Christmas around the world.......... - Page 4

Slite · 12-17-2008, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparrow

We used to put coins in the Christmas pudding, and if you got one in your portion you got to keep it. (Parents had to make sure each kid 'found' a coin in their's or there'd be ructions.)

I don't know if anyone still does this - but it's probably iillegal on health and safety grounds.

We have a similar tradition, but it's related to the "Risgrynsgröt" which is a porridge made from rice. What you do is you peel an almond and put it into the porridge, and the person who gets the almond will get married during the coming year

zelda_pinwheel · 12-17-2008, 10:06 AM

sparrow, wasn't there a whole series of objects put into christmas puddings, which told the fortunes of the people who got them ? like, a coin meant you would be rich, a ring meant you would get married, a button meant a man would remain a bachelor and a thimble meant that someone would be an old maid... there might be more of them but i can't remember. i think i read about that in an agatha christie novel, the one where the prince's jewel is stolen, i can't remember the title... it's a poirot novel.

vivaldirules · 12-17-2008, 10:08 AM

Mmmm. Panettone. Panera Bread makes some I like, although I don't know how compares with anyone else's. Makes me think we need another Houston Meet-up right now to give us a good excuse to snarf some down.

zelda_pinwheel · 12-17-2008, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

Mmmm. Panettone. Panera Bread makes some I like, although I don't know how compares with anyone else's. Makes me think we need another Houston Meet-up right now to give us a good excuse to snarf some down.

well, you know what to do about that... that prefixe isn't going to use itself you know. plus you texans are really falling behind.

Sparrow · 12-17-2008, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

sparrow, wasn't there a whole series of objects put into christmas puddings, which told the fortunes of the people who got them ?

Yes,

I think I have heard of that version - but we just used coins in our household.

zelda_pinwheel · 12-17-2008, 10:25 AM

in france the closest tradition i can think of (although it's not really a christmas tradition) is the galette des rois (king's cake) which is a flaky butter pastry filled with frangipane (sweet almond paste, like marzipan). hidden somewhere in the filling is a "fève" : fève means bean, but now they are little plastic or ceramic figurines. some people collect them. this cake is eaten with cider around the epiphany, the 6th of january, but you can get them starting weeks in advance.

the tradition is for a child to hide under the table while the cake is being cut, and he distributes the cake by calling out the names of the people there as the slices are distributed. the cakes are always sold with a paper crown ; whoever gets the fève in their piece gets to wear the crown and is the king of the day.

galettes are available from the bakery in different sizes depending on how many will be eating it, so there is no danger of the fève being lost in a leftover piece.

Sparrow · 12-17-2008, 10:40 AM

I've just this minute been the recipient of another UK Christmas tradition - there's no end of them!

Every year managers throughout the land send workers a seasonal message thanking them for their efforts throughout the past twelve months. They always end the same way - '.. but if you thought this year was bad; you ain't seen nothing yet. Oh, and if you thought you'd see a pay rise anytime soon you can forget it! See you when I return from the Bahamas. Happy Christmas, Love from Your Boss'

Never fails to give me a warm feeling inside (heartburn).

zelda_pinwheel · 12-17-2008, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparrow

I've just this minute been the recipient of another UK Christmas tradition - there's no end of them!

Every year managers throughout the land send workers a seasonal message thanking them for their efforts throughout the past twelve months. They always end the same way - '.. but if you thought this year was bad; you ain't seen nothing yet. Oh, and if you thought you'd see a pay rise anytime soon you can forget it! See you when I return from the Bahamas. Happy Christmas, Love from Your Boss'

Never fails to give me a warm feeling inside (heartburn).

heh. sadly, i think that tradition may be worldwide, not just british.

Sparrow · 12-17-2008, 01:02 PM

Do other countries have anything like pantomimes?

They're traditional Christmas entertainments in the UK. Plays based on classic children's stories (Cinderella, Babes in the Wood, Puss in Boots, Jack and the Beanstalk etc.) - full of songs and jokes. They normally have a few 'famous' celebrities not ordinarily known for their acting talent (sports people, TV chefs etc.). There is a lot of cross-dressing, and double-entendres to keep the adults amused; while the children holler and shriek stuff like 'He's behind you', 'Oh, yes he is', 'Oh, no he isn't' and similar participatory phrases.

Done well it's a hoot; done badly, it's torture.

desertgrandma · 12-17-2008, 06:15 PM

I think I"d like to spend Christmas in the UK just once to taste their food. How exotic!

zelda_pinwheel · 12-17-2008, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

I think I"d like to spend Christmas in the UK just once to taste their food. How exotic!

heh. there's something you don't hear every day !

