Hanukkah and Christmas: Charlotte traditions? (Boone: rent, house, airport)

[anifani821]

What traditions does your family observe for either Hanukkah or Christmas?

My family likes to attend services on Christmas Eve and then get together as a big group on Christmas Day.

What does your family do to celebrate either Hanukkah or Christmas?

[Barkingowl]

My family used to have a big dinner Christmas Eve. My parents would invite friends over to share the meal & we would be allowed to open one present. Sometimes carolers would stop by the house. On Christmas Day we would wake our parents up & have a long leisurely breakfast. We'd then open presents & family might drop by in the afternoon.

These days we go out for Chinese food Christmas Eve & watch DVDs Christmas Day.

[nascarnancy]

My new favorite German tradition is the pickle ornament on the tree. Although right now I have a large lab puppy head that fishes for ornaments, sticks his head in the tree grabs and runs. Gifts under the tree is going to be challenging this year, I am sure they'll have a few laps around the kitchen island before they are even opened. Ah, a little dog spit never hurt anyone!

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by Barkingowl

My family used to have a big dinner Christmas Eve. My parents would invite friends over to share the meal & we would be allowed to open one present. Sometimes carolers would stop by the house. On Christmas Day we would wake our parents up & have a long leisurely breakfast. We'd then open presents & family might drop by in the afternoon.

These days we go out for Chinese food Christmas Eve & watch DVDs Christmas Day.

We have had Chinese on Christmas Eve, too! We used to get cheapie flights back to CLT on Christmas Eve, and no one in my family could pick us up, b/c they all are tied up on Christmas Eve w/ church choir or church services. So we would rent a car at the airport and strike out to Boone . . . and the only thing open was Chinese . . .

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by nascarnancy

My new favorite German tradition is the pickle ornament on the tree. Although right now I have a large lab puppy head that fishes for ornaments, sticks his head in the tree grabs and runs. Gifts under the tree is going to be challenging this year, I am sure they'll have a few laps around the kitchen island before they are even opened. Ah, a little dog spit never hurt anyone!

LOL - I can see puppy now . . . and you are right . . . the presents will be just as much fun, even if the paper is a bit tattered!!!

Now explain that Pickle Ornament . . . ????

[Swimmom32]

we do chanukkah, we always did it at my house in NY and NJ we would have potato latkas, apple sauce, perogies with sour cream, and we would light a candle every night for 8 days, and the kids would get a gift every night, and then the last night one BIG present...We also would give them something for christmas since we used to go to our friends house for Christmas Day it was a tradition..this year we dont have any family here and our friends are back in NJ, so we will just light the candles and order in chinese food, and since the kids are older they didnt ask for much...and christmas I will just make a normal dinner...

[anifani821]

ohhhhh . . . latkes and perogies and sour cream . . . yum yum yum!!!!

My favorite Lakes recipe:

INGREDIENTS
2 cups peeled and shredded potatoes
1 tablespoon grated onion
3 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup peanut oil

DIRECTIONS
Place the potatoes in a cheesecloth and wring, extracting as much moisture as possible.
In a medium bowl stir the potatoes, onion, eggs, flour and salt together.
In a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil until hot. Place large spoonfuls of the potato mixture into the hot oil, pressing down on them to form 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick patties. Brown on one side, turn and brown on the other. Let drain on paper towels. Serve hot!

(recipe from Allrecipes.com)

[himain]

Well back in Miami we would do a Christmas eve dinner with the bf's family-they're Cuban and then our traditional thing was to have our Christmas brunch and then open presents on Christmas Day.

So this year because its only the bf and I, we're doing a nice steak dinner at the house for Christmas Eve and I will do a smaller version of Christmas brunch for the two of us.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by himain

Well back in Miami we would do a Christmas eve dinner with the bf's family-they're Cuban and then our traditional thing was to have our Christmas brunch and then open presents on Christmas Day.

So this year because its only the bf and I, we're doing a nice steak dinner at the house for Christmas Eve and I will do a smaller version of Christmas brunch for the two of us.

That sounds very romantic!!!

Do you have a favorite Mojitos recipe????

[himain]

LOL no but am making some Arroz con Pollo today YUM

PS-He's a black label drinker so no mojitos here