Christmas Eve, My Tradition

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

♥♥