Slite · 12-18-2008, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

heh. there's something you don't hear every day !

My thoughts exactly more or less... When I have come into contact with English cooking I haven't been overly impressed. No offense to you brittish type persons

But I mean, Steak and KIDNEY pie?

:shiver:

mjh215 · 12-18-2008, 05:43 AM

Doesn't the majority of British cuisine consist of gyros and curries now?

-MJ

HappyMartin · 12-18-2008, 08:30 AM

English cooking has a bad reputations but they make lots of fine things. English deserts, especially the hot ones, are wonderful and English breakfasts are the best if you are facing a hard day. Christmas mince pies, steamed Christmas puddings and trifle, yummy.

zelda_pinwheel · 12-18-2008, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HappyMartin

English cooking has a bad reputations but they make lots of fine things. English deserts, especially the hot ones, are wonderful and English breakfasts are the best if you are facing a hard day. Christmas mince pies, steamed Christmas puddings and trifle, yummy.

and, i must leap to the defense of hobnobs !!!

and scones are good too.

12-17-2008, 01:02 PM	#54
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	Pantomime Do other countries have anything like pantomimes? They're traditional Christmas entertainments in the UK. Plays based on classic children's stories (Cinderella, Babes in the Wood, Puss in Boots, Jack and the Beanstalk etc.) - full of songs and jokes. They normally have a few 'famous' celebrities not ordinarily known for their acting talent (sports people, TV chefs etc.). There is a lot of cross-dressing, and double-entendres to keep the adults amused; while the children holler and shriek stuff like 'He's behind you', 'Oh, yes he is', 'Oh, no he isn't' and similar participatory phrases. Done well it's a hoot; done badly, it's torture.

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12-17-2008, 10:06 AM	#47
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	sparrow, wasn't there a whole series of objects put into christmas puddings, which told the fortunes of the people who got them ? like, a coin meant you would be rich, a ring meant you would get married, a button meant a man would remain a bachelor and a thimble meant that someone would be an old maid... there might be more of them but i can't remember. i think i read about that in an agatha christie novel, the one where the prince's jewel is stolen, i can't remember the title... it's a poirot novel.

12-17-2008, 10:08 AM	#48
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	Mmmm. Panettone. Panera Bread makes some I like, although I don't know how compares with anyone else's. Makes me think we need another Houston Meet-up right now to give us a good excuse to snarf some down.

12-17-2008, 10:25 AM	#51
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	in france the closest tradition i can think of (although it's not really a christmas tradition) is the galette des rois (king's cake) which is a flaky butter pastry filled with frangipane (sweet almond paste, like marzipan). hidden somewhere in the filling is a "fève" : fève means bean, but now they are little plastic or ceramic figurines. some people collect them. this cake is eaten with cider around the epiphany, the 6th of january, but you can get them starting weeks in advance. the tradition is for a child to hide under the table while the cake is being cut, and he distributes the cake by calling out the names of the people there as the slices are distributed. the cakes are always sold with a paper crown ; whoever gets the fève in their piece gets to wear the crown and is the king of the day. galettes are available from the bakery in different sizes depending on how many will be eating it, so there is no danger of the fève being lost in a leftover piece.

12-17-2008, 10:40 AM	#52
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	I've just this minute been the recipient of another UK Christmas tradition - there's no end of them! Every year managers throughout the land send workers a seasonal message thanking them for their efforts throughout the past twelve months. They always end the same way - '.. but if you thought this year was bad; you ain't seen nothing yet. Oh, and if you thought you'd see a pay rise anytime soon you can forget it! See you when I return from the Bahamas. Happy Christmas, Love from Your Boss' Never fails to give me a warm feeling inside (heartburn).

12-17-2008, 06:15 PM	#55
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	I think I"d like to spend Christmas in the UK just once to taste their food. How exotic!

12-18-2008, 05:43 AM	#58
mjh215 Guru Posts: 988 Karma: 12653 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: None of your business	Doesn't the majority of British cuisine consist of gyros and curries now? -MJ

12-18-2008, 08:30 AM	#59
HappyMartin Martin Kristiansen Posts: 1,546 Karma: 8480958 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Johannesburg Device: Kindle International Ipad 2	English cooking has a bad reputations but they make lots of fine things. English deserts, especially the hot ones, are wonderful and English breakfasts are the best if you are facing a hard day. Christmas mince pies, steamed Christmas puddings and trifle, yummy.