My Christmas Memories
What I do for Christmas:
Ok, well to preface the whole bit, my family is Mexican & Catholic on my mother’s side.
“Christmas time” starts at the Thanksgiving Dinner with all the cousins & aunts/uncles
figuring out how to do gifts this year (10 aunts/uncles, & 17 cousins). Choices are as follows:
all the cousins pull names of other cousins from a hat while all the aunts/uncles pull
aunt/uncles names out of the hats, Godparents only give to Godchildren, white elephant
(where each family member bring a random gift and then we draw numbers and pick a gift
from the pile according to number and you can take the gift from the pile or a gift from
someone else, etc) and set a price limit on gifts for family members (no presents above $100
to aunts/uncles from aunts/uncles and no presents above $50 from cousins to other
cousins). Then after the three hour debacle about presents we start making tamales. There
is usually a procession line which is as follows: the corn husk washers & driers (unless we
buy them from the store), the masa spreaders, the fillers (who put either pork green chile,
steak chile or red chile in the middle), the inspectors who re-spread and re-fill depending on
the quality of the spreader and then the folders who fold the tamales using either two smaller
ones or one big one.
Tamale making continues as stated until Christmas Eve (if we only have enough for
Christmas and to last until New Years) and then we take a break until two days before New
Years.
Christmas is celebrated with the Mexican family together on Christmas Eve so that each
individual family can go home and celebrate Christmas at home on Christmas Day. We start
eating on Christmas Eve night around 4ish and then open presents around 6 and drink until
the wee hours of the night. We usually have margaritas, wine, beer, tequila and sangria. We
open presents in descending order of age unless it is the White Elephant game. We draw
funny faces on the family members that past out first with non permanent marker (we learned
that mistake when grandpa had to show up to mass on Christmas day with a curly-q fake
French moustache---actually that isn’t true but damn that would be funny) and then the
cousins play the “Guess that laugh” of our aunts/uncles because they are all getting loud and
drunk and all their laughs sound alike but are somewhat distinct from a different room. Then
my own family and I go to church late night on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day morning. It’s
nice to go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve because they finally light that damn pink
candle on the advent wreath after the past three weeks of purple candles.
On Christmas Day, my own family wakes up, waits for my 1 non-Mexican family member (my
grandmother on my father’s side, poor grandma is out numbered) to show up so we can
open presents. Christmas day is the day we finally put baby Jesus into the Manager Scene
that has been on display since the beginning of Advent. We always have a Christmas tree
which was bought in early December and put all the presents under the tree. We always used
to have stockings too which was traditional from my grandmother who grew up in Mississippi
on a farm. We always had a big Red Delicious Apple and a big Orange at the top of the
stocking because when my grandmother grew up Christmas time was the only time they ate
those fruit. We open presents for a couple of hours, taking turns one by one in order of age
(Grandmother, Mama, Dad, Me, Brother, Pets). The animals always get one or two special
things. We give the cats catnip and the dog gets some turkey from dinner. We usually play
Christmas music cd’s or keep the radio on. We try to watch the “Christmas Story” movie
before Christmas or on Christmas day and then eat Christmas dinner. Its usually a late lunch
or early dinner (around 2-4ish) depending on when the turkey or ham is finished. Eventually
we go back over to my Mexican grandmother & grandfather’s house. Christmas ends with “El
Dia de los tres reyes) or what English speakers call the Epiphany (The day of the tree Kings.)
Originally Christmas was celebrated as the Birth and then the Epiphany was when the Wise
men brought gifts to Jesus. The 12 days of Christmas tradition (and awful song) was started
after the 12 days following Christmas and then the Epiphany was celebrated with the giving of
gifts to one another.
Some traditional families bake a sweet cake in the shape of a ring with a tiny plastic baby doll
representing Jesus inside. The person who finds the little Jesus has to make food for the
next party or on a special day. My family doesn’t do this, we just eat the cake.
Kathleen H.
Denver, Colorado USA
Ok, well to preface the whole bit, my family is Mexican & Catholic on my mother’s side.
“Christmas time” starts at the Thanksgiving Dinner with all the cousins & aunts/uncles
figuring out how to do gifts this year (10 aunts/uncles, & 17 cousins). Choices are as follows:
all the cousins pull names of other cousins from a hat while all the aunts/uncles pull
aunt/uncles names out of the hats, Godparents only give to Godchildren, white elephant
(where each family member bring a random gift and then we draw numbers and pick a gift
from the pile according to number and you can take the gift from the pile or a gift from
someone else, etc) and set a price limit on gifts for family members (no presents above $100
to aunts/uncles from aunts/uncles and no presents above $50 from cousins to other
cousins). Then after the three hour debacle about presents we start making tamales. There
is usually a procession line which is as follows: the corn husk washers & driers (unless we
buy them from the store), the masa spreaders, the fillers (who put either pork green chile,
steak chile or red chile in the middle), the inspectors who re-spread and re-fill depending on
the quality of the spreader and then the folders who fold the tamales using either two smaller
ones or one big one.
