December 28, 2004
The Christmas Season
I am still annoyed by folks jumping the gun on Christmas. Advent should be a time of expectation, not preliminary indulgence to a feast that then becomes a chore rather than a great delight. However, I am finding myself more annoyed by the abrupt closure of public Christmas on the 26th. Many municipalities collect old Christmas trees even before the 12th day of Christmas. It is a season and should be enjoyed as such.
Anyway, tomorrow we are having one of my favorite Christmas treats: goose carnitas tacos. I take leftover goose, chop it up, add cumin, onions, Mexican oregano and chipotles and fry it in goose fat. Then we have it on tacos (homemade tortillas this year) with onions, cilantro and guacamole. Each bite is pure yum. Then we finish with Mexican hot chocolate. If I am particularly motivated I will also make chicharrones in salsa verde.
Posted by erik at December 28, 2004 12:34 AM | TrackBackHave you ever had champurrado? It is a blend of cornmeal gruel and mexican chocolate served hot - very delicious.
I have in my freezer two venezualan tamales - a Christmas gift to me from one of our translators. I gave her in return a quart of posole.
I love Christmas food! We are still nibbling on the last of our standing rib roast. THe last step will be to devil and roast the bones.
You can see my thoughts on the same subject by going to tcrnews.com and punch in "Eclipse of an Icon".Blaessed Christmas!
Posted by: peter wilson at December 30, 2004 5:38 AMWhen I was in Rome in 2002, all the nativities were still up until Candlemas.
We try to keep Advent, then celebrate AT LEAST until Epiphany, but our neighbors look at us oddly because the Christmas tree is still lit well past Jan 1.
My son complained so much about no Christmas music after Dec 25, that one of his Christmas gifts was a selection of Christmas music on DVD so he can hear it longer. (We resolutely tuned out those radio stations playing Christmas music beginning on THANKSGIVING.)
We put up the tree on the last Sunday of Advent, but no lights were turned on (other than the obligatory and much dreaded "light check" after the guys put them on the tree) until after evening prayer on the 24th.
You said it! I lived in Poland during Martial Law. There was hardly a sign of Christmas till the last week of Advent. The good thing about this is that the Christmas season lasts longer AFTER Christmas as it should, with carols being sung till Candelmas, I believe. BTW, the Poles have the largest number of Christmas carols, they are even divided into subcategories, such as home, church, pastoral...there may be even more.
Posted by: Mark R at December 28, 2004 7:45 AM