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]

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

[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 )?

[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,

[Kingair]

We'll Mr G

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

Take care buddy

[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?

[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!

[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!

[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.

[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!

[mailman]

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!

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

[nick c]

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

[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!

[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.

[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

[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 !

[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.

[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.

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by 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.

Hey! Can't go wrong with Mexican!!!! Feliz Navidad!

Originally Posted by 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.

Wow, that looks delicious!!!!

Originally Posted by mjclark32

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

Wempe sounds like a perfect way to spend Xmas Thank you for sharing the pics!!!!

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 !

There you go!!!!!!! Vegas, baby!!

Originally Posted by 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.

Sounds like great family time Merry Xmas!

Originally Posted by HL65

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

[Macnavara]

That 1st pictures going to give me nightmares but love the sentiment of family for xmas

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by Macnavara

That 1st pictures going to give me nightmares but love the sentiment of family for xmas

Nightmares vanish once you try it

[greggsiam]

They really don't celebrate Christmas here. Yeah, there are trees and decoration, but that's about it.

It's actually a big relief to be able to travel and not have the Christmas traffic hassle (moot point in Bangkok as traffic can be horrible any time). When I first moved here, it was strange to see everything open on Christmas and nothing different, but I'm used to it now.

The big holiday here is New Years day. It is a huge holiday. Kind of like Christmas and New Years rolled into one. Gifts are given and everyone spends time with family. I usually buy the wife something gold as that's the time of year when it is given.

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by greggsiam

They really don't celebrate Christmas here. Yeah, there are trees and decoration, but that's about it.

It's actually a big relief to be able to travel and not have the Christmas traffic hassle (moot point in Bangkok as traffic can be horrible any time). When I first moved here, it was strange to see everything open on Christmas and nothing different, but I'm used to it now.

The big holiday here is New Years day. It is a huge holiday. Kind of like Christmas and New Years rolled into one. Gifts are given and everyone spends time with family. I usually buy the wife something gold as that's the time of year when it is given.

Wow, interesting! I can tell you for sure something I don't like is the stress/traffic/mood of people on pre-Xmas days (the closer you get to the 24th, the worse it is), but then comes the 25th.....all is quiet!!!!

[joli160]

In the Netherlands we celebrate on the 25th and 26th. On the 25th usually a family get together with a Christmas dinner. You may find some game i.e. deer or rabbit on the menu.
Our second X-mas day is mostly spent outside the house. Car dealers or furniture shops are doing good business.
In my own house not so much, married to a Buddhist who does not have a clue about X-mas nor it's meaning.
Happy holidays