American Christmas Traditions

[TBoneTX 45,288]

Yo! Clueless Yanqui here! What is "pud," si man?

[Krikit 1,164]

Yo! Clueless Yanqui here! What is "pud," si man?

A pud is a pudding, of course.

[TBoneTX 45,288]

A pud is a pudding, of course.

Does it have (scorched, if it is "flaming") Liverpudlians in it? Inquiring minds want to know.

I still recommend pollo frito* or cuy** as everyone's primary Christmas dish, si man:

* http://www.bigoven.com/6807-Pollo-Frito-recipe.html

** http://gosouthamerica.about.com/od/cuisine/a/cuy.htm

[Krikit 1,164]

A pud is a pudding, of course.

Does it have (scorched, if it is "flaming") Liverpudlians in it? Inquiring minds want to know.

I still recommend pollo frito* or cuy** as everyone's primary Christmas dish, si man:

* http://www.bigoven.com/6807-Pollo-Frito-recipe.html

** http://gosouthamerica.about.com/od/cuisine/a/cuy.htm

The pollo frito sounds good. I may try that. The cuy sounded interesting until I saw the words 'guinea pigs'. Yeah..... don't think I'll be making that recipe anytime soon.

[TBoneTX 45,288]

The cuy sounded interesting until I saw the words 'guinea pigs'. Yeah..... don't think I'll be making that recipe anytime soon.

Aw, come on, si man!

[Krikit 1,164]

The cuy sounded interesting until I saw the words 'guinea pigs'. Yeah..... don't think I'll be making that recipe anytime soon.

Aw, come on, si man!

no can do. i'm not a bunny boiler either.

[TBoneTX 45,288]

no can do. i'm not a bunny boiler either.

Well then, what about a kudu-rooster... er, -roaster? You're not much fun, no man!

[annieob 0]

Ok - this is something I have been tossing about in a couple of other threads as I am beginning to get nervous about my first Christmas away from my family.

To cut a long story short (you can read some of the details in the July 2007 K-1 thread) my Christmas back in England sounds very much like Thanksgiving is here with games, family, big meal but also presents in the afternoon and a buffet in the evening. Obviously in the UK we don't celebrate Thanksgiving.

So if you celebrate Christmas, what do you do? Do you still have turkey? Do you visit friends? Family? Go out? I'm trying to get my head around what people do if Thanksgiving is the big turkey-eating/family orientated session!!

My husband's family christmas is very different from my family...

My family: midnight mass then home for champagne and smoked salmon, late morning breakfast of a fry-up and then open presents, go for a walk, watch some tv etc and then have dinner and drinks in the evening. Dinner is turkey, roast potatoes, veggies, stuffing, gravy. Then christmas pudding.

My husband's family: wake up and have regular breakfast, wait for all family to get there, open presents, have christmas dinner at lunchtime. Lunch consists of beef and potato stew, mashed potatoes, rolls, beef and noodles.....I can't remember what else but it is very very different from what I'm used to and if it weren't for snow and christmas tree's it wouldn't feel like christmas to me at all.

[Emancipation 2]

I found Christmas crackers at Michaels last night.. well actually they were Thanksgiving crackers..? but nonetheless, they are around!

[Fuzzymiss 2]

I found a British goods aisle at Star Market/Shaws. They tend to have Xmas puds, Bisto gravy etc. We're lucky to have a couple of British import stores around us, and can stock up on things like Branston pickle (essential for a good cheese sarnie) and my mum usually send us the tackiest xmas crackers she can find.

The first xmas here was terrible, it was very awkward with the in-laws, totally different from home, it didn't feel like much of celebration. So the next year we did a waifs and strays xmas, and got some friends that were too poor to go home round our house and did a British xmas, roast goose, xmas pud the lot. It was such a hit we're doing it again this year. so it's not all bad, I'll still miss home but perhaps next year we will be able to afford/be allowed by immigration to go home and do it properly!

[Ontarkie 14,222]

This will be our first Christmas in the US the kids and I that is. Our third one together but the first one married and in the US.

Not sure how i'm going to like it this year it will be good cause we will be together in our home. I get to do all the things I want to make it the best first Christmas I can. But its still wont be the same for years i've had 3 Christmas parties of sorts. But a few yrs ago that changed too. But the biggest and the one I will miss the most is going to my parents place.

On the 25th the kids would wake us up at 5am if i was lucky and start the process of trying to get the presents opened. I would take my time to get out of bed just to tease em while they attacked the stockings. Once I got out of bed the living room would no longer be visable. 4 kids make a big mess with wrapping paper its so much fun watching them.

So after we get the house cleaned up a bit and try and make the kids eat breakfest we head to my parents. There we will be waiting for my sister, niece and one of my Aunts to arrive late as always and stuff ourselves in the process. Then the gifts get passed around again paper flying every where. A little clean up after wards and then the kids start to play with the toys the alduts pick at more food and talk and eat and play with the kids. All afternoon more ppl come by and all the hugs and kisses continue as we continue to pick at stuff while we wait for the turkey supper to be ready. So then we eat and eat and this coninues on till about 8pm sometimes later depends on the kids.

Now this has been just the last couple of years. Before when I had a car we did the eating till late thing at my moms all week. Well really till the kids were back in school. I loved going over there and just being with all the family.

So not sure what all we will be doing this year I need to figure out what to do the 24th now. I was thinking to see what Hubby does normally that night and maybe have ppl over friends family kinda thing but not sure. Oh ya the kids and I could not help it our tree and decorations went up last week. They really couldn't handle waiting till the American thanksgiving was over.

[Chelle62 0]

We start on christmas eve. My sister and her family , my mom come over , we have a buffet of lots of different foods, then after everyone goes home, my girls get to open one gift before they go to bed and I always get them a new pair of PJs and slippers for them to wear to bed

Christmas day is just my family, the girls wake up in the morning and come running in screaming santa came,, even though they are old enough now to know the difference LOL.. its usally around 4 am ugg and then we go to the tree and they look in there stockings and then they rip into there presents under the tree while I sit and watch and sip on my coffee

For Dinner we have the traditional, turkey and all the fixings.. lots of appetizers before dinner so by the time afternoon comes you are so full and need a nap.

Oh and the best part for me is after all this is done.. Late at night , making a turkey sandwich yuummm the best haha.