What is Xmas days like in your country/city?

[GerardoG]

So what are Xmas days (pre, during and post) in your place? Would you mind if we all share on this thread for the next 10 days about our Xmas experiences?

[GerardoG]

Latin America values family and friendship; good food and good company is key to the season...well..to all seasons!

The beauty of Mexico is that culture (and therefore food) changes a lot as you travel through this amazing country. In the northern part, meat is a must, so grills are everywhere. A beautiful cabrito (milk fed baby goat) and carne asada are everywhere. Freshly made salsa, gorditas and guacamole are a must!

[mjclark32]

Just got in from a three day trip to NYC where the whole family shops, eats, and drinks together. That'll be pretty much it until the 23-24th

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by mjclark32

Just got in from a three day trip to NYC where the whole family shops, eats, and drinks together. That'll be pretty much it until the 23-24th

Sounds like great times! Any particular meals/drinks/traditions (other than making Amex VERY happy )?

[mjclark32]

Originally Posted by GerardoG

Sounds like great times! Any particular meals/drinks/traditions (other than making Amex VERY happy )?

Yup. It's become tradition to go to Rockefeller center and see the tree. We had drinks and apps at Del Friscos then dinner at Nobu Friday night (brief appearance at 21 club for pennsylvania society). Saturday the girls go do damage on our wallets while the boys hit a store or two on the way to another sponsored event. This year we had governor Ed Randell come (pic below).
Saturday night we had dinner at bottega del vino. No food pics unfortunately.
Sunday we get some more shopping in and leave mid afternoon
del friscos cheesesteak egg rolls


of course we also made a stop at wempe

[GerardoG]

After waiting patiently for baby goat to cook (6-8 hours) a nice Romeo Short makes a perfect Sunday

[HL65]

Christmas is very fun here all family and lots of presents for the kids and great food. Love Christmas time and sprit filled home! Dinner traditional German here and plenty at that! Enjoy and Merry Christmas Gerardo! You always live big and love that!' Cheers,

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by HL65

Christmas is very fun here all family and lots of presents for the kids and great food. Love Christmas time and sprit filled home! Dinner traditional German here and plenty at that! Enjoy and Merry Christmas Gerardo! You always live big and love that!' Cheers,

Gracias, Happy Holidays to you and your family as well! What would be traditional German?

[HL65]

Originally Posted by GerardoG

Gracias, Happy Holidays to you and your family as well! What would be traditional German?

Pigs in blanket which is rolled cabbage with meat and rice in red sauce, Bratwurst and kraut, smoked ham, potato salad, and some other good eats and fixings.

[Knappo 1307]

Originally Posted by HL65

Pigs in blanket which is rolled cabbage with meat and rice in red sauce, Bratwurst and kraut, ham, potato salad, and some other good eats and fixings.

[1st amg]

Italian over here, and my wife being an Italian immigrated to Canada when we got married have lots of amazing foods and sweets. We have our Christmas eve feast which is all fish, lots of seafood, lots of fried shrimps, scallops, calamari etc, she makes a pasta with calamata sauce which consists of tuna, calamata olives with garlic and extra virgin olive oil which we have shipped from Calabria Italy yearly. Christmas day is lamb and lasagna, the kids go crazy with the home made sweets!! Lots of wine and spirits! Can't wait!

[AK797]

Originally Posted by HL65

Pigs in blanket which is rolled cabbage with meat and rice in red sauce, Bratwurst and kraut, smoked ham, potato salad, and some other good eats and fixings.

What about the haggis, my wee Highlander?

We are having a European themed dinner on Xmas Eve, so bit of German, Dutch and Scandinavian, plus opening one present each.

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by HL65

Pigs in blanket which is rolled cabbage with meat and rice in red sauce, Bratwurst and kraut, smoked ham, potato salad, and some other good eats and fixings.

Wow! Sounds great! What are drinks for these like?