Tamale making continues as stated until Christmas Eve (if we only have enough for
Christmas and to last until New Years) and then we take a break until two days before New
Years.
Christmas is celebrated with the Mexican family together on Christmas Eve so that each
individual family can go home and celebrate Christmas at home on Christmas Day. We start
eating on Christmas Eve night around 4ish and then open presents around 6 and drink until
the wee hours of the night. We usually have margaritas, wine, beer, tequila and sangria. We
open presents in descending order of age unless it is the White Elephant game. We draw
funny faces on the family members that past out first with non permanent marker (we learned
that mistake when grandpa had to show up to mass on Christmas day with a curly-q fake
French moustache---actually that isn’t true but damn that would be funny) and then the
cousins play the “Guess that laugh” of our aunts/uncles because they are all getting loud and
drunk and all their laughs sound alike but are somewhat distinct from a different room. Then
my own family and I go to church late night on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day morning. It’s
nice to go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve because they finally light that damn pink
candle on the advent wreath after the past three weeks of purple candles.
On Christmas Day, my own family wakes up, waits for my 1 non-Mexican family member (my
grandmother on my father’s side, poor grandma is out numbered) to show up so we can
open presents. Christmas day is the day we finally put baby Jesus into the Manager Scene
that has been on display since the beginning of Advent. We always have a Christmas tree
which was bought in early December and put all the presents under the tree. We always used
to have stockings too which was traditional from my grandmother who grew up in Mississippi
on a farm. We always had a big Red Delicious Apple and a big Orange at the top of the
stocking because when my grandmother grew up Christmas time was the only time they ate
those fruit. We open presents for a couple of hours, taking turns one by one in order of age
(Grandmother, Mama, Dad, Me, Brother, Pets). The animals always get one or two special
things. We give the cats catnip and the dog gets some turkey from dinner. We usually play
Christmas music cd’s or keep the radio on. We try to watch the “Christmas Story” movie
before Christmas or on Christmas day and then eat Christmas dinner. Its usually a late lunch
or early dinner (around 2-4ish) depending on when the turkey or ham is finished. Eventually
we go back over to my Mexican grandmother & grandfather’s house. Christmas ends with “El
Dia de los tres reyes) or what English speakers call the Epiphany (The day of the tree Kings.)
Originally Christmas was celebrated as the Birth and then the Epiphany was when the Wise
men brought gifts to Jesus. The 12 days of Christmas tradition (and awful song) was started
after the 12 days following Christmas and then the Epiphany was celebrated with the giving of
gifts to one another.
Some traditional families bake a sweet cake in the shape of a ring with a tiny plastic baby doll
representing Jesus inside. The person who finds the little Jesus has to make food for the
next party or on a special day. My family doesn’t do this, we just eat the cake.
Kathleen H.
Denver, Colorado USA
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My style of Christmas is not special, but I will write about it.
I was born in Fukuoka prefecture. My parents and I are Japanese and Buddhist.
Q. Who are you with?
A. I'm with my family or my girl friend.
Q. What do you wear?
A. Usual wear.
Q. Decorations (if any)
A. When I was child, we had a Christmas tree which was made of vinyl. Sometimes, my younger sister and I made paper
decorations(paper ring, paper star and so on). Paper decorations are frequently seen on children's birthdays.
Q. Foods eaten
A. We always eat cake. Sometimes we eat chicken, because we thought that it seems to be Christmas. Sometimes we
eat sushi because it is a special day and sushi is my family's favorite food. When I'm with my girl friend, we cook chicken and eat
cake. We do not know the meaning of cake and chicken.
Presents are also important for a Japanese Christmas. When I was a child, my parents gave me toys. Now, my girlfriend wants
jewelry.
As you know, Christmas in Japan is very commercialized. More over, most Japanese are not Christian. In addition, many Japanese
do not practice a religion as far as I know, so we celebrate Christmas just for fun.
Kazuki
Fukuoka, Japan
I was born in Fukuoka prefecture. My parents and I are Japanese and Buddhist.
