what do you do for christmas day/eve (hanukka, etc)

Heineken Helen

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

i really shouldn't be drinking or eating anything bad this christmas with the half marathon coming up...I guess that's a benefit of not having any guests, there won't be any bad foods! (no matter what I tell myself, every year I end up with a glass of egg nogg). I actually decided that I'm going to have a full fat, full sugar, WITH whip gingerbread latte from starbucks on christmas eve .

Hmm... word of advice... forget about diets or training for TWO days of the year. I can't see how you could enjoy christmas if you're watching everything going past your lips :eek:

Heineken Helen

decides2dream wrote:

that sounds DEVINE!
altho i am not really a fan of white chocolate...not actually 'true' chocolate in any case, altho sennin always argues with me. however, since it does not contain cocao, it is not 'true' chocolate...but i digress. ganache is heaven! and no, it's not like a truffle. truffles are quite a decadent bit of heaven too.....ganache is simply...ganache. it is just as itself, and it is BLISS! i am getting the small box of pure dark chcolate ganache pieces, and i am sure it will be spectacular.....mmmmmmmmmmm.

godiva has a whole new line of simply dark chocolate and o was torn between the ganache and the truffles....and i don't want to weigh 300 pounds and thus didn't ask for both : p b/c hubby would get it all for me.....so i went with the ganache b/c it's much more unusual. just looking at the godiva catalog :eek:....what christmas gifts!




sooooo...i am sure part of my christmas will be spent sampling godiva dark chocolate ganache. a really good part of this christmas! hubby has 2 godiva samplers - truffles and regular dark chocolate pieces - as stocking stuffers. pure christmas JOY. : D

Stop it, just STOP it :eek: I know not of this ganache that you speak of... but I can tell you I'm going to make it my daily mission to find some

Heineken Helen

oh and this year, we're thinking of (once we get drunk obviously) going christmas carolling at least to ONE group of neighbours anyway And by carolling, we mean most likely standing at the door laughing hysterically with silly hats

MattCameronKicksButt

I'll never forget this one Christmas where this guy in his late teens stood at our door by himself singing carols at my boyfriend-badly.

I just remember hearing my bf say. 'You've got to be kidding me mate, sorry'.

He may have been homeless though... Oh wait, it's not funny anymore.

decides2dream

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

I feel that with godiva, you are paying for the pretty box . Hehe I honestly prefer hersheys. But then, as I said, I am not much of a chocolate person (though I will eat cold hot fudge out of the jar if I'm craving dessert badly enough!)

you most definitely ARe paying for the pretty packaging, but you are ALSO absolutely paying for a high quality chocolate product. nothing wrong with liking hershey's more.....but absolutely, the two are not even in the same class. taste is taste.....and our preferences are personal, but as far as 'quality chocolate'....meaning cocoa content, pure ingredients, etc....godiva is way up there, along with most boutique chocolatiers, etc. we have 2 local chocolatiers that are spectacular! one was a client of my mom's and i helped out at time, and i got friendly with the owner and learned a lot. besides, i am simply passionate about my chocolate. for me, the darker the better.

sennin wrote:

Oh please! Chocolate!

I keed cuz i love

right bck atcha!

Heineken Helen wrote:

Stop it, just STOP it I know not of this ganache that you speak of... but I can tell you I'm going to make it my daily mission to find some

http://www.godiva.com/catalog/product.aspx?id=1686&SE_Section=Shop&SE_Category=90

thank me later

justam

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

Christmas eve is the big event in my family (we've never done much on christmas day except exchange gifts) but this year, for the first time ever, my immediate family has not a plan for xmas eve (or day)...I'm a little depressed about it....something about sitting there ALL night staring at my parents and trying to have fun....it's not sitting well. that's what I don't like about holidays once all the cousins and stuff abandon you....it's like a holiday, so you can't really *do* anything else, but it's not like there's really anything going on at your parents' house...very weird. Same problem I have with thanksgiving has now crept into the holiday I actually like! I used to love seeing relatives I haven't seen in a year and eating good food and stuff. but this year, I don't get to see anyone.

so what do you all do? let me live vicariously...

Go see a movie!

