Every year about a week before Christmas my mom's side of the family has a giant Christmas party. A Christmas party that is probably way too involved for most families. The party is a bit complicated. There's a hidden set of rules for the party, it usually stresses way too many people out, and sometimes when it comes to the white elephant gift exchange people get mad. But... this party is an ongoing tradition, one that has been going on since I was born. It has evolved since its forst year, but as much as some of us hate the stress and weird themed foods, we can't call it quits.
I have a bad memory about being little. But one of my strongest Christmas memories was the year it was my turn to help the cousins serve food at the family Christmas dinner. Back then we didn't have themed parties. It was a normal Christmas dinner. Everyone dressed up. Grandma and Grandpa did most of the cooking.
After Grandma died we decided to continue the Christmas dinner tradtion. The first year, we had this giant luau party complete with a cooked pig, Hawaiian dancers, fire dancers, and grass skirts. We may never top that first year, It had been by far the best party. i'm sure that my Grandma has a lot to do with that.
But for this year we celebrated Christmas in the Hold Land: Israel.
So the food coordinated with the theme, as did the gift exchange. Popular gifts were dates, figs, and a tree of life necklace. Nick contributed an Israeli newspaper, it was free. Brett gave a book titled 1003 Things About the Jewish Religion and I gave a travel and culture book of Israel. We scored with a $5 dradle shaped Target gift card, a box of plant smelling gum, and some sort of orange soda.
And that pretty much sums up the tenth day of Christmas.
PS, my family is way too loud to even yell over. Love you guys.
No comments:
Post a Comment