Holiday traditions

[Jazzy]

Do you have any holiday traditions that have been passed down through your family for generations?

If yes, please share the traditions.

 

[Lamb]

My husband's family always did pizza on Christmas Eve and then midnight mass. We don't go to midnight mass now, but we still do pizza on Christmas Eve.

Then on Christmas morning, church - depending on the weather, and gift opening then making bread pudding for breakfast, and homemade ravioli for dinner.

 

[Forgiven1]

My husband's family did lutefisk on Christmas Eve. Due to the craziness of his being a Pastor on Christmas Eve, we moved it to New Year's Day. Now that we live where we can't get it, we have to plan ahead and order it, which due to my health issues did not happen this year.

My family typically repeated the turkey dinner for Christmas. We have done that, but this year we may do a ham or roast beef. We shall see.

Growing up, we could open the gifts from my mother's parents on Christmas Eve (usually she made is nightgowns/pajamas) and then the rest on Christmas morning.

With Christmas Day services, we went with opening gifts after Christmas Eve services. Otherwise we had wound up children in church on Christmas Day.

Funny story. We had an exchange student who wanted to do the stereotypical gift opening on Christmas morning, only to to it on Christmas Eve.

 

[tango]

Lutefisk? You mean the Norwegian dish?

 

[Forgiven1]

Lutefisk? You mean the Norwegian dish?

Yes, The Norwegians in my husband's family appreciate it. This German/Czech doesn't mind it.

 

[tango]

Yes, The Norwegians in my husband's family appreciate it. This German/Czech doesn't mind it.

I really wanted to try it but struggled with the smell of it, so never actually tasted it. Do you enjoy it or tolerate it for your husband's sake?

 

[Forgiven1]

I really wanted to try it but struggled with the smell of it, so never actually tasted it. Do you enjoy it or tolerate it for your husband's sake?

I actually enjoy it. Yes, it smells. It also has to be cooked correctly. It is very easy to over cook it. We usually eat it with boiled potatoes, , melted butter, white sauce and peas. I usually layer the different items and eat it that way.

 

[tango]

I actually enjoy it. Yes, it smells. It also has to be cooked correctly. It is very easy to over cook it. We usually eat it with boiled potatoes, , melted butter, white sauce and peas. I usually layer the different items and eat it that way.

Is it relatively easy to make? A part of me regrets not at least trying it when I had the chance, I just don't know if I could make it the way the Norwegians do.

 

[Forgiven1]

Is it relatively easy to make? A part of me regrets not at least trying it when I had the chance, I just don't know if I could make it the way the Norwegians do.

I bring enough water to a boil. Drop in the fish ad let it cook for abut 5 minutes, adjusting the temp lower and remove it after 5 minutes. I usually have everything else ready for when the fish is ready

 

[tango]

I bring enough water to a boil. Drop in the fish ad let it cook for abut 5 minutes, adjusting the temp lower and remove it after 5 minutes. I usually have everything else ready for when the fish is ready

I wonder if I'm confusing it with something else, I thought lutefisk was made by soaking fish in caustic soda multiple times. It's been a while...

 

[Forgiven1]

It is cod that has been dried. It is soaked in a lye solution to reconstitute and then the lye is rinsed out If it isn't all rinsed out, it will have a nasty taste.