Sweeney Todd opens that day I think.

markymark550

I don't have any traditions established yet as this is my first Christmas as a married man. It's going to be interesting mixing my family's traditions with her family's traditions. Throw into the pot that she's a nurse and will sometimes have to work Christmas and things get even more interesting. As I've gotten older, my family traditions have relaxed greatly as it's become about finding a day or weekend when we can all get together and enjoy each others company. Her family is still set in their traditions, and it's a great travesty if you aren't able to attend.

This year, we are going to her parents on the 21st and staying there through the 24th. After her family's big get together at her Grandmother's house on Christmas Eve, we're driving an hour back home because she has to work on Christmas Day. After she gets off of work, we're driving back down to her parent's house and spending another night there. Something about her mother being upset and heartbroken if she can't see her daughter on Christmas. I'm glad my family doesn't pull that kind of bullshit, but I'm ok with it this year since she's still adjusting to not being able to see her family every day. Then the next weekend (29th and 30th), we're going up to my Mom's house to do my family's Christmas.

GreenTeaDisease

markymark550 wrote:

I don't have any traditions established yet as this is my first Christmas as a married man. It's going to be interesting mixing my family's traditions with her family's traditions. Throw into the pot that she's a nurse and will sometimes have to work Christmas and things get even more interesting. As I've gotten older, my family traditions have relaxed greatly as it's become about finding a day or weekend when we can all get together and enjoy each others company. Her family is still set in their traditions, and it's a great travesty if you aren't able to attend.

This year, we are going to her parents on the 21st and staying there through the 24th. After her family's big get together at her Grandmother's house on Christmas Eve, we're driving an hour back home because she has to work on Christmas Day. After she gets off of work, we're driving back down to her parent's house and spending another night there. Something about her mother being upset and heartbroken if she can't see her daughter on Christmas. I'm glad my family doesn't pull that kind of bullshit, but I'm ok with it this year since she's still adjusting to not being able to see her family every day. Then the next weekend (29th and 30th), we're going up to my Mom's house to do my family's Christmas.

I think if you get married, each party should just spend christmas with their own family. I mean why the hell not? It simplifies things, and no one ends up disappointed. If I had a nickel for every time one of my married friends complained about upsetting parents and whatnot because they celebrated with the in-laws, I'd be a rich woman. But the answer is so simple, no one seems to notice it.

given2fly78

Christmas eve mass with my family. Then we always have stuffed peppers and perogies for dinner (weird, right?). Then do gifts with my grandparents.

Christmas day is lounging and family presents. Then Turkey dinner. This year we'll head back home afterwards. Nothing like a 2 hour drive in a Triptophan stupor.

This will be our first Christmas as non drinkers, so that will take some getting used to. Haven't really told my parents yet so that will be interesting. My family loves to partake in the liquid festivities, so...........

given2fly78

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

I think if you get married, each party should just spend christmas with their own family. I mean why the hell not? It simplifies things, and no one ends up disappointed. If I had a nickel for every time one of my married friends complained about upsetting parents and whatnot because they celebrated with the in-laws, I'd be a rich woman. But the answer is so simple, no one seems to notice it.

I SOOOO agree. Split it up! Nobody is happy no matter what you do. We run into this every year. And it sucks. Too much running around, you can't please everyone. It makes the holidays no fun. And the kicker is, no matter how hard we try, my mom ends up bent out of shape as well as my mother in law (who laughs like Selma, Marge Simpson's sister and it gives me the toilet shivers thinking about it)

But, even if you do this, someone will complain the significant other isn't around.

But at least it's a partial accomadation.

roar

midnight mass on christmas eve

christmas morning at my parents' house
brunch with the grandparents + mom's side of the fam
dinner with the grandparents + dad's side of the fam

in total, we visit with about 60 people.
it's loud + merry...but your ears ring when the day is through.

Spunkie

I feel glad it's over and hope the decorations come down quick!

Heineken Helen

given2fly78 wrote:

I SOOOO agree. Split it up! Nobody is happy no matter what you do. We run into this every year. And it sucks. Too much running around, you can't please everyone. It makes the holidays no fun. And the kicker is, no matter how hard we try, my mom ends up bent out of shape as well as my mother in law (who laughs like Selma, Marge Simpson's sister and it gives me the toilet shivers thinking about it)

But, even if you do this, someone will complain the significant other isn't around.

