What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Hi Everyone,
I'm curious what your Christmas traditions are currently - old and new. My only references are books of English traditions, Charles Dickens, those totally yummy mince pies, and the annual tragedy on Eastenders.

I'm from New England originally and we have a fish dinner Christmas eve (my Italian husband's tradition). Then off to midnight mass. Next day, open presents with hot cider, hot chocolate, or coffee with sweets and donuts. For Christmas dinner we have the turkey with all the trimmings, potatoes and gravy, peas, squash, rutabaga, and cranberry sauce. Lots of treats for dessert including pumpkin pie, apple cranberry raisin pie, cookies, etc.

Here in Texas, people are big on Christmas tamales, breakfast tacos, lots of Tex-Mex and Hispanic influences. People with European backgrounds have pretty much the same as above. Immigrants here were mostly from Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.

It's lots of fun to try other people's cultural traditions!

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Sherry is a traditional Christmas drink although I have had trouble finding it abroad in the past.

You probably won't find many pumpkins on the tables of the English at Christmas but Christmas pudding is traditional for afters. Brandy is poured over it and then the whole thing is set on fire before being dished up with brandy sauce. It's a little rich for some as it contains more than a little alcohol!

Boxing Day (and usually a day or two afterwards) involves carving up what remains of the turkey and making extra meals and sandwiches with the leftovers.

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Hope it hasnt changed much as I will be down for my first one in 20 years.

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Presents opened, gifts exchanged, Christmas morning.

Christmas dinner, which hasn't changed that much since Dickensian times.

Some watch the Queen's speech at 3 o'clock.

Party games, such as charades etc.

What has changed is that December 25th is the day when broadcasters probably get their highest viewing figures of the year, so they pull out all the stops, to try and make us tune in.

Besides the television, and the commercialism of what people think they want, it hasn't changed that much.

You'll still get people calling at your house carolling, houses are decorated, and generally people over indulge on the food and drink front.

Boxing day is a day for recovery. A walk in the fresh air, and traditionally a day of local sporting derbies.

Jesus!

Forgot him.

Some people go to church at midnight, on Christmas Eve.

Most of the things we do have a Germanic background, because of Prince Albert, though we do generally have an American bird on our tables, the turkey, and no longer eat goose.

Ye olde merry England.

Made even more merry by the mass consumption of Bailey's.

:D

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Watching all the repeat films that have been on 20 times throughout the year
oh and Garinda we will be having chicken or goose or venison if i can get hold of some again and dont knock the Bailey's:D
as usual i will be cooking the dinner too:D

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

If you go to the Market Hall, and get your order in now, they'll crochet you some.

;)

:D

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Is that before or after the research mick:D

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

instead of i stay in and have a quiet day to busy cooking to go out

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Get up around 9am open presents with a brew, have light breakfast around 12 noon watch anything but the Queens Speech,;) traditional Christmas dinner about 4-30pm, washed down with a bottle of White Wine, coffee and mince pies to follow

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

I've always found it easier to use scissors. Do you not get the presents wet, opening them with a brew?:)

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
chicken tikka masala :rolleyes:

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

thats a bit sharp for you, yerself, especially before dinner:p

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Its supposed to be our favourite takeaway K.S.H;)

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

I know, but can you really expect half of Lancashire to be eating turkey
I can't :D

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

They would if they wanted to be in an integrated society;) stuffing goes well with poppadoms, so I'm told:D

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Maybe it will be Medallions of Pork at Britcliffe mansions, as he seems to like medals.

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Now, that sounds like my sort of Christmas...followed by burritos for dinner, washed down with Pacifico Clara, while gazing out at a sparkling blue sea.

English Christmas traditions? Vastly overrated, in my opinion! :cowboy28:

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Do they sell them at Tesco?

:rolleyes::D

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Surely he wouldn't wear a medal from Tesco?

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Purloin of pork he would. Purloin of pork he wouldn't.

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

in that case you will like the Hispanic/Latino New Years day treat (supposed to be the best cure for a hangover) ... a chile flavoured tripe stew/soup
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menudo_(soup)

its popular here in California ,Texas and other south west States , the best stuff is said to be from the street roach wagons , ( reccomendation ....best eaten while wearing a blindfold) ;)

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Argument, separation, and divorce too, are other sesonal traditions we all enjoy.

:D

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

happy memories G. over 20 years since that happened to me a crimble:D

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

The traditions are as varied as the people .