Q. Who are you with?
A. I'm with my family or my girl friend.
Q. What do you wear?
A. Usual wear.
Q. Decorations (if any)
A. When I was child, we had a Christmas tree which was made of vinyl. Sometimes, my younger sister and I made paper
decorations(paper ring, paper star and so on). Paper decorations are frequently seen on children's birthdays.
Q. Foods eaten
A. We always eat cake. Sometimes we eat chicken, because we thought that it seems to be Christmas. Sometimes we
eat sushi because it is a special day and sushi is my family's favorite food. When I'm with my girl friend, we cook chicken and eat
cake. We do not know the meaning of cake and chicken.
Presents are also important for a Japanese Christmas. When I was a child, my parents gave me toys. Now, my girlfriend wants
jewelry.
As you know, Christmas in Japan is very commercialized. More over, most Japanese are not Christian. In addition, many Japanese
do not practice a religion as far as I know, so we celebrate Christmas just for fun.
Kazuki
Fukuoka, Japan
Here is a bit of info about Christmas in Australia...
First and foremost - it's bloody hot! The air conditioning is on and everyone is in their swimmers ready to dive into the pool.
The 25th and 26th of December are public holidays - Christmas day and the Boxing Day on 26th - the origins come from putting left
over food into boxes and giving it to the poor the day after Christmas. These days it signifies the start of the Boxing Day Cricket
match which is popular for everyone, especially men who like to watch it on TV with a beer in hand.
Who are you with? Family and/or friends. When I was little more with cousins and extended family, now more with parents and
family friends.
What do you wear? Summer clothes, t shirts, skirts and shorts, and often swimming costume, very informal. The only time we
dres up a little bit is to go to church either on Christmas eve or Christmas day. There is still a strong Christian tradition in Australia,
even if most people are quite ignorant of the real meaning of Christmas.
Decorations (if any) - tree either real or plastic, tinsel, holly, stockings, sometime wreaths of native plants and seeds. We also
hang up Christmas cards received. We have bon bons or crackers on the table at lunch and these have jokes printed on paper
inside as well as colored paper hats which we wear at lunch.
Foods eaten - lunch is usually a traditional roast turkey with cranberry sauce, as well as ham with vegetables, and roast potato and
pumpkin and gravy. Stupid really to have such a hot lunch on a hot day! Dinner is usually more casual - wine, beer, prawns on the
bbq and salad.
We also have frozen pudding which is dried fruit soaked in brandy plus shaved chocolate mixed into vanilla ice cream, in a mould
in the freezer, then slice and serve with berry sauce delicious!
Nicola
Australia
First and foremost - it's bloody hot! The air conditioning is on and everyone is in their swimmers ready to dive into the pool.
The 25th and 26th of December are public holidays - Christmas day and the Boxing Day on 26th - the origins come from putting left
over food into boxes and giving it to the poor the day after Christmas. These days it signifies the start of the Boxing Day Cricket
match which is popular for everyone, especially men who like to watch it on TV with a beer in hand.
Who are you with? Family and/or friends. When I was little more with cousins and extended family, now more with parents and
family friends.
What do you wear? Summer clothes, t shirts, skirts and shorts, and often swimming costume, very informal. The only time we
dres up a little bit is to go to church either on Christmas eve or Christmas day. There is still a strong Christian tradition in Australia,
even if most people are quite ignorant of the real meaning of Christmas.
Decorations (if any) - tree either real or plastic, tinsel, holly, stockings, sometime wreaths of native plants and seeds. We also
hang up Christmas cards received. We have bon bons or crackers on the table at lunch and these have jokes printed on paper
inside as well as colored paper hats which we wear at lunch.
Foods eaten - lunch is usually a traditional roast turkey with cranberry sauce, as well as ham with vegetables, and roast potato and
pumpkin and gravy. Stupid really to have such a hot lunch on a hot day! Dinner is usually more casual - wine, beer, prawns on the
bbq and salad.
We also have frozen pudding which is dried fruit soaked in brandy plus shaved chocolate mixed into vanilla ice cream, in a mould
in the freezer, then slice and serve with berry sauce delicious!
Nicola
Australia
I stop celebrating Christmas. It has become so commercial that it no longer seems like a holiday of joy.