But at least it's a partial accomadation.

I dunno, my sister and her fiance have it figured out... we all go to THEM for Christmas. His parents, usually my dad (although not this year) and me and whoever else is coming that year. This year she'll also have my brother, his girlfriend, our aunt and our cousin... so, along with the 2 kids, she's gonna have to accommodate 7 people but we all chip in... we're like the 7 dwarves and she's like a nazi snow white

Heineken Helen

roar wrote:

midnight mass on christmas eve

christmas morning at my parents' house
brunch with the grandparents + mom's side of the fam
dinner with the grandparents + dad's side of the fam

in total, we visit with about 60 people.
it's loud + merry...but your ears ring when the day is through.

I used to LOVE midnight mass... actually since we're changing traditions this year, I may suggest we do that.

markymark550

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

I think if you get married, each party should just spend christmas with their own family. I mean why the hell not? It simplifies things, and no one ends up disappointed. If I had a nickel for every time one of my married friends complained about upsetting parents and whatnot because they celebrated with the in-laws, I'd be a rich woman. But the answer is so simple, no one seems to notice it.

I disagree with that. I want to spend Christmas with my wife more than anyone else, so that means dealing with the headaches of my in-laws or my family. My family won't get upset about it at all because if the only time we all can get together is the first weekend in February, then our Christmas is in February and nobody cares since we're all together. I'm not getting bent out of shape about it this year, but in the future I don't think I'm going to worry much about upsetting her family. As time goes on, traditions evolve...such is the way of life.

GreenTeaDisease

markymark550 wrote:

I disagree with that. I want to spend Christmas with my wife more than anyone else, so that means dealing with the headaches of my in-laws or my family. My family won't get upset about it at all because if the only time we all can get together is the first weekend in February, then our Christmas is in February and nobody cares since we're all together. I'm not getting bent out of shape about it this year, but in the future I don't think I'm going to worry much about upsetting her family. As time goes on, traditions evolve...such is the way of life.

I dunno, I've always viewed christmas and holidays in general as family time rather than romantic partner time. like you know when you're in high school or college and after thanksgiving dinner you want to run out with your friends and your parents are like "hang on there, thanksgiving is family time." I didn't really miss my boyfriend at all last year, and we were like 750 miles apart. I went back to New Years Eve with him- see I think of New Years as being the friend/romantic partner holiday.

GreenTeaDisease

Heineken Helen wrote:

I dunno, my sister and her fiance have it figured out... we all go to THEM for Christmas. His parents, usually my dad (although not this year) and me and whoever else is coming that year. This year she'll also have my brother, his girlfriend, our aunt and our cousin... so, along with the 2 kids, she's gonna have to accommodate 7 people but we all chip in... we're like the 7 dwarves and she's like a nazi snow white

hahahahaha nazi snow white...

that was basically my parents' strategy when they got married. they just moved everyone to our house, which was cool, also considering my parents are very close with ALL their relatives. too bad no one wants to come anymore! I think people are very...I don't know selfish? egotistical? with where they want to have holidays. it seems like everyone wants to have it at THEIR house and it no one else comes then they'll just have it alone.

The Champ

So for Christmas I'm spending an entire week down in New Bern NC with my fiancee and her parents. This will be the first Christmas not spent with my mom, dad, and sis :(.

ajedigecko

my wife plays in the bell choir so it is intersting to listen to the music and sing christmas songs.

markymark550

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

I dunno, I've always viewed christmas and holidays in general as family time rather than romantic partner time. like you know when you're in high school or college and after thanksgiving dinner you want to run out with your friends and your parents are like "hang on there, thanksgiving is family time." I didn't really miss my boyfriend at all last year, and we were like 750 miles apart. I went back to New Years Eve with him- see I think of New Years as being the friend/romantic partner holiday.

Is my wife not my family now?

I didn't mean it to be romantic partner time (although that never hurts ). I meant it more as in as we start our own family I want to spend more time with her than anyone else even if it's just hanging out and watching TV. Right now it's just me and her, but possibly with kids in the future, I will want to spend Christmas with them rather than having to travel to my Mom's or my in-laws.