As a child, I wanted a “proper” Christmas, which we never really had. Sure, we put up a tree and I attended Catholic and Anglican schools, but I’m not sure if not celebrating the holiday the way one sees it in movies and books is because my parents are from Hong Kong or because December 25 also happens to be my mom’s birthday.
Fast forward to 2015 and I’ve been a married woman for five years. My husband also happens to be Jewish. While I’ve always had Jewish friends (my best friend in middle school and high school is Jewish and the public elementary school I attended for JK and SK had a Jewish majority), I did not experience most traditions first hand until I married. I did not, for example, try my first latke until 2010 or 2011. Anyway, as an interfaith, interracial couple, there are certainly blended traditions. For the December holiday season, we have both a tree and a menorah. We host Christmas dinner at home, usually on Christmas Eve (so that it isn’t really my mom’s birthday) and we also have Hanukkah-related treats during Hanukkah. I don’t, however, serve Chinese or Chinese-inspired cuisine with my Christmas dinner. Out is the sticky rice, taro and Chinese mushroom stuffing my parents often made for Thanksgiving and in is some sort of quinoa pilaf (depends on my mood. This year, I added apples, rainbow carrots and onions) and Chinese sides like mustard greens or bok choy. We also do what some people call “Jewish Christmas” – a movie and (fake) Chinese food on December 25. While many actually go to the theatres, we stay in and order our food delivered.
Apple & Blueberry Baked French Toast/Bread Casserole/Bread Pudding, served with quark, cranberry sauce and a bit of maple syrup
As for our own traditions, besides quinoa stuffing (which is also a Thanksgiving thing for us), I also make a sweet casserole for brunch on Christmas morning. Well, it’s not QUITE a tradition yet, since we’ve only done this twice (recipe for last year’s version), but I am definitely going to do this again next year. Spending December 25 in is something that my family and I DID NOT do when I was growing up – we often went out for a multi-course Chinese dinner in Markham or Agincourt (i.e. the “real stuff” in suburban comfort). And I like it.
However, my favourite holiday tradition my husband and I share is for New Year’s Eve. Not really being the partying types anymore, every year since we got engaged in 2009, we have ordered Indian food to ring in the new year. We also buy a very small bottle of sparkling wine which we open around midnight. A nice quiet evening in.
What traditions do you have?
