In The Cheer
Close to midnight, and I am about to call it a day for this Christmas Eve. It was lovely, but also a lot of work for my wife and I. She has already gone to bed, but I will wait until the dishwasher finishes for the fifth time today, and put the last round away. The house looked nice (still does) and I think people had a relaxed time and a bit of fun. We had a ugly hat competition this year and after the voting, my mother in law one a close competition with her grandson, with a hand-made, knitted beanie, with octopus tentacles and a knitted candle on the head.
A well-deserved win.
We ended up with 16 people as guests, and we run ours a little differently than my sister in law, as we do it in stages, instead of one big sitting. The food is pretty much set by tradition in Finland, with cold fish dishes served first, then the ham with their baked casseroles, and finally coffee and dessert.
Since we were washing plates and cutlery after each course, we moved everyone into the loungeroom, with the first break being a family "singalong" (not my cup of tea), accompanied by a piano normally, but this year, it was a guitar. One side of the family is far more enthusiastic about this, than the other. I am on the less enthusiastic side of things, though at least the women who sing have decent voices.
Can't say the same for my Father in law.
My wife's brother in law left halfway through the fish course, as he was called into the hospital for a surgery, which might be about the fifth time at Christmas in less than ten Christmases together. Sometimes things go well, sometimes not, but he has given a few people "Christmas miracles". Normally he is gone a few hours, if not all night, but he returned about an hour later and halfway through the songs.
"Oh, I came back too soon."
After singing, it was onto the "main event" with the ham, which is my favorite thing about the Finnish Christmas food, by a long way. My wife made it and the frosting was out of mustard and breadcrumbs. It was good. Or should I say "is" good, because there is about 3 kilos of it left.
However, the highlight of my night was after so many years saying that all the casseroles taste the same, my wife turned to her niece and asked, "I am not sure which one this is."
I told you @galenkp.
After filling up for the second time, we had a short break whilst the older one of my wife's nephews went and dressed up so he could make his entrance as Santa. He's is a good Santa (with a pillow to fill him out), as he is funny and has a very quick wit. Smallsteps loved it and played along, even though she knew it was her cousin. Santa also put on a bit of a Christmas concert, with a guitar.
And then of course, after the visit, it was time for the kids to open the copious amounts of gifts they get these days. Personally, I think it is far too many, even if they are useful ones like what Smallsteps got, because it is like a flood all at once, meaning that the attention is split too far.
First world problems.
The adults only got one each, through a secret Santa lottery. I got my Father in Law this year, and bought him books, because that is the only gift anyone ever gets him. It was either that, or some joke gift which would get a momentary laugh, but then be forgotten. We had a 50€ limit, so one of the uncles bought his niece 16 packets of coffee - enough for perhaps a year and a half. That will be remembered.
And then dessert and coffee.
It was pretty simple this year, with cheese, crackers and one cake, which was really good. After eating several rounds of each course, people were pretty full, but still managed to squeeze in some more, before retiring back to the loungeroom for more talking, whilst I cleaned up. I can't really talk with most of the people anyway, so I didn't mind hiding away in the kitchen - which worked excellently, for its first real stress test.
And by ten, people started to put on their coats and head out into the night, full of Christmas food, but not so much cheer. None in the group are big drinkers, and since there were a few cars with designated drivers, it wasn't a bad thing. It just means that there is more wine for me, or another occasion. New Year's is coming.
2024 will be huge, right?
For all those about to celebrate proper Christmas, have a good one!
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
I feel my Christmas (and life) is incomplete without Finnish Christmas Casseroles.
We just had breakfast, see WhatsApp, and will relax for most of the day...well, I won't as I'm making lunch, and then it'll be leftovers for dinner. We'll video chat later when y'all wake up.
If you could only take one thing to a deserted island... three Finnish casseroles - they count as one.
Just heading to bed, will call you tomorrow/today
Lol!
Hi Taraz, Merry Christmas to you. You have one happy cheerful family there.In our culture we gather not only as family but at almost one village. We don't have wine but rice wine. Singing carol is a must or otherwise is not a Christmas vibes.Santa is not a big deal here in my place.Gift is as long as something is genuine from you will be enough for each and one.
It would be nice if the Christmases here were more open - not just family, and extended family. I would like one with random friends.
Do you have a favorite carol?
Many songs, such as Joy to the world, Hark the herald, Jingle Bells, Faliz Navidad,. Merry Christmas wishes are always closing songs.
Sounds good. They only sing in Finnish here, lucky for me!
If you don't mind asking you.? Your mother tongue is English?
I can't imagine how much work was involved hosting Christmas for 16, Mrs T definitely deserves a good night's rest.
Love your photos, and the table setting looks, simple yet so stylish.
Have a great Christmas day!!
A lot of work, but still nice.
What are your plans for the day?
Sorry, haven't been online much over the holidays. My sister in law and her family came over for Christmas, I managed to make a decent dinner for the 5 of us without any mishap, so I consider that a success 😀.
Then we went over to my brother's on boxing day. That's quite a big gathering when us siblings get together and lots of good food is always guaranteed.
Time to recover now and catch up on my favourite Christmas special TV programs!
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I love all the candid pics of the Christmas Eve Feast... but where is the big baked ham in all its glory?! I'm missing the money shot! Where's the photo evidence of your ugly hat mate?
I like your idea about the holiday courses, my uncle who hosts Thanksgiving does the same thing with apps, buffet main, then dessert. Glad your new kitchen passed the stress test. 5x loads of dishes though, man you definitely put in a solid shift mate.
