I’m going to start off this post by saying that I like the Holiday season. I’m a fan of the Christmas tree with the lights, the classic music and drinking mulled wine by a fire. Some people can’t stand the holiday season and would love nothing more than to forget about the whole thing. If that’s you, this post might not be what you are into, but maybe by reading some of it, you may at least think of some nice memories.
You would think that working basically every Christmas since you were 18 years old would make you crazy right? Everyone is off with their family and you are stuck at work, sweating over a stove. Doesn’t sound so great really, but it’s something you quickly get used to. Most of us in the business celebrate after the holidays and take some days off to spend with the family when you can.
Why am I not bitter anymore? Well I can’t exactly do anything about it, until I maybe have a business of my own and decide I can take the day off. I’ve chosen to work for hotels and hotels never close. I love celebrating the holidays with my weird hospitality family. We are all sad inside about not being with our loved ones, so we rely on each other to find some laughs and love.
While most businesses are winding down in December, we are ramping up to serve other people and accommodate their holiday wishes. While I’m at home or on days off, I still like to do some of my favourite holiday traditions. I find this keeps me happy and able to get on without getting sad.
Well these are some of my favourite traditions. I think every family has different ones and it’s really interesting to learn about what everyone does in their house.
#1 Baking cookies: When I was growing up my mom was always part of a Christmas cookie exchange. The women would gather on a weekend, after baking loads of cookies and exchange them. You would bake enough so that everyone would have at least a half dozen of some different flavours to take home. It was a chance for everyone to share their style of baking and share it with others. Sometimes you would add a recipe, so that the recipe could get passed on to someone else. I have organized one at my workplace this year, so we can have an activity and share different recipes. Cookies are meant to be shared, so you can understand some else’s story and home.
*I have posted a recipe and will post another I am going to make next week
#2 Eating fish on Christmas Eve: My mom grew up in a half Italian household, so part of that tradition was eating fish and only fish on Christmas Eve. I loved this tradition, because the food was different than anything else you would eat throughout the year. I remember giant bowls of pasta with mussels and clams and salt cod that cooked in milk for hours. The cod became so tender; you could just spread it on your toast. The smells or garlic and onions would resonate through my grandparents’ house for hours after dinner was complete.
#3 Watching Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver Christmas Specials: I think people in the UK love Christmas. I remember travelling to London a few weeks before the holidays and every corner of the city was decorated with lights and decorations that light up the sky. The cooking specials are always so fun and almost tacky, that you totally fall in love with them. Some of the recipes I have tried before and I do love. I also love how intense the both of them are about the holiday food. Really gets you in the mood to cook something good.
#4 Watching old Christmas movies: I love watching funny Christmas movies or old ones that are in black and white. Sometimes even the ones from your childhood still resonate with you as an adult and make you smile. One of my favourite ones is Scrooged with Bill Murray. We used to sit together in front of the TV and watch a great Christmas movie while having a bit of rum and eggnog.
#5 drinking all of the Good Wine: My dad and I both have a few bottles of wine stored in the basement of their house in Toronto. The bottles are from different places and different years; some of them expensive and other are just special. My dad and I collect wine and we save it for special occasions and times when more than 2 people are at the dining room table. Some of those bottles I have had by myself, but most of them I do save to share with others! I love sharing really cool bottles that you may have grabbed on vacation or something you stumbled on while in the liquor store.
So there are some of my holiday traditions. Some are a bit strange and probably a bit corny. For me they make me happy and isn’t life all about being happy especially around a time when you should be happy?
I would love to hear about everyone’s family traditions! Everyone has different things they love to do and it’s fun to share that, so feel free to share! Enjoy the holiday season!
Hae a braw Christmas tae yersel' hen - wid awfy like tae see ye in the new year - lots of love from Pender Island xoxoxo