Vivienne
USA
Vivienne
USA
Okay, let me tell you what I usually do on Christmas. I am usually on schedule for teaching classes on Christmas eve and
Christmas , so I spend time with my family after work, and so does my husband. ( If he is in Japan.) We usually go to the
Catholic church's mass on Christmas eve because most of my husband's relatives are Christians. As for me, I am
non-Christian although I respect all religions. After night mass, we always go to Joyful, a family restaurant, to have dinner. Then
we can order any kind of foods, drinks and sweets as my mother - in - law pays for dinner for all of us. Lucky!! I always tell my
kids "Eat as much as you can , so you don't have to eat a lot tomorrow." haha .. Then, my mother - in - law gives presents to
each of us. We have a good time on Christmas eve every year. On Christmas, we buy a cake from my friend who works at a
bakery. After we eat the cake, I take my kids to the shopping center to buy some presents for them. About Christmas
decorations, I usually decorate my house with some Christmas dolls and flowers as many Americans do.
Chizuru
Japan
Christmas , so I spend time with my family after work, and so does my husband. ( If he is in Japan.) We usually go to the
Catholic church's mass on Christmas eve because most of my husband's relatives are Christians. As for me, I am
non-Christian although I respect all religions. After night mass, we always go to Joyful, a family restaurant, to have dinner. Then
we can order any kind of foods, drinks and sweets as my mother - in - law pays for dinner for all of us. Lucky!! I always tell my
kids "Eat as much as you can , so you don't have to eat a lot tomorrow." haha .. Then, my mother - in - law gives presents to
each of us. We have a good time on Christmas eve every year. On Christmas, we buy a cake from my friend who works at a
bakery. After we eat the cake, I take my kids to the shopping center to buy some presents for them. About Christmas
decorations, I usually decorate my house with some Christmas dolls and flowers as many Americans do.
Chizuru
Japan
I believe that the real spirit of Christmas is the joy of sharing love and happiness with people and family togetherness - that is
what I learned from my family.
My family and I celebrate Christmas on the 25th day of December where we first attend an Misa de Gallo or Aguinaldo Mass
early in the morning then off we go to visit relatives and friends for a Christmas day bonding/reunion where we exchange gifts,
stories and play games (like a family reunion).
But in the Philippines, the preparation starts on the 16th of December ｨC on the Misa de gallo( http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Misa_de_Gallo ), etc. My cousins and I attend this early morning mass for 9 mornings at round 4AM. And on Christmas
Eve - traditionally in our family, we have this so called Noche Buena or Midnight dinner, that's 12:00 midnight on the 24th Day of
December where we serve special Filipino dishes like kakanin - puto, maja blanca etc.
I remember when I was younger, I used to hang not a stocking but a school sock below our window (I chose my old sock that
had been worn out so it's big, ;-) because I believe that Santa Claus will be dropping by that evening for some candies and gifts.
And yep he did, because in the morning, I'll find candies, chocolates and little toys that can fit in the sock.
Sometimes I paint my sock with pictures of Christmas trees or just plainly red/green/white stripes or just add glitters. I hang it
on our miniature Christmas tree replica or below a windowsill. Mama told me that good kids receive gifts from Santa Claus ｨC
that is Santa Claus is evaluating ever child's good deed for the whole year. I know I haven't been that good, but then I still receive
candies so I then believe that even Santa Claus can be so considerate ;-)
Now I realized there's still this kid in me that is always excited whenever Christmas day comes - and as always, I share this
excitement with my younger siblings, cousins and other kids in the neigborhood. Last year I saved a little amount of money to
give them candies and apples and I feel so much joy to share it. :) and this year I'm going to do it again - so I think it will be a
tradition ;)
On the 24th of December - that is Christmas eve, my family and I will be visiting my father in his work place which is located on
the neighboring island at Sula Channel since he cannot come home on Christmas day. I think we'll be having a different
Christmas celebration - where we'll go on some camping and maybe fishing and swimming, I am excited. :)
Maligayang Pasko po sa iyo at Manigong Bagong Taon din po! ( (Merry Christmas to you and have a Prosperous New Year too!)
Maraming Salamat po,
Karen
Philippines
what I learned from my family.
My family and I celebrate Christmas on the 25th day of December where we first attend an Misa de Gallo or Aguinaldo Mass
early in the morning then off we go to visit relatives and friends for a Christmas day bonding/reunion where we exchange gifts,
stories and play games (like a family reunion).
But in the Philippines, the preparation starts on the 16th of December ｨC on the Misa de gallo( http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Misa_de_Gallo ), etc. My cousins and I attend this early morning mass for 9 mornings at round 4AM. And on Christmas
Eve - traditionally in our family, we have this so called Noche Buena or Midnight dinner, that's 12:00 midnight on the 24th Day of
December where we serve special Filipino dishes like kakanin - puto, maja blanca etc.
