Local Christmas traditions, just curious!

I'd love to see the crabs, HeatherLynn!

CritterPainter, that is a really fascinating clam shell. You'll probably only need one to make clam shell soup. I love sea food, and those clams made me hungry.

 

I love clams, but only if they are allowed to sit in a bucket of cold water for a few hours, to siphon out the sand. My mom made the BEST clam fritters after a cold morning clamming at the shore!

 

I had to think a bit about this, as Christmas is an imported holiday here.
A christmas tradition here is the "Christmas Packet".
At this time you can see folks everywhere in the city peddling home after work with these big boxes on the back of their biles---it's the Christmas package from the boss.
This tradidion , as it were, began around the turn of the 19th century and it was the farmers that gave the farm labourers some veg, preserves and drink PLUS a day off to take home to the family to help see them through the christmas period which was cold and meager.
This later was taken-up by larger early 20th century industrial businesses and finely these days almost every employer gives boxes to their employees each christmas time. It is no longer possible to imagine this season without it.
Here is the box my partner got this box this year We had already plundered it, that's why it looks a mess:

 

What a fun tradition! I'd bet the boss's have fun putting those together, and I love the origin of it.
I have several friends who are swedes and they have regaled me with the traditions they still hold on to- the wooden decorations painted with red enamel, and the, um, I think they called it "glug" though I'm sure that isn't how it's spelled. A spiced sort of drink.
Gingerbread with tea is my current favorite tradition, oops, crumbs in the keyboard, lol!

 

Thanks Frank, at least if I go looking for a recipe I won't get turned around, lol! I'd seen the thread a couple months ago about the horse, my friends have candleholders and anything else wooden with the red enamel, too. Beautiful stuff, think I'll go looking for the swedish version of gingerbread. I made some Scottish style, with marmalade on top, and folks were surprised but really liked it.

 

Gløgg is a good winter drink, especially with good company and some craft project or other at hand. It has a way of thawing the frost out of us.

 

totally agree droopy, i'll be making some this christmas. i do every yr. and dessert will be gingerbread cake with lemon sauce an whipped creme.

Sjoerd, that is a really cool tradition. I know some employers really treat their employees good, an well others,,, just leave it at that....I think they could all use a lesson from your lands generosity. That is so cool.

 

Today is the day when we decorate the tree. The little spruce is already inside, and looking ready to receive lights, garlands, balls, hearts and such. After it's done, we dig out the presents from everywhere and put them underneath it. The girls are frantic with anticipation, and so is my husband, so we'd best get started. After the stables.

 

Today was with my brother that lives nearest, and his 2 daughters. Good to see them, my other bro is a physicist and indispensable to his research facility, grump.
My tree's been up a little while now. We don't put presents under it until tomorrow night after DD is asleep. DS thinks it's totally wrong to put the presents under the tree before then, but since he and I both love looking at the wrapped packages, I've always been very casual about letting him know where they are, lol! We'll get up early Christmas morning, make cocoa in the four mugs we only use on Christmas day, have cinnamon rolls, then slowly take turns opening our packages. One person at a time. Makes it all last longer. But I'm afraid this year will be a bit different. DH's company is forcing two people to work Christmas day! He's got enough seniority that it isn't a worry, but we both agreed that it's wrong to make a younger guy with little kids work, so he took one of the forced positions. So he'll head out to work (and I bet nearly noone will expect a repairman on Christmas day), DS will head out with his friends, and it'll just be my DD and I, sigh. She's getting a new movie, though, so we'll have a Pirates of the Carribean film festival!