remembering past Christmas Eve's for me
always bring a bright cheery smile to my face
since i was little, our dear Christmas Eve in
my family was bigger than Christmas day
my family, and many extended members would start at my
house were i grew up early in the day
as the fish had to fry, and since we had mounds of fish
early was the way to go
i watched as aunts and uncles starting the
cleaning process, of these slimy creatures
their preparations were endless
in our tradition we are to have
the Feast of the Seven Fishes
so yes, we must have at least seven kinds of fish served
and that they did
crab
clams
baccala
sugelli
smelts
shrimp
calamari
cod
and more
and each of these delightful wonders are prepared
differently, so our taste buds can truly do a dance
i watch with envy how now my mother does it all alone
when at one time she shared this task with her brothers and sisters
i now help her fry the fish, but with this is a ritual, we both begin
with the oldest clothes we can fine so we can ditch them
outside after the frying ends
the smell of frying fish can last for days
so to cut down on the smell of our clothes
out the door they go
the frying takes a while, but mom and i
have to down to a science, two frying pans
ready to go, me frying, her dipping the fish in a concoction
only she can make, and than handed off to me
split splat goes the oil, ouch and ouch again
but it is totally worth it
for in the end around our table the
fish will be celebrating with us
in only a way a perfectly piece of fish can
after our fish feast, we begin our next journey
onto nuts and fruits
our nuts are brought uncooked
my mother roasts them in the oven
on Christmas Eve morning
the smell thruout the house
is indescribable
nuts, such as filberts, almonds, walnuts and chestnuts
are put on the table with nutcrackers
and then the cracking sound begins
the fruit, grapes, clementines, and tangelos are all put in
separate basking around the table, so one can
crack a nut, and take a piece of clementine
and of course mangia
all that is left is coffee and dessert
and no holiday in a Italian household
would be without Italian Pastry on Christmas Eve
Calandra's is the best in my area for these pastries
I go early Christmas Eve morning and pick out all
the ones that my family loves
it is so great to end our quest with a perfect desserts
our night could not end without opening some gifts
so we all head to the tree, to call out names and
the gift giving begins
as the years have gone by, things have changed a bit
mostly the people, some decided to stay home
and do their own traditions
and some have left us, not to enjoy the holiday at
out our table, but certainly in heaven watching over us
this year my two eldest nephews will not be with us
they are going with their wife's family
so yes it will be different, ever since my eldest was born (30yrs ago)
we have been together for the seven fish feast
things do change, but the memories do not
and i can't tell you enough how this memory
of Christmas Eve has molded me
it gave me my foundation of what a holiday
is to be for our family
and it goes back to grandparents (on both sides) as this is
what they did on Christmas Eve
and all these so many years later
we are still doing the same
i am grateful for my elders
in instilling this into my parents, my aunts and uncles
and my cousins
its a wonderful tradition
and in time i know i will be with my nephews
some day, eating Christmas Eve dinner at their home
with their families
i believe in tradition
it makes us who we are
Merry Christmas
♥♥