Pizza on Thanksgiving, watch Die Hard while wrapping presents (make sure there’s twinkies), dim sum for Christmas, stay home on New Years Eve, watch the outdoor hockey game New Years day except this year they pushed it to the 2nd.
I pour bullets after dinner.
I stopped doing the holidays several years ago. It is the ONE thing I agree with Jehovah’s Witnesses on.
That said, I participate with everyone else. But we all stopped the gift exchange for Christmas a couple of years ago. Basically we just get together for hors d’oeuvres and visit now.
In a sad way, I think of what we boomers thought of Christmas and new years as a basically mid 20th century phenomenon that is dying. The “coca cola santa” figure is becoming a relic and the days of the Red Ryder BB gun Christmas are fading into history like the Edsel, the hoola hoop and the chemistry set.
For Christmas: German Soul Food!!!
A long family tradition: The Kale Pot. Kale, various German sausages (the more disgusting, the better...), ham, potatoes. A little vinegar, some home-made mustard, a beer, and one is all set. Great for large parties/families. (I want some right now!)
Thanksgiving: THE MEAL. Turkey, stuffing, potatoes, the classic works. Whole day is devoted thereto. Extended family present if possible, friends if not.
Christmas: the tree is already up & decorated. Dec.25 is at home that kids may enjoy the day as Santa sees fit. Week prior is in a mountain cabin to stay the heck away from everything and relax. Week after is the 3000-mile drive visiting family. Short of it disintegrating, tree will stay up well into January.
New Year’s: ball drop, with gourmet snacks. Fancy meal
I always have Christmas dinner for family of at least 25 and who ever brings a friend or their in-laws....buffet so there is always enough...
New Years stay home, all the inexperienced drunks on the road. When we lived in a suburban house on a court, we took turns having NY eve party...no drunk drivers, you could crawl to your house if you drank too much and we all got along well. 12 homes. The one that was J.W. did not come but were invited..
Thanksgiving - Bookers
Christmas - Crown Royal XR
New Years Eve - Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year
After we eat the traditional Thanksgiving dinner we get out all the ads and and we plan a strategy and make lists... Mom and i actually love Black Fri. We have it down to a science. Never wait in line. We know all the tricks on how to get in and out.
Christmas Eve: dinner, church and open new jammies to wear on Christmas morn.
New Years: appetizers, leftover sweets and games until midnight with good friends.
Happy, Merry , New to all!!!!
Hey, Christmas is on Sunday this year so IF we don’t work Christmas Eve, I’d like to go to church. (I usually work Saturday nights til Sunday morning, then fall over in bed.)
I have asked about any place to volunteer service in this area, since I don’t have much family to celebrate with. No traveling, because I know we work Christmas night. (Fun, kind of spooky with no customers in the store.)
I like to thank God we do not have a Muslin President....oh crap.
On Thanksgiving we will be at the 71st annual “Turkey Night Grand Prix” for USAC Midgets and Sprint Cars in Irwindale Ca. It a so cal tradition that I try to get to every few years.
Turkey, Ham, yellow potato salad, banana pudding in cups, friends come over, Cowboys football!
Weird tradition for the night before Thanksgiving. (tonight) We call it “Slider Night”. We get together at whoever is having the dinner the next day and eat White Castle hamburgers and help the host prepare the house and the meal.
Which “Christmas Carol”? I sure hope it’s either the Alastair Sim or the George C. Scott version.
Grind up one box of oyster crackers (or Ritz)
Buy about 3 pounds of the freshest real salted butter you can find
Heat one nonstick electric fry pan to somewhere between low and medium, just enough to make butter bubble. A cast iron pan will do in a pinch, but the electric fry pan is easier to maintain at the proper temperature.
Dip and coat each oyster in the cracker crumbs
Gently saute the oysters in butter, turning only when the bottom is brown and crusty. Add butter to the pan as necessary.
When both sides are brown, crunchy and buttery, remove and eat.
This is a real fried oyster. Oysters done in deep fat are good, but nothing compares to the oyster as a butter delivery device. (Lobster is close, but still in second place)
Thanksgiving: We alternate years having lunch or dinner with my relatives or hers. I usually spend the evening groaning, “Why did I eat so much?. Never again.”
Christmas: Rise early, open presents with wife, son and two dogs. The dogs sure have the package thing figured out. Before going to a relative’s house for dinner, I might spend a few pleasant hours shooting lead downrange.
New Years Eve: We usually stay indoors — too many idiots in nearby apartments firing pistols in the air from a balcony.
New Years Day: clean up skyrockets from our roof and yard shot off by careless neighbors.
My one special thing I do for myself is a Lemon Meringue pie. The rest is the usual turkey, mashed taters and gravy, dressing, rolls, etc, followed late in the day with open faced turkey sandwiches smothered in gravy and more pie, usually pecan pie. (Southern, cantcha tell?)
New Years Eve, is usually spent assuring the dogs that it ain't World War III ;).