Traditionally

Having just completed the merry celebration of my birthday yesterday (and I won’t tell you which one it was, but here’s a hint: next year is three score and ten for me), I’m turning my attention to Christmas Eve. The Day itself is sorted pretty well, a fantasia of food and unwrapping gifts and gathered loved ones. But the Night Before? We go to churches, plural--you read that right, three churches to be precise: the one where Sheridan works, the one where Ya-Jhu works, and the one where I used to work. Supper happens when/if it happens, and it can be rather sketchy, though last year our wonderful son-in-law Gil cooked us a delicious Israeli dinner. 

I’ve had some fun learning about international Christmas Eve traditions, though I don’t plan on doing any of these, at least not literal recreations. But with a little tweaking, maybe we Seyfrieds could embrace:

Find the Pickle (Germany): Those daffy Germans hide a pickle ornament on the Christmas tree, and whoever finds it gets a prize, or good luck for the new year. We’re fresh out of pickle tree ornaments, but there is a jar of cornichons in the pantry, so I may festoon our branches with these tiny gherkins. That would be festive, with the bonus of making our living room smell like the corner deli.

Christmas Book Flood (Iceland): Then there’s the Jólabókaflóðið; I invite you to say THAT ten times fast. Icelandic revelers gift each other new books on Christmas Eve, and they all cuddle up and read together. I can picture us doing likewise, from Nana on her Kindle, down to little Dimitri with board books he will either throw (perhaps at the Christmas tree pickles), or try to eat (like the Christmas tree pickles themselves). We might make it to five whole minutes of literary bliss before attention wanes!

Peace Apples (China): I love this one. It consists of giving and eating apples (which are often elaborately wrapped, and even carved with symbols for “Love”, “Joy” etc.) To simplify, I can just head to Acme, buy a couple pounds of Honeycrisps (on sale this week), stick ‘em in food storage bags and—voila! I can just see the Love and Joy on the kids’ faces now!

Feast of the Seven Fishes (Italy): I actually attempted this culinary challenge years ago, and it was as pricey and time-consuming, as it was unappreciated by my little ones. But now I know better! Here’s my thought for a seven fishes lineup: can of sardines, can of tuna, can of anchovies, can of herring, etc. This has the virtue of being relatively cheap, and also something we can re-gift to Pat and Ashlyn’s cat Atticus if need be!

From Wales (Mari Lwyd, where people went from house to house singing and carrying a horse’s skull--really) to Japan (they traditionally eat KFC--really) the world is full of replicable Yuletide rituals. Which one will my gang try this year?

Watch this space.