Life With….

I am admittedly one of the people who truly loves Christmas.  Not the day itself per se, as presents are only part of the story of Christmas, and I actually like that part least right now (something about two openings and trying to get back to Mom’s in time to help with dinner frustrates me yearly).  I like the family time, the images, the music, Church, the thinking about others that goes into finding a good gift.  I love the spirit where everyone tries to be happy, everyone believes for at least a few minutes in Santa and the Spirit of Christmas,  and things are better in memory then they may have actually been at the time.   I love the decorations, and the lights, – how the world attempts to dress itself and be pretty, everyone and everything glitters and people try to pretend, no matter how stressful life and the season are, to enjoy each other and make time for friends and family.  But most of all I love traditions –like having the tree up past new years, opening one stocking present while listening to carols and eating Egoggn French Toast, lobster *the few times we have had this one I love it, * dressing up formally for al luncheon, Christmas Dinner and at least one or two other family events and a party. (My brothers who don’t like the season much or at least protest that, would add one more tradition to the list – at least one blow out fight, and having been a participant in a few of them I can’t disagree, but when I think of Christmas I ignore those and think of  the things we all do to please each other during this season).

Peebes and his first tree

I come from a family with two parents both of whom had strong Christmas traditions, both of which I love, and to some extent they are mutually incompatible.    To some extent, as with many other things in life, my father’s family won out for years, even after the divorce.

My grandfather was born on Christmas Eve, this year he turns 92.  Growing up, my father’s family held a birthday party for him on that day.  My grandfather likes to say this started because he never celebrated a birthday as a child – and therefore has been making up for it all of his adult life.  My understanding is that the tradition started because my grandfather was in the Foreign Service, and my grandparents were very social and wanted to throw a holiday party for people on the base including the Marines.

When I was little, my grandparents spent most Christmases with our family and we continued the tradition having a Christmas party on the night before Christmas.  We did this most years of my life – up through high school, with a few exceptions, one being the Christmas we spent in Atlanta after moving to Florida.  My mother would make Egg Nog from the New York Times Recipe (half the alcohol in one and one without alcohol at all) bread and rolls with special sauce were provided along with tortellini and crème freche.  Other dishes would change y the year, those were the only constants.   One year, Santa himslef came and spoke to all us.  Our house in Florida was great at Christmas.  The dining area had gorgeous red walls, and a large open space with a tree and piano greeted those who came in the front door – garlands of holly and ribbon went up the staircase, and Santa Clauses picked up over the years decorated the area.

My grandfather would play piano and people would sing along – I honestly think that much like me throwing a dinner party around my birthday this was his present to himself.  As we aged, the carols got more complex – with the room being divided up in to 12 parts for the twelve days of Christmas being assigned to various groups.  (By the way the first day of Christmas is December 25 the last is January 5, the day before Epiphany when the Magi appeared to Jesus – a fact most people forget today).  After the party, once we moved to Florida and my mother could not force us to bed at 10, most of us would go to whatever Episcopal Church we were then attending, for the 11 pm service.  My favorites always included the Carols Hark the Herald Angels Sing and a version of silent night sung by the congregation by candlelight only, with the lights slowly rising in the second and third verses.

As my grandfather aged, we moved the party to sometime before Christmas as having all of the events of the family was becoming too much for my grandparents (it also took a lot of stress off of my mother).  At this point we began having a birthday luncheon for my grandfather, and my mother started reinstating her family holiday tradition for dinner.

In my mother’s family, lobster is served on Christmas Eve.  My mother would remove fishing net and place it on the dining room table as a tablecloth.  Then antique glass lobster buoys were placed on the table, along with scallop shells, and wooden boats and other items than represented fishing villages. I assume that most of these were picked up on trips to Nantucket where my mother summered as a child.  Lobster was served with butter and a baked potato – and my mother would demolish her loser even eating the gross green bits, a fact we all astounded at.   Everyone, even my brothers who don’t’ like Christmas much, like this tradition, its fun – light, and a respite from the carols and saccharine feeling of holiday.   It is a tradition that only my mother and her sisters family has  – and it is a ritual that makes us unique but also binds us.

After the divorce, the party has not occurred again.  And many years we have not been able to have the lobster dinner – as we have some years had a birthday dinner as opposed to birthday lunch.   I personally, have hosted (or co hosted) a holiday party most years since I was 20, this year, which is odd.   In fact senior year we had a real tree and a Santa dropped by   But my house is decorated, and the music is playing and I am driving to Florida for a real, warm, Christmas soon.

One thing all members of my family pride ourselves on is actually thinking through our gifts.  My brothers, who for years forgot to give my mother prestnes, have become especially good at this even if they hate kepping the presents secret.  For example – one year one of them got me a book, which is still one of my favoirtes, he was so excieted by this he found an advertisment for the book in a magzine – and threw the page in my face at dinner while comvering up the name of the book.  All that I saw was a red curtain, but he could not contain himslef and had to give me the clue – so confident that he ahd found (as he did) a present I woudl truly enjoy.

This year, I am hoping for a lobster dinner followed by a service in the beautiful Episcopal Church my mother attends, St. Gregory’s.  We are celebrating my grandfather on the 28^th, with a boat cruise and my uncle and aunt flying in (that is a post Christmas tradition – the invitation of my father’s extended family until almost new years – it can make for a long week that is not very relaxing though it is great to see every one).  I am hoping that we can all sit back, enjoy each other’s company and think of those who are not with us who have shared these traditions I the past while remaining joyful, and watching football.  I will insist though that we make a ¼ batch of eggnog on Christmas Eve, to make French toast with.  Those types of traditions do not evolve and represent what the season is about – family and togetherness.

I have to admit though – I am in need of a break from the traditions by six pm on the 25th, and simply want the carols and decorations to continue.  I hate the continuing forced family events – at least I hate the anticipation and forced nature of them; the events themselves are rarely as bad as I fear and in fact are often fun, and I love the amount of time I am able to squire off by myself to read and decompress and get back into the holiday mood.

Peebes about to do what he usually does - attack the trees

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/23/magazine/23food-t.html

1958: Eggnog

This recipe appeared in The Times in an article by Craig Claiborne.

As Freeman pointed out, “It’s important to get good farm-fresh eggs, with really orange yolks and really thick cream; these are the main constituents of the drink.” Halve the recipe for a smaller gathering.

12 eggs, separated

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup bourbon

1 cup Cognac

½ teaspoon salt

3 pints heavy cream

Grated nutmeg

1. In an electric mixer, beat the egg yolks with the sugar until thick.

2. Slowly add the bourbon and Cognac while beating at slow speed. Chill for several hours.

3. Add the salt to the egg whites. Beat until almost stiff.

4. Whip the cream until stiff.

5. Fold the whipped cream into the yolk mixture, then fold in the beaten egg whites. Chill 1 hour.

6. When ready to serve, sprinkle the top with freshly grated nutmeg. Serve in punch cups with a spoon.

Makes about 40 punch-cup servings.

For French Toast make about ½ the recipe the day before.  Add bread to the toast –whole wheat bread to soak is best as it absorbs well and adds a nutty flavor.  Heat butter on the griddle and cook up.  Serve warm.

All text and copyrights preserved by the author 02csb For more information visit http://www.peebesalgy.com Courtney Brown

Create Your Badge  All text and copyrights preserved by the author for words and original pictures and may not be used without author's permission. For more information visit http://www.peebesalgy.com Follow me on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/peebesalgy or contact me directly through http://www.peebesalgy.com/blog/contact-me/ Courtney Brown | Create Your Badge