I remember when I was younger, I used to hang not a stocking but a school sock below our window (I chose my old sock that
had been worn out so it's big, ;-) because I believe that Santa Claus will be dropping by that evening for some candies and gifts.
And yep he did, because in the morning, I'll find candies, chocolates and little toys that can fit in the sock.
Sometimes I paint my sock with pictures of Christmas trees or just plainly red/green/white stripes or just add glitters. I hang it
on our miniature Christmas tree replica or below a windowsill. Mama told me that good kids receive gifts from Santa Claus ｨC
that is Santa Claus is evaluating ever child's good deed for the whole year. I know I haven't been that good, but then I still receive
candies so I then believe that even Santa Claus can be so considerate ;-)
Now I realized there's still this kid in me that is always excited whenever Christmas day comes - and as always, I share this
excitement with my younger siblings, cousins and other kids in the neigborhood. Last year I saved a little amount of money to
give them candies and apples and I feel so much joy to share it. :) and this year I'm going to do it again - so I think it will be a
tradition ;)
On the 24th of December - that is Christmas eve, my family and I will be visiting my father in his work place which is located on
the neighboring island at Sula Channel since he cannot come home on Christmas day. I think we'll be having a different
Christmas celebration - where we'll go on some camping and maybe fishing and swimming, I am excited. :)
Maligayang Pasko po sa iyo at Manigong Bagong Taon din po! ( (Merry Christmas to you and have a Prosperous New Year too!)
Maraming Salamat po,
Karen
Philippines
When I was a kid, Christmas was the most exciting time of the year for me. Once December hit, the calendars would come
out, and the painful wait until the 25th would ensue. For 25 days my friends and I would talk about what we wanted for
Christmas. On Christmas eve I would watch all the classic Christmas T.V. shows that were on and play with friends.
On Christmas day I would wake up ridiculously early around 5.30 am to 6am, no alarms needed just the excitement would
wake me up. At this point I would open the presents in my stocking which had magically filled up with presents at the end of my
bed. (My parents learnt early on that this would by them time to around 8am to 9am). Around 9am my sister and I would go
wake my parents up and go down stairs, and open up the presents that would be under the Christmas tree, and we would
watch Christmas morning T.V. Around mid-day I would go to my Grandparents house where we would eat Christmas dinner.
This is where we would eat Yorkshire puddings, mashed potatoes, turkey and stuffing, apple sauce, cranberry sauce, pork,
sausages, vegetables(but I refused to eat them). For desert we would have Christmas pudding made with rum, and had
money hidden in it and hot custard. Finally we would have Christmas cake. After dinner when nobody could move, we would
open Christmas presents that were under my Grandparents tree, and watch Christmas movies and T.V.
When I got older the same happened but on Christmas eve I would go to a night club with my friends, I wouldn’t wake up early,
and at midday I would go with my parents to the pub and drink some pints, before going to my Grandparents house. Christmas
is not that big and exciting to me or my friends anymore, however Christmas does mean the family getting together and eating
Christmas dinner.
It’s all about the CHRISTMAS DINNER BABY!!
Ross
England
out, and the painful wait until the 25th would ensue. For 25 days my friends and I would talk about what we wanted for
Christmas. On Christmas eve I would watch all the classic Christmas T.V. shows that were on and play with friends.
On Christmas day I would wake up ridiculously early around 5.30 am to 6am, no alarms needed just the excitement would
wake me up. At this point I would open the presents in my stocking which had magically filled up with presents at the end of my
bed. (My parents learnt early on that this would by them time to around 8am to 9am). Around 9am my sister and I would go
wake my parents up and go down stairs, and open up the presents that would be under the Christmas tree, and we would
watch Christmas morning T.V. Around mid-day I would go to my Grandparents house where we would eat Christmas dinner.
This is where we would eat Yorkshire puddings, mashed potatoes, turkey and stuffing, apple sauce, cranberry sauce, pork,
sausages, vegetables(but I refused to eat them). For desert we would have Christmas pudding made with rum, and had
money hidden in it and hot custard. Finally we would have Christmas cake. After dinner when nobody could move, we would
open Christmas presents that were under my Grandparents tree, and watch Christmas movies and T.V.
When I got older the same happened but on Christmas eve I would go to a night club with my friends, I wouldn’t wake up early,
and at midday I would go with my parents to the pub and drink some pints, before going to my Grandparents house. Christmas
is not that big and exciting to me or my friends anymore, however Christmas does mean the family getting together and eating
Christmas dinner.
It’s all about the CHRISTMAS DINNER BABY!!
Ross
England