Christmas isn't really my holiday, and my partner is with her cousins in San Diego, so I've got no occasion to celebrate it with anyone. I'll be taking an early morning flight (6.30am) Christmas morning out to Denver and hopefully use the limited holiday public transport to get back to my sister's apartment where I'll be setting up home base until I leave Jan 4. My partner and my sister are both returning to town on the 27th, so I'll have a few days all to myself in her apartment.
For Boxing Day, I may try to make it out to the local soccer pub, but since my Chelsea doesn't play until the 27th, there's a pretty good chance I will be lazy and just stream everything from the comfort of her apartment. I wonder what kind of food options I'll have available in the area serving meals on Christmas day? I'm for sure bringing a big stash of power bars and protein powder to keep me full for a few days.
I have a picture or two, but it doesn't look so pretty in all its monstrosity. The ham either ;D
Are there any Jewish things through the new year? Really, as I have said, I have no idea! I had one Jewish friend at university, but his family were very loose with traditions. I actually don't know how big the community is in Australia.
At least you will have some time arguing with your sister. I miss that.
Quite a few games on to watch with a beer in hand I suspect ;)
Like any good lunar calendar religion, our holidays are based on lunar cycle and the major ones we celebrate are actually Fall with the Sukkot holiday and Spring with the Pesach/Passover holiday. Jewish New Year is mostly a solemn time and that's observed in mid-September typically, as lunar calendar varies from year to year.
Hanukkah, which happened during the 2nd week of December in 2023, is our festival for the "holiday season" but is not considered a "major holiday" on the Jewish calendar since it comes distinctly after the biblical era.
A tradition of the holiday is to eat fried foods since we are celebrating how the sacred oil found after liberating the great Jewish temple in Jerusalem for the first time was able to burn long enough to make a new batch! Potato pancakes and donuts are both staple treats for the holiday, as is "Gelt," the Yiddish word for those gold-wrapped chocolate coins that seem to have been around forever!
My tradition was to work on Christmas if I could, and I did that every year when I worked for the NBA. We used to have these crazy triple headers all day long and I didn't mind covering the time.
As a teacher, I'm always off for the holidays, so lately I've been trying to fly on Christmas since the flights were the cheapest. Lo and behold my flight was canceled this year and I'll end up rescheduled for the night I wanted to leave but didn't want to pay for when I booked 'em the first place. All's well that ends well. Boxing Day at Football Factory NYC. I can dig it!
Happy Christmas & Merry New year!
These I know!
Judaism seems like a relatively pragmatic religion from what I have seen of it. Relatively down to earth, but I am guessing that it varies widely in practice.
Hopefully, your end of year (my end of year calendar) is great!
With that "came back too soon" joke I wonder if he's organised for someone to call him at that specific time or if he has one of those fake phone call apps XD
Looks like you had a generally good time :D and sounds like the kitchen passed its stress test?
Happy silly season :)
I said to him "I wish I was on call" :D
Kitchen went well!
Have a great boxing day too - as that is when you will probably read this - though where you are, there is still an hour or so of Christmas left. xx
It is indeed Boxing Day when I'm reading this XD
but really late, I wrote that sentence in the morning and then stuff got busy
It was pretty chill :)
Merry Christmas! I hope that Santa will bring us a bag of HP.
and a bull.A bag of HP or a bag of 20x price ;)
Merry Christmas mate.
Wow, your Christmas dinner felt like too formal with different courses. I am used to having all food available, and desserts right after. The kids getting most of the gifts is expected, and the adults doing an exchange gift sounds about normal here as well. Have a merry Christmas.
It is pretty formal, and we do the relaxed version. It is slowly changing in Finland, but very slowly. I don't think my wife's family will change much.
Do you have a couple days off also?
Yep, Christmas is a big deal in the Philippines, and it is a national holiday.
I’m glad the Christmas Eve was fun. One thing about it is that it will be fun for the sixteen people who came and also you and your family but the work you have to do later may be stressful
Maybe packing the chairs, cleaning the house and all
Do you have any time off for Christmas there?
Yes
I’ve been off for a week now till next year
That’s because I’m a teacher
Some jobs do not have any off just like my dad’s
Dear @tarazkp !
In the world I live in, today is Christmas Monday, but is tomorrow Christmas in Finland?
I wonder why you always dress up as Santa Claus!
Why doesn't anyone else wear a Santa Claus costume?
They celebrate on the 24th here, similar to Germany and a few other countries. Christmas day and boxing day are public holidays though.
I didn't dress up, and never have as Santa! It is always someone else.
Because I am visually impaired, I misunderstood that you were dressed up as Santa Claus!
I thought Santa Claus wore glasses like you.😃
I am missing my love one in this christmas, not with me.
Merry Christmas dear.
Hopefully you will see them soon.
I don't celebrate Xmas but I think your Christmas Eve was a fun filled and memorable one. I mean all the good food and good company and assorted fun and cool activities. I wish you the best of life as we head into the new year.
Happy holidays.
It sounds like it was a delightful evening! We had a pretty big get together at my wife's parents. No sing along's, but we had some competition games and I ended up winning $5. We also had a ton of great food! We are still celebrating today. In a little bit we head to one of our last stops for the holidays.
15 HIVE worth!
Enjoy the time you have with family mate :)
Thanks, you too!
Merry Christmas Mr. Tarak we continue on the path of love, renewed hope, and light, I wish peace and well next to his wife, daughter and the rest of the family affections.