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Our Christmas traditions
To the American People: Christmas is not a time or a season but a
state of mind. To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to
have the real spirit of Christmas. If we think on these things, there will be
born in us a Savior and over us will shine a star sending its gleam of hope to
the world."
~ Calvin
Coolidge (1872-1933), American president. Presidential message (December 25,
1927).
I cannot believe it’s been a month since I’ve written. So sorry – but things have been hectic and I haven’t seemed to have the inspiration (or time) to write anything meaningful. Life is so full of rushing around, doing this, doing that, washing, cleaning, planning, shopping, etc. This is actually the perfect time to be settling down and taking a look at what’s important and meaningful. It’s come at the perfect time – the time I needed to sit down, and realize how important family is and spending time with them.
This is a poignant time for me. I love being here in the States celebrating Christmas in the cool weather (compared to temperatures in the upper 90’s in South Africa this time of year). I love looking at the houses that have been lit up to celebrate this time of year (it’s not something we did in South Africa, although I believe it is starting to become a new trend). I love being able to buy my children the gifts they want (or rather what I think they want because their wish lists go through the roof!!!) – In South Africa, everything was so expensive that it was not easy to buy gifts.
It’s a time when I miss my parents terrible – all the Christmas traditions that we’ve built up throughout the years are no longer. I am building new traditions with my children, wishing that their grandparents could share in their excitement on Christmas morning.
Since we’ve been here, we haven’t done anything traditional as such, but have been “adopted” by the most wonderful family in our church who have stood by us throughout our time here and invite us over on Christmas night for family time. They are our new family here. We all bring food and share gifts. It’s wonderful.
So, I decided that I would start a new tradition with my family (well, actually continue one that I had with my family) and have our Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve (in South Africa, it’s so hot on Christmas Day that it’s not pleasant to be in the kitchen all day cooking – besides, who wants to be cooking all day on Christmas day?).
So, I have a leg of pork and a leg of lamb (yum, yum – for interest’s sake, how many of you have eaten lamb and what do you think of it? It’s something that we eat a lot in SA and I do miss it here – it’s usually quite expensive but I got a great deal on this leg). We’re going to cook pumpkin, roast potatoes and mixed vegetables (Marie, I’ll have to put a photo in my journal like you do, although I don’t know if mine will look as good as your pics do!!).
I will start off today by making a big breakfast with bacon, eggs and biscuits. This should last most of the day until late afternoon when the Christmas meal should be ready. Now in South Africa, when we have our Christmas meal, we would set the table with crackers and Christmas hats. I haven’t seen Christmas crackers here so it’s something that we miss. This is what they look like :
If the picture didn’t turn out, you can go to www.oldenglishcrackers.com and see what they look like.
On Christmas morning, the kids, of course, are awake early and we gather around the tree. My mom used to make a finger breakfast for us to eat whilst we were opening presents. We would have eggs (with the centers mashed with mayonnaise – can’t remember what they are called), mini meatballs, crackers (the edible ones), etc. I may do that for my kids – if they give me the chance tomorrow morning!
So, those are a few of my Christmas traditions and the reason why this time of year is so poignant for me. I want to wish you all a blessed and wonderful Christmas. I will post Christmas pictures sometime later this week.
God bless you all!
Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time. ~Laura Ingalls Wilder
Great little One! whose all-embracing birth
Lifts Earth to Heaven, stoops Heaven to Earth.
~Richard
Crashaw
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I know you missed your family, and the traditional Christmas of your memories. I think it's an outstanding idea that you continue those familiy traditions for your kids... it's important for them to share in the family practices of your own at this time of year, and to hear the stories of your recollections, including the 90 degree temperatures! They live in two worlds... their present one in USA and the one they remember being born into, SA, and they are already learning to blend what they know about living in both of them... they are the children of the future! Global children. Kids with an awareness of their place in the world, who they are, and how to relate with others, in peaceful terms. Thanks for sharing your memories here, and may the rest of the week bring you at least a few more restful days before school restarts! bea
http://journals.aol.com/bgilmore725/Wanderer/ -
Loved all the quotes/pictures etc. and reading about your Christmas traditions. I hope you have a lovely Christmas filled with many blessings!
Marie
http://journals.aol.co.uk/mariealicejoan/MariesMuses/ -
i love hearing about SA and the traditions you have:) Merry Christmas to you and yours
Deb -
Your christmas in SA sounds like mine back in UK..not so many lights but lots of crackers! I bought some here at World market...couldn't have crimbo dinner without wearing a hat!!
I love lamb but my kids not so much..
Merry Christmas to you and yours...
Lyn
http://journals.aol.com/ukgal36/Britsblog/
12/26/07 3:49 PM
I've seen Christmas crackers at some specialty shops likw World Market and Pier One. I didn't know what they were until a British friend demonstrated their use to me, quite fun!--Sheria