12-03T08:27:44.356-08:00Dude...you crack me up. Hahahhaaa! Hey, tradition ...Dude...you crack me up. Hahahhaaa! Hey, tradition is tradition!Terri-Lynnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468004163467894720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764159777348916628.post-92074209696477077042012-12-03T08:23:56.810-08:002012-12-03T08:23:56.810-08:00Our family has a few traditions we've been twe...Our family has a few traditions we've been tweaking to make our own for some time. We used to have both sides of the family over for a big dinner with turkey and a prime rib, all sorts of side dishes, etc. <br /><br />But in recent years, we have decided to slow things down so we don't have to rush all over the place. We usually buy a tree around the 10th, get around to decorating it a few days later once it thaws out. I hang lights on the house and try not to break my neck by falling off the roof. Sometimes I remember to turn on the lights. We try to have a fire in the fireplace if everyone isn't sick. <br /><br />One year we roasted chestnuts and after realizing that you should poke a hole in the shell, we started cleaning fragments of chestnut out of the kids' hair and vowing never again to do that. It's really a process of elimniation to see what traditions won't work.<br /> <br />Sometimes we hunker down for a day or so and play video games. Maybe check out after-Christmas sales. Go sledding if there is snow. Then we take the tree down by Groundhog Day. Hey, it was a lot of work to put up!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05823320025531087463noreply@blogger.com