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With Easter having passed by, I thought this was as good of a time as any to discuss this.
My family used to have the big Easter meal, usually ham. It always made by my maternal grandmother. Nearing 84 and with mobility issues, she's doing less of these dinners. We'd all get together for the major holidays and an occasional Sunday dinner.
My aunt did Thanksgiving and Christmas the previous year, and I think my grandmother did one of the holiday dinners last year. In any event, they're becoming less frequent.
When did you take over the family dinner duties or pass it on to the next generation?
I’m still doing almost 30-35 years now. Lately, my kids are washing the dishes, in the past it’s always my husband. We have small get together. Always less than 5 or 6.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Same here, but going on 47 years. We normally have 14 at our house, which is still the only one large enough to have that many people for dinner. I do most of the cooking and my siblings and in-laws tend to be the most helpful with dishes.
I gave up doing Christmas Eve and Christmas a couple of years ago. I've just had too many issues with my back and I physically can't cook like that these days.
DH and I do a mini-holiday munch for ourselves. We always have seafood Christmas Eve and ham on Christmas.
We've been doing a big family Thanksgiving at our house for the last 7 or 8 years. Generally consists of both of our living parents, siblings, and their families. Most years its been 20 or more people. No other big family dinner traditions on either side that I can remember. We do a smaller Christmas dinner with just the immediate family (children and grandchildren).
We always do big turkey and ham for Thanksgiving and then a ham and lasagna for Christmas.
I think this year will be the last for the extended Thanksgiving dinners at our house. We're planning to start downsizing next year and we just won't have the room anymore. The Christmas dinners will probably continue, as long as we all still live close enough.
Never had any 'family dinner duties'. Many people live distances away, often long distances too, from their parents and grandparents (and siblings) starting when they leave for college at age 18 (or go to jobs in a different area) and never again live in or anywhere close to their hometown where their relatives and/or parents live.
Also, when I was married for 17 years, there was no set procedure, routine, or expectation, with my husband and myself.
Last edited by matisse12; 04-23-2019 at 01:19 PM..
I would not worry about the how long they have been doing the work and the age of the person. Just volunteer to share the work. We have neighbors in they always help out when they can.
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