For our family it begins with Mass on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning .
Opening presents .
Family gathering with greetings , mulled wine , dinner ( turkey and Christmas pudding , and the usual trimmings ) , crackers .
Then a relaxing afternoon with family chat .

I enjoy it .

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Wake up around 9, open pressies with a beer....(yes always opened pressie's with a can since I was old enough!!!:cheers:)

Ring every-one that I am not going to see and say Happy Crimbo/Thanks for my pressie then off round to me Mum & Dads house to have our meal cooked for us!! ;)

Watch the usual soaps/films while drinking wine and digesting my dinner until we get peckish again about 10pm then we usually have cheese and crackers with more wine!! Brilliant times........:D

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

I was with you up until the third sentence, sorry, soaps? (At any time never mind Christmas), forget it!
;)

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

yup hes venturing down below the border to have a shillelagh family xmas ... which means ..

eventually get to bed about 3am on christmas eve/christmas day morning .. due to neighbours son refusing to go to sleep and his pressies in my back bedroom ... and so waiting till he fast asleep .. and me and the neighbour hiking over the backs wi all the pressies that santa dropped off here cos next doors chimney closed off ...

nipping over to my nieces with her pressie ... and then going to the neighbours to exchange pressies ...

my brother picking me up to go to my sisters .. with pressies .. walk round to the other sis .. with pressies and for dinner ..

after an afternoon nap after stuffing ourselves on the traditional christmas day .. smoked salmon for starters, turkey, roast spuds, stuffing etc .. christmas pudding wi my sisters alcoholic cream for afters ..

walk round to the other sis's .. and party all night ..

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

But they are usually the best story lines of the year!!!! heeheehee!!! Usually a bit drunk by then anyway and we are all having a nap ready for more wine and food!!! :D;):D

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Forget the soaps concentrate on the real meaning of Christmas, YOUR CANS!

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Dunno perhaps he's got enough from Tesco already?:D;) usual christmas fare at our mansions no doubt, usual christmas washing up wi cashy, go oer to visit daughter n grandkids in morning, just normal crap ya do at xmas.:)

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Yeah they come in a big brown envelope, with bung oops i mean donation on the front.:D:D:D;)

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Mmmm. Lets see, cook dinner for me and her indoors, maybe watch a Jimmy Bond film ( there is bound to be one on somewhere), Maybe a few beers, and then on Boxing day wait for the adverts to change from sofas and beds to Holidays. Ahhhh the traditions of Christmas.
I wont put xmas or crimbo or any of the others as they just wind me up. :D:D:D

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Mrs H sometimes asks me to get a pound of tripe, while I'm up in Accy to make something similar. Never been minded to try it, but it looks pretty vile!

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

I love Christmas.

Discovering a nut in your stocking.

A sprig of holly on your crutch.

The frost, on the inside of the windowpane.

The skin floating to the floor, due to scurvy, looking like pretty snowflakes.

Praying that this year, you will get a goose.

Ding Dong Merrily on High.

Pass me the gin.

:D

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

The only other thing that is needed on Crimbo Day iare happy smiling kids as they got from Santa what they wanted. Oh and that includes those of you that are kids at heart.

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Do you actually think Spugs is ready for this Jen:eek::eek::eek::D

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Merry Christmas Mr Crachit:D

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

The same to you, Little Dorrit.

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Oh, and not forgetting your Tiny Tim.

Season's greetings to him too.

;)

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

What about Ebenezer G. :rolleyes:

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

That sounds like one hell of a Christmas party!

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Ahhh Christmas... I think of it fondly. Getting up to children creating a heap of rubbish, slaving over a hot stove then having an argument about absolutely everything. Having to be nice to other family members who have decended upon you. Everybody eating sooooo much they are fit to burst and can't move from the sofa leaving you with all the cleaning. Flicking though so many channels on the tv trying to find something interesting to watch. It was much simpler and happier when I was a kid, I don't like the grown up bit.......

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

I was going to post mistletoe, but didn't want to give people funny ideas.

;):D

Re: What are Lancashire Christmas Traditions and Foods these days?
 

Lots of venison in my freezer, and some moose which tastes even better in my opinion. But I think I'll go with the goose that made the mistake of not getting out of the way quickly enough when I pulled the trigger ... feel free to push the little bits of lead to the side of your plate.:D

What I miss most of all from my youth are the mince pies, the Christmas pudding, and the selection boxes. Oh, and the trifle and the marzipan on the Christmas cake.;)

And I will be celebrating Christmas .... no Happy Holiday:mad: bs at my home.