Originally Posted by 1st amg

Italian over here, and my wife being an Italian immigrated to Canada when we got married have lots of amazing foods and sweets. We have our Christmas eve feast which is all fish, lots of seafood, lots of fried shrimps, scallops, calamari etc, she makes a pasta with calamata sauce which consists of tuna, calamata olives with garlic and extra virgin olive oil which we have shipped from Calabria Italy yearly. Christmas day is lamb and lasagna, the kids go crazy with the home made sweets!! Lots of wine and spirits! Can't wait!

that looks like a fantastic meal! Italian red to go with it?

Originally Posted by Gaijin

Three words. Kentucky Fried Chicken. I wish I was kidding.


People order weeks in advance and stand in line on Christmas Day to get KFC.

Really?!?

Originally Posted by sea-dweller

Looks great, Gerardo!

Here in California, many of us are still finishing up work for the year. We are all out shopping for gifts for family, friends and colleagues. Next week, many of us will be off work and out celebrating. Good food, drinks (wine, for me) and great celebrations with friends and family!

Sounds like a great plan! Any specific meals?

Originally Posted by mailman

Pretty much the same Christmas Eve here Nicholas Different variations of the same things I'm sure It's my favorite meal of the year

I can see why

Originally Posted by nick c

I'm Russian so we celebrate Christmas in jan 7th we like seafood

Interesting. So Dec 24/25 is another day in Russia?

Originally Posted by AK797

What about the haggis, my wee Highlander?

We are having a European themed dinner on Xmas Eve, so bit of German, Dutch and Scandinavian, plus opening one present each.

Nice!

[HL65]

Originally Posted by AK797

What about the haggis, my wee Highlander?

We are having a European themed dinner on Xmas Eve, so bit of German, Dutch and Scandinavian, plus opening one present each.

Fortunately me German mom does the cooking so no Highlander food my friend.

[Kingair]

We'll Mr G

I know a place where I would want to spend my Christmas . . .

Take care buddy

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by Kingair

We'll Mr G

I know a place where I would want to spend my Christmas . . .

Take care buddy

...me too!

[Gaijin]

Three words. Kentucky Fried Chicken. I wish I was kidding.


People order weeks in advance and stand in line on Christmas Day to get KFC.

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by Gaijin

Three words. Kentucky Fried Chicken. I wish I was kidding.


People order weeks in advance and stand in line on Christmas Day to get KFC.

Wow!!

I didn't realize it was so big in Japan, I knew the Chinese were crazy for KFC but I had assumed Japan was beyond those kind of outside influences? but then again Japan is like no other as far as pop-culture!!

Christmas in New England is much like every other corner of the U.S. we celebrate with friends and family, on the 25th after a morning where kids open presents. Christmas eve at my house is for extended family to get together and share stories and time over some good but humble food.

Christmas day dinner was always a big deal when I was growing up, my father wasn't a rich man but would insist on taking us all to the Ritz Carlton dinning room for Pheasant or Goose as if we were part of the Boston Brahmin or something, but at least it was fun. Then we graduated to having roast beef and Yorkshire pudding every year at home, much more relaxing!!

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

Wow!!

I didn't realize it was so big in Japan, I knew the Chinese were crazy for KFC but I had assumed Japan was beyond those kind of outside influences? but then again Japan is like no other as far as pop-culture!!

Christmas in New England is much like every other corner of the U.S. we celebrate with friends and family, on the 25th after a morning where kids open presents. Christmas eve at my house is for extended family to get together and share stories and time over some good but humble food.

Christmas day dinner was always a big deal when I was growing up, my father wasn't a rich man but would insist on taking us all to the Ritz Carlton dinning room for Pheasant or Goose as if we were part of the Boston Brahmin or something, but at least it was fun. Then we graduated to having roast beef and Yorkshire pudding every year at home, much more relaxing!!

Thank you for sharing!

[Gaijin]

Originally Posted by Gaijin

Three words. Kentucky Fried Chicken. I wish I was kidding.


People order weeks in advance and stand in line on Christmas Day to get KFC.

