The title is meant to be sung in the style of the song "Tradition" from the Fiddler on the Roof, and for this last post of the year, I thought it would be nice to talk about some family and holiday traditions. And with any luck for those of you that know the song I am talking about, then hopefully it is stuck in your head now!
I started thinking about this earlier in the month, mostly because my new (this year) co-workers kept asking me about Canadian Christmas traditions. Really, it's the same in Canada as it is in the UK. It depends on what you call a tradition, but the same year-on-year happenings unfold in a comforting way.
Stores start decorating and merchandising in November.
December comes along and you can start to threaten your children with being on the Naughty or Nice list for Santa/ Father Christmas- In the UK, people tend more towards Father Christmas, but like Halloween, an Americanized Santa seems to be creeping in more and more every year. With this, some kids will write (or e-mail or text) Santa their list. Most families have Advent calendars with waxy chocolate... I can affirm the quality of Advent calendar chocolate is the same on both continents.
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December also brings magical bliss like glitter, flashing lights, sounds of bells, a new Starbucks holiday menu, the ever-more-worldly-and-popular-German-Christmas-Market, and old movies on TV from either the 70's or 90's. I'm not joking, films like Fiddler on the Roof, the Sound of Music, Home Alone, and Die Hard are on repeat here and there. You put these old classics on to get you in the mood whilst you decorate the house and the tree. And if not the films, then definitely some Christmas tunes: Feliz Navidad and the Little Drummer Boy off of a record (in a light blue sleeve?) bring me right back to my childhood. They are practically the soundtrack to decorating the tree with my sisters- all the homemade decorations on the bottom of the leaning real tree and the nice glass baubles on the top. Not to forget the fight to who gets to put the angel on the top of the tree.
Socialisation increases in December- Christmas parties at work are similar across the ocean: You have a meal together, there might be a dance depending on the size of your business. You generally get dressed up in something that isn't very comfortable and eat an attempt at a Christmas dinner that will never be as good as it is on the actual day. I remember going to my Grandpa's work Christmas party when I was young: three things I remember in particular: 1) having to wear the itchiest white lace tights; 2) riding the train around the campus; and 3) playing the fishing game to win a present. Itchy tights aside (which have turned into shoes that "aren't-made-for-walking" let alone dancing), I remember really looking forward to it, regardless of how naff a Christmas party always is. You might also visit family and friends you haven't seen since someone's birthday or else Christmas the previous year- Aunties and Uncles and "Aunties" and "Uncles".
The shopping frenzy of what to buy your Aunties and Uncles and "Aunties" and "Uncles" and friends and "friends" is the same. Weirdly, Leanna- the most disorganised sister, is the most organised and prepared Christmas shopper. And I remember sitting with my Mom learning how to wrap presents (I am the better sister at wrapping)- how to tuck the corners in and how to wrap gift-baskets.
The baking and food preparing frenzy also begins sometime after the 20th. Shopping for the big day purchasing cheeses, crackers, pates, and nibbles that are a treat. Also baking more and more cookies, and pies, and cakes, and all the calorific goodness that is associated with comfort over the holidays. On the note of food, don't forget to leave your cookies and milk (and Whiskey) for Santa + food for the reindeer (carrots or oats) regardless if you are in Canada or the UK.
It surmounts to the big day(s) where you gather as a family, and maybe even an extended family, have a big meal together, and exchange gifts. Who you visit and when depends on the number of families you have to accommodate and their traditions. It was easy for us as kids with the Polish half of the family celebrating on the 24th and the Canadian half on the 25th. Most in the UK do the 25th and into the 26th. In all cases, the feast is so similar with a large meat or two (turkey+cranberry and ham are the most common), stuffing, steamed vegetables, supds often in more than one form, and various desserts/puddings. Brussel sprouts, trifle, and fruitcake/Christmas pud are UK staples- three items that I happily trade out for my Mom's marinated vegetable salad and my Grandma's chiffon pumpkin pie any day! You chat, you banter, you drink, and then you exchange presents: I must say I haven't had socks or a calendar for the past three years and they have been missed! You chat a bit more, you put on your new clothes, you drink a lot more, and then it's time for it all to end.
You pack up your new belongings and go home. You recover for a day, you make another indulgent visit and you cycle this until New Years where you have one last boozey feast of the year. You pack up your decorations (this time to the new CD you got, not at all festive) and you pack up the socks/sweater/jumper until the next December when you visit your family and "family" and friends and "friends" again. And you spend the next few months recovering and getting into the swing of all that will be good in the New Year- which for many of us is a comforting repeat of the last.
Happy New Year to all my family and friends and "family" and "friends" around the world. All the best and keep in touch!
