Re: christmas custom

December 7, 2003

Hi Dori,

How funny. You're the second person I know whose family has a custom of eating

oyster stew

every Christmas eve. Is this just a fluke, or is this larger custom? Just

curious!

(P.s. my ex-husband's family celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve too since

they had to get up at

4:00 every morning to milk cows. So we'd celebrate Christmas Eve with them. When

my kids were born,

we'd go to their house Christmas Eve, then have Christmas morning at home when

their daddy got in from

the barn. As the kids got older, the anticipation mounted as they waited in

their bedrooms -- not allowed in

the living room near the tree until their dad came home. Then we'd eat a big

breakfast, and at noon go to

my parent's or my ex's grandmother's house. Fun times with lots of food and

family!

Kim

> When I was growing up, we always did most of our present opening on Christmas

eve. This was hard because my dad was a mail

carrier, and often didn't get home until 7:00 that night, and we had to wait for

him, then eat the traditional oyster stew, then open

presents. Christmas morning, there'd be something more from Santa, then we'd go

to relatives houses and have more christmas there.

>

> When I got married, I always wanted to try not opening stuff til christmas

morning, but too many of the kids (including the one I

married) can't wait that long. In fact, opening stuff got pushed so far

forward, that they often get opened early in the afternoon of the

24th.

>

> Dori Ownbey... " If I haven't grown up by now, I'm never going to. "

>

December 7, 2003

<<then eat the traditional oyster stew,>>

Hmmm, I hae never heard of oyster stew as a traditional Christams

meal. Fascinating! We always opened presents Christmas Eve also.

Then in the morning there would be one big present under the tree. I

have been trying to change this tradition because it seems like we

rip through the presents so quickly and I just wanted to make it

last a little longer. However, my parents usually come on the 24th

and they like to be here and open presents with us.During the day,

in order to take the kids minds off of presents we will go and see a

movie. This year I am looking forward to the last Lord of the Rings

movie. Since this is to scray for the 10 year old, Grandma will luck

out and get to go and see Brother Bear. Then after the movie we come

home and eat. We have ham, au gratin potatoes,veggies, salad and

rolls for dinner. This is the one night my kids will do the dishes

for me because the rules are, no presents until the dishes are done.

For CHristmas dinner, my husband usually prepares prime rib.

Being a military family, we don't have alot of close or long

established friends. My husbands family is all back east ( WV and

OH) and my family, well lets just say they are a tad dysfunctional.

So we don't go anywhere or visit anyone.

Thanks to everyone who has shared their traditions. I have really

enjoyed reading about how divers we all are, yet there is that one

common thread that holds us together

Happy Holidays

e

December 7, 2003

My family always " ripped through the persents " also. My husband's

family takes turns opening them. Everyone watches the person that is

opening a present and then the next person opens one. It takes a

long time, but you get to see what everyone gets and the kids know

who gave them what, after it is all done.

Gale

> <<then eat the traditional oyster stew,>>

>

> Hmmm, I hae never heard of oyster stew as a traditional Christams

> meal. Fascinating! We always opened presents Christmas Eve also.

> Then in the morning there would be one big present under the tree.

I

> have been trying to change this tradition because it seems like we

> rip through the presents so quickly and I just wanted to make it

> last a little longer. However, my parents usually come on the 24th

> and they like to be here and open presents with us.During the day,

> in order to take the kids minds off of presents we will go and see

a

> movie. This year I am looking forward to the last Lord of the Rings

> movie. Since this is to scray for the 10 year old, Grandma will

luck

> out and get to go and see Brother Bear. Then after the movie we

come

> home and eat. We have ham, au gratin potatoes,veggies, salad and

> rolls for dinner. This is the one night my kids will do the dishes

> for me because the rules are, no presents until the dishes are

done.

> For CHristmas dinner, my husband usually prepares prime rib.

>

> Being a military family, we don't have alot of close or long

> established friends. My husbands family is all back east ( WV and

> OH) and my family, well lets just say they are a tad dysfunctional.

> So we don't go anywhere or visit anyone.

>

> Thanks to everyone who has shared their traditions. I have really

> enjoyed reading about how divers we all are, yet there is that one

> common thread that holds us together

>

> Happy Holidays

> e

December 7, 2003

As some of you know I am from Venezuela. In Venezuela we do not have

Santa Claus we have Baby Jesus. Every Christmas Eve my mom would fix

a delicious meal consisting of hen soup, roasted leg of pork, with

the breast of the hen she would make chicken salad and a Venezuelan

tamale called hallacas, not your regular Mexican Tamale, for desert

she would make flan and rice pudding, yum. We would go to bed early

because we wanted Christmas to come ASAP. I wouldn't go to sleep as

long as I could but finally I would fall asleep. I was sure that

Baby Jesus had some magic powder that he would throw on my eyes and

make me go to sleep.

Today, with my family, I still have my traditional Venezuelan Xmas

Eve dinner and invite my very close and dear friends and on the 25th

we go to my husband's family, where my mother in law makes the best

raviolis, my husband is from an italian family. They are 9 kids in

his family and it is total pandemonium. For the first time in 9

years! We are going to spend Xmas in Venezuela, knock on wood!

> When I was growing up, we always did most of our present opening on

Christmas eve. This was hard because my dad was a mail carrier, and

often didn't get home until 7:00 that night, and we had to wait for

him, then eat the traditional oyster stew, then open presents.

Christmas morning, there'd be something more from Santa, then we'd go

to relatives houses and have more christmas there.

>

> When I got married, I always wanted to try not opening stuff til

christmas morning, but too many of the kids (including the one I

married) can't wait that long. In fact, opening stuff got pushed so

far forward, that they often get opened early in the afternoon of the

24th.

>

> Dori Ownbey... " If I haven't grown up by now, I'm never going to. "

>

December 7, 2003

Best wishes & lots of prayers for a VERY safe & happy trip. I hope things

are much calmer there then they were last year. If you hear of or visit the

Dr who heads up the CF group there, tell her I said hi .She will know me as

the pharmacy from American & she stayed with us at the hotel , & maybe

remember my name:) Beverley Donelson

Her name is Dr Gladys ----------/ i cant remember the last name. BUT, She is

the main one there for whole country. She was the speaker there for

Venezuela. This was at a conference in Buenos Aires for the International &

the Latin American CF Assoc.. Only the top CF docs were there from all

others except the USA & just a few from Canada. It was wonderful . i was

asked to exhibit there & also speak to the Families at a closed meeting. It

was sooooo nice. Almost all spoke English & there were interpreters , so we

used the translator ear phones when needed.

ANYWAY, She is a tiny gal with black hair. Rather pretty too. & & . VERY

nice. She stayed at our hotel with us & I really liked her soooo much.

Please have a truly WONDERFUL holiday!!!

LOVE & HUGS,

grandmoMBEV