Yes Gerardo. Kind of sad. Really. Pics of KFC on Christmas Day in Japan.

https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=kf...h=379&dpr=1.67

The story. Not too long. Hard to cook a turkey or ham in small houses and kitchens in Japan... so KFC. Haha!

http://www.dannychoo.com/en/post/259...+in+Japan.html

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by Gaijin

Yes Gerardo. Kind of sad. Really. Pics of KFC on Christmas Day in Japan.

https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=kf...h=379&dpr=1.67

The story. Not too long. Hard to cook a turkey or ham in small houses and kitchens in Japan... so KFC. Haha!

http://www.dannychoo.com/en/post/259...+in+Japan.html

That, I did NOT know!!!! Wow! Thank you for sharing!

[sea-dweller]

Looks great, Gerardo!

Here in California, many of us are still finishing up work for the year. We are all out shopping for gifts for family, friends and colleagues. Next week, many of us will be off work and out celebrating. Good food, drinks (wine, for me) and great celebrations with friends and family!

[seand442]

I'm not sure how it started but the family gets together Christmas Eve for a Mexican feast, followed by board games and a variety of adult beverages. This year, it's cards against humanity. If you don't know what it is, Google it and you will find out we are horrible people. No presents on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day begins when the kids wake up and the presents open and Irish coffee starts flowing, followed by hanging out and enjoying time together. Dinner is prime rib with all the fixins, followed by good wine and more good times.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone.

Enjoy yourselves and please don't drink and drive.

[bayerische]

Food wise, like this:



I don't really like our traditional Christmas food. When I was young my mother used to make me salmon for Christmas since I didn't eat the other stuff at all. Nowadays I don't have that luxury with my wife.

[Fredrik]

Originally Posted by bayerische

Food wise, like this:

This looks quite similar to the traditional julbord here in Sweden, maybe not too surprising.

In my family we usually only have the traditional ham, pickled herring, cold-smoked salmon, gravlax(salt and sugar cured salmon), meatballs, janssons frestelse(potato slices cooked in the oven with lots of cream, butter, onion and some anchovy), rye bread...

And the big family celebration is the 24th, julafton, we usually meet around noon, have some glögg, ginger biscuits and saffron buns, then dive into all of the food. By the evening the presents are handed out and opened. When I was a kid we always got the first presents in the morning of the 24th and the rest in the evening. It is mainly the children that get gifts.

We also still call the holiday jul(Yule) and at least in my family there is a complete absence of anything christian in the celebrations.

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by Fredrik

This looks quite similar to the traditional julbord here in Sweden, maybe not too surprising.

In my family we usually only have the traditional ham, pickled herring, cold-smoked salmon, gravlax(salt and sugar cured salmon), meatballs, janssons frestelse(potato slices cooked in the oven with lots of cream, butter, onion and some anchovy), rye bread...

And the big family celebration is the 24th, julafton, we usually meet around noon, have some glögg, ginger biscuits and saffron buns, then dive into all of the food. By the evening the presents are handed out and opened. When I was a kid we always got the first presents in the morning of the 24th and the rest in the evening. It is mainly the children that get gifts.

We also still call the holiday jul(Yule) and at least in my family there is a complete absence of anything christian in the celebrations.

Thank you for sharing!

[azguy]

I'll be in Vegas this year, just like that past 15 or so years... a fine cigar and some blackjack please.....Merry Christmas !

[mtrunner]

Originally Posted by azguy

I'll be in Vegas this year, just like that past 15 or so years... a fine cigar and some blackjack please.....Merry Christmas !

I love Vegas during Christmas. My wife and I spent Christmas in Vegas 2011 and 2012 and had a great time. I love the fact things are pretty slow and fairly empty!

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by mtrunner

I love Vegas during Christmas. My wife and I spent Christmas in Vegas 2011 and 2012 and had a great time. I love the fact things are pretty slow and fairly empty!

..sounds like a fun time to visit

[mannyv11]

Christmas eve is my favorite night of the year. the whole family heads over to my mothers house where she cooks a feast. I generally show up with my wife around 12pm on christmas eve to help with the cooking. We have the music playing and a few glasses of wine while preparing it.

6-7 everyone starts showing up and it goes however late people want it to. It's pretty much all fish (we do the italian thing), but for those people who are allergic to fish we always have a roast as well. At the end of the night all of the little kids are allowed to open 1 gift and that pretty much ends the night.

I can't wait each year, I love Christmas. Good food great friends and just an all around amazing time.