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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: cathymcc on Sunday 23 December 07 15:49 GMT (UK)

Title: Christmas traditions
Post by: cathymcc on Sunday 23 December 07 15:49 GMT (UK)
As kids in the 1960s - we went to my Irish Aunt and her Polish husband & played draughts and cards and then went to midnight Mass, we slept together 4 in a bed - head to toe...and then over to our place for Christmas lunch...
and all went out for a walk after lunch.

Boxing day was with my English Aunt and her Welsh husband - she made yummy triffles with homemade sponge cake I remember  ;D

cath 
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: GeoffE on Sunday 23 December 07 16:09 GMT (UK)
Pork pie for Christmas breakfast  :)
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: seahall on Sunday 23 December 07 17:01 GMT (UK)
Pork Pie and Pickled Onions .

I have had this breakfast since I was 13 many moons ago.

Sandy
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: oleonepace on Sunday 23 December 07 17:19 GMT (UK)
The jelly from the bottom of turkey dripping bowl spread on hot toast and sprinkled with pepper!

tony
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: northern_rose on Sunday 23 December 07 17:25 GMT (UK)
For the past 30 years (since I was 5!!) we have always gone to the same farm to collect our Turkey.............never feels like Christmas til we have been and collected the bird!

This year's bird is now in the fridge sooooooooooo.......................

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!!! :) :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: stoney on Sunday 23 December 07 17:28 GMT (UK)
Corny, I know - but when my daughter was born 23 years ago we were so thrilled to have our first Christmas as a "proper" family that a tradition of reading a particular book started.

Hubby bought a small book of " 'TwasThe Night before Christmas" and inscribed it from the baby, "To Mummy, from Rachel, You can read me this xxxxxx"

It became a Christmas Eve ritual - just before the kids went up to bed, we'd set the tray for Father hristmas with sherry and mince pies and a carrot for Rudolf and then sit down for the grand reading of the poem!

Over the years there were some mild panics as the book was lost, but always seemed to turn up i the nick of time. We decided to pack it away with the decorations every year, and so it has remained.

It's a bit dog-eared now, and other copies have been bought, but we still use the original - a tradition that continues even though the kids are 23 and 21!
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: Mumsie2131 on Sunday 23 December 07 18:30 GMT (UK)
 :D :D :D
A short lived one for me was when the boys now all 36+ were small and got up early, we had the pressie opening with 'me & 'im' then we departed to the kitchen, closed the door and had Bacon Butties listening to the Christmas Morning bells on the radio before the Queens Speech which we also listened to.
 ;D ;D ;D

Short lived because the BBC stopped the Chrissie morning bells.
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: cathymcc on Sunday 23 December 07 20:26 GMT (UK)
Re Santa

My Dad [now 84] used to be Santa for a local charity - and you always get one Smart Alec...I remember one boy saying to him "If you are the REAL Santa name all the reindeers?"

Dad couldn't so he was "outed" as an imposter!    ;D

cath
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: indiapaleale on Sunday 23 December 07 20:38 GMT (UK)
Reciting the Christmas Poem at the dinner table.

This was something me Dad started and I can remember it from when I was a tiddler....over 60 years ago.

I won't recite the poem here as it is a bit rude.....

I did post it last year......and it wasn't censored..... :D :D :D :D....but best not push me luck!

But if any one wants the poem that starts:

"It was Christmas Day in the Workhouse" ...just drop me a line!

Merry Christmas
Indi
 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: northern_rose on Sunday 23 December 07 21:00 GMT (UK)
Reciting the Christmas Poem at the dinner table.

This was something me Dad started and I can remember it from when I was a tiddler....over 60 years ago.

I won't recite the poem here as it is a bit rude.....

I did post it last year......and it wasn't censored..... :D :D :D :D....but best not push me luck!

But if any one wants the poem that starts:

"It was Christmas Day in the Workhouse" ...just drop me a line!

Merry Christmas
Indi
 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

My Dad recites the first verse every Christmas.

There is obviously more tothis than I can remember if you class it as a bit rude!!


Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: 4kni on Sunday 23 December 07 21:12 GMT (UK)
For as long as I can remember it was always  cold  meat, mashed potatoes and pickles for lunch on boxing day at my grandparents house and for some reason it is what I now serve in my house for the family and any guests who happen to turn up.
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: Roobarb on Sunday 23 December 07 21:24 GMT (UK)
I won't recite the poem here as it is a bit rude.....

I did post it last year......and it wasn't censored..... :D :D :D :D....but best not push me luck!

But if any one wants the poem that starts:

"It was Christmas Day in the Workhouse" ...just drop me a line!

My dad used to recite one that had a similar beginning, I don't know if you would consider it rude but here goes, you can all tell me if you are offended!

"It was Christmas day in the army
The soldiers were all in bed
There was no Christmas pudding
The Sergeant had done what they said!"

Pretty innocuous I think, perhaps he had edited it a bit for us kids. I didn't understand it till I was grown up though!
 (http://www.smilieshq.com/smilies/innocent0007.gif) (http://www.smilieshq.com)
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: northern_rose on Sunday 23 December 07 21:52 GMT (UK)
Our version goes.....

"It was Christmas Day in the Workhouse
The snow was raining fast
When a bare footed man with clogs on
Went slowly running past"
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: geniecolgan on Sunday 23 December 07 23:37 GMT (UK)
 :D :D :D  I only remember the last line....

it went something like.... "We don't want your Christmas Pudding,

shove it .. .... a.se"

Is that the one Indi ? ........ Please send full copy.

 :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: indiapaleale on Sunday 23 December 07 23:47 GMT (UK)
Hi Genie...

Oooooo errrrrrr....yes it's something like that.....

LOL

Copy on it's way up north from sunny California

Merry Christmas.

 ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: KathMc on Sunday 23 December 07 23:50 GMT (UK)
For my whole life, Christmas Eve, we hang our stockings, put cookies and a ... beverage out for Santa and snuggled in with my dad to read Twas the Night Before Christmas. My mom bought a copy, probably in 1961 when my oldest brother was born, and she gave it to me a couple years ago. It still has the price on it (29 cents). It makes me think of my dad (and now I am crying). My lovely Jewish husband reads to the kid snow on Christmas Eve. It just doesn't seem right to have me read it. We too pack the book away with the Christmas stuff and considering the age, it's in pretty good shape.

Kath
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: indiapaleale on Sunday 23 December 07 23:57 GMT (UK)
Oh Kath,

How lovely.........what a lovely way to spend Christmas Eve.

Please don't cry.....you are so blessed to have such wonderful memories.

Have a wonderful Christmas

Indi  :) :) :)
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: Pegasuss on Monday 24 December 07 00:33 GMT (UK)
Here is My (Traditional) Christmas Week Menu:

Christmas Day: Turkey with All the Trimmings, followed by 'The Pudding' (when I was a lad the Pudding was always one of My Grans Homemade) :P :P :P

Boxing Day: Cold Turkey & Ham (My Father used to do a Big Fry-Up with any left over Roasties & Etc).  :P :P :P

27th December: Turkey Curry (the last of the Triffle), for Supper Sandwiches Stuffed with any of the Choice Bits of the Turkey & Sausage Meat (with lashings of the Pickle of Choice, Mine was & still is Branston Pickle).

On occasion (If I manage to get a Good enough Bird, that has Not been reared on All Kinds of Steriods & Drugs) I am able to Finish Off the Year (on 31st Dec) with the very last of the Turkey sandwiched between 2 Wedges of Bread! :P :P :P :P

Anyone reading this may think I am setting Myself up for a Dose of Food Poisoning?

Well, the (main) secret is I Always make sure that My Bird is Well Cooked, then Strip All the Meat off the Carcase as soon as it is cooled (& Throw away any Stuffing that is not Used by Boxing Day evening).

P.S.

When I was 3-4Yrs old we used to sit around the Kitchen Fire (with My Gran) Plucking Our Fresh Bird on Christmas Eve (she always said she could tell If the Bird was Fresh by How easy the Feathers were to Pluck).
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: geniecolgan on Monday 24 December 07 02:13 GMT (UK)
Our variation on the same theme was Boxing Day....

Cold Turkey and ham with Branston Pickles naturally and....

Bubble n Squeak made from the left-over Brussels and mash spuds.
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: forthefamily on Monday 24 December 07 02:32 GMT (UK)
We have a holiday in North America called Thanksgiving...and this year I tried something different with my turkey. I heard a talk show on the radio and the host said to cook the turkey breast side down  :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o

I was shocked  :-\ :-\ :-\ :-\ :-\ How unprecedented...how outlandish. What a concept  :o

Well I tried it. Why hadn't I thought of this before I said to myself. Think about it...the drippings and juices flow downwards.......... ;) Into the turkey breast. It was awesome. So juicy. Now it's a new holiday tradition in my house  :) :) :) :) :) Well any holiday that includes turkey  ;D

Happy holidays everyone  :)

mab

Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: Pegasuss on Monday 24 December 07 03:53 GMT (UK)
Mab.

That's the way I always Cook My Birds!  ;) :P :P :P
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: forthefamily on Monday 24 December 07 04:04 GMT (UK)
:o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o There should be a cooking thingy on Rootschat and then I would have known you did that ...However...hmmmm... :)

I had never heard of it before...but I will certainly cook all my fowl likewise in the future and I'm sure I  may regret saying that....

mab
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: dollylee on Monday 24 December 07 08:44 GMT (UK)
This may be an odd question.....but I don't cook chicken or turkey often.

Wouldn't having the juices flow down into the breast make a bread stuffing more greasy?

dollylee
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: aghadowey on Monday 24 December 07 10:16 GMT (UK)
I cook my turkey 'upside down' for the first 3 hours and then flip it over (takes 2 people) for the remaider and comes out lovely and moist but I don't do any stuffing in the bird as I cook the turkey a few weeks before Christmas, freeze the meat in portions and just take out what's needed. This year only 3 of us are having turkey so there should be enough to last all week.
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: Berlin-Bob on Monday 24 December 07 10:26 GMT (UK)
Here is the first verse of the original, by George R Sims

Quote
It is Christmas Day in the workhouse,
And the cold, bare walls are bright
With garlands of green and holly,
Ad the place is a pleasant sight;
For with clean-washed hands and faces,
In a long and hungry line
The paupers sit at the table,
For this is the hour they dine.

the whole poem (narrative) and a short article about Sims can be found - appropriately - on Peter Higginbotham's Workhouse site
htttp://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?lit/xmasday.shtml

If you put christmas day in the workhouse in a search engine, you will also find some of the many parodies, too.
(for instance: http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=7684 )

Merry Christmas,
Bob
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: stoney on Monday 24 December 07 11:27 GMT (UK)
Our variation on the same theme was Boxing Day....

Cold Turkey and ham with Branston Pickles naturally and....

Bubble n Squeak made from the left-over Brussels and mash spuds.

Same in our house - my daughter insists we have to cook far more veg than we need on the 25th, just so she can enjoy bubble'n'squeak on Boxing day!
Title: Re: Christmas traditions
Post by: ricoba on Monday 24 December 07 11:28 GMT (UK)
WE WERE TOLD

IT WAS XMAS DAY IN THE WORKHOUSE A ND EVERY ONE WAS FEELING MERRY
SO MARY GOT UP AND LEFT

BEST WISHES TO ALL