Christmas Eve

[sweetana3]

Had a great and simple Xmas eve. Hubby made his special clam dip and we opened a bottle of Long Island Ice Tea. Later we will have our dessert (one piece of cheesecake from a bookstore coffee bar and one piece of carrot cake from the local Jewish deli.) It is a dinner we have only twice a year, Xmas eve and New Years Eve. It is a family tradition for over 25 years.

We opened the four presents. 3 from friends and one from the cats! Got some California lottery tickets from my brother and it was fun finding out we had lost but could have won. One present was a ruffly scarf knit by a friend and I had watched her knit it. The time she took is priceless. The whole evening was easy and simple and non stressful. We decided on no presents between the two of us and I dont miss them. (However, the cats did give hubby the French press he was interested in. They have good taste and got it from a discount store:D.)

[KayLR]

Sounds nice---think I will discuss starting a similar tradition with the hubs. I think I've met critical mass with my family's Christmas doin's. Not to the extent of Ladyinblack (whom I just feel terrible for) but still, I'm so over it.

[sweetana3]

I think the commercialism of Xmas got to us a long time ago. We also have no relatives around and really dont want to spend time with friend's kids and their too many presents.

[Tradd]

I had a nice Christmas Eve Day. Church this late this morning (Orthodox Christmas is a 5K, whereas Holy Week/Easter is a marathon! :)) home for a few hours, then Christmas Vigil. Home to my sort-of Holy Supper, a Christmas Eve tradition in Eastern Europe and Russia. There are supposed to be 12 dishes, to match the number of the 12 apostles, but that would have been too much food for me. I had potato & onion pierogi, green peas, a clove of raw garlic dipped in honey to begin with (symbolizes life is both bitter and sweet), a clementine, and Stoli vodka, Russian-style (frozen). You're supposed to do this BEFORE the Vigil, but Vigil was two hours earlier this year (was at usual Saturday Vespers time), so I just did it after.

On the way back from the service this morning - at a friend's parish - our local classical station had a live broadcast of Festal Lessons and Carols from King's College, Cambridge. It was so lovely to listen to. I've been listening much more this season to more classically-oriented Christmas music. Pandora has a nice classical Christmas channel.

Now, off to have a bit more vodka and then tea with honey and hope my voice holds out through tomorrow's Divine Liturgy!

[redfox]

I'm hangin' by the fire with DH & the cats, drinking hard pear cider & about to have a yummy vegetarian supper. I found a whole bunch of filled punch cards for the local bookstore, so we went book shopping for our young adult kids, and got a substantial discount!

We'll wrap them tonight & see them on the 27th. Then I think we'll start watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I love quiet, peaceful evenings...

[Merski]

Had a lunch on Christmas eve of polish food for MIL, SIL and BIL came and we were all very relaxed. Very thoughtful but inexpensive gifts were exchanged but not dwelt upon. Later DH and I went to a good friend's home for appetizers and socializing. Feeling a little fat but happy and peaceful. Will take dog out for a hike today to work off some calories.

[artist]

sounds like a nice night. We went to church and then a family gathering at my sister's house. Today we are having an open house at our home and a nice Christmas dinner. (pot roast, potatos and baby carrots in the crock pot). Taking it easy and enjoying our gift free Christmas.