Christmas…Traditions,Treats…and Festive Fun!

Christmas Traditions treats and sweaters

This week I have lots of treats and traditions for you and a sprinkling of trivia…Where to start?

I have had a great response to my call out for  Christmas Jumpers OR is it Sweaters?… I think that is dependent on where in this big wide world you live… Do you call them Jumpers or Sweaters or more to the point what would you like me to call them?? Or shall we just beg to differ as we all know what I am talking about?

Christmas Jumper Corner:

You have probably noticed the two little dogs posing in their Christmas finery in the top image…Little Cubby belonged to Tori who writes some beautiful children’s books and Franck ( who never smiles) belongs to my son …Now Franck has a wardrobe many of us girls would envy a coat for every occasion and I haven’t seen him wear any with a smile…Yet!

 

Thank you to Franck, Cubby and Keto who make excellent models for showing us your Christmas finery …Applause xx

So come on let’s have your Christmas finery be it human or animal…xx

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Did you know? There are 12 courses in the traditional Ukrainian Christmas Eve supper, each of them dedicated to one of Christ’s apostles.

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Silent Night: A beautiful Christmas Carol…

Darlene said…

I love Silent Night but prefer it in German. The original version Stille Nacht was written 200 years ago, in 1818 by Pastor Joseph Mohr in the small Austrian village of Oberndorf, the music composed by his friend Franz Gruber. This popular song is 200 years old this Christmas!!

Darlene is the author of The Amanda Books and she has also followed my blog from day one…Thank you Darlene xxx

Hugh said:

As for a favourite version of Silent Night, I rather like the haunting version Sinéad O’Connor did. Listening to her singing Silent Night…

Do you have a favourite version of Silent Night…?

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Christmas Cocktails…Silent Night!

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Kivak is also known as Mutak or Xmas Catap is an unusual Christmas treat but not if you have a delicate tummy or are fainthearted…Made from dead fermented birds, preserved in a hollowed-out Seals body for a minimum of 3 months and often much longer. They taste like very mature cheese so I am told…

http://www.foodista.com/blog/2012/02/15/stinky-foods-10-weird-facts-about-kiviak

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Did you know the answer?…  Two of Santa’s reindeer are named after a weather phenomenon. Name the reindeer.

Tidalscribe did…Donner and Blitzen – thunder and lightning in German?

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My blogging friend Tanya who has an absolutely delightful name for her blog one of my favourite flavours for ice cream Salted caramel said…

This post has reminded me of Agatha Christie’s book The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding and Hercule Poirot s Christmas. Agatha Christie’s descriptions of food are as good as Enid Blyton’s whose books I adored as a child.

Books I haven’t read for many a year but they delighted me then and I think a lovely Christmas present for today’s child who loves books… some of the classics are timeless in their appeal don’t you think?

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Did you know? Most people think Japanese cuisine is relatively healthy and think seafood and rice. So it may come as a surprise to know that family Christmas tradition in Japan includes eating their big holiday meal at fast-food giant KFC!

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 Round glass Christmas ornaments were inspired by the shape of apples. Apples were the original Christmas ornaments, put on the tree to symbolize the Garden of Eden.

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I can’t think of anything that bacon doesn’t go with can you? One of our Christmas favourites and it has even tempted the man who hates dates but his love of cheese and bacon has overridden that and he had to admit that ” They are ok”..Really? How many have you eaten?

Although I did call them by their given name and didn’t just say dates wrapped in bacon and cheese…I like to vary the cheese… you can use cream cheese, cheddar or even a piece of blue cheese which is my favourite.

Devils on Horseback:

devils on horseback

  • 1 pack of pitted dates
  • 1/2 pack of regular (not thick cut) bacon, sliced into 1/4’s
  • 4 ounces of cheese…

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Let’s Cook!

Cut date halfway through and open them up.  Put a  teaspoon size piece of cheese inside. Wrap a 1/4 slice of bacon around the outside.

Secure each one with a toothpick or put five or six on a skewer. Place on a rack above a foil-lined pan to catch the drippings.

Bake for about 15 minutes, turn dates over and bake for another 10 minutes or so until bacon is crisp and dates are slightly caramelised.

Serve warm or at room temperature.

Enjoy!

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One of my favourite Christmas Traditions has to be the one that many people in Iceland uphold people will often exchange books on Christmas Eve, then spend the rest of the night reading them and eating chocolate…How good is that? x

The tradition is part of a season called Jolabokaflod, or “The Christmas Book Flood.” As a result, Iceland publishes more books per capita than any other country selling most of them between September and November.

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I hope you have enjoyed this Christmas post of Traditions and treats and I would like to thank everyone who has made a contribution I think most bloggers love it when you get some interaction with your posts it makes the time spent very worthwhile so thank you and please if you have any favourite Christmas Tips, recipes anything please share with us xxx

Thank you once again for reading this post I hope you all have a great weekend xx

 

21 thoughts on “Christmas…Traditions,Treats…and Festive Fun!”

    1. CarolCooks2 Post author

      Isn’t it just, Darlene?e..I loved it I hadn’t listened to that version before so I now have at least 4 favourite versions inc Stille Nacht….And of course a cocktail to sip while listening…lol x

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Pingback: My Weekly Roundup…Kiviak and Chrismas Jumpers… | Retired? No one told me!

  3. Jennie

    I absolutely loved this post, Carol. I have to side with Darlene on her favorite version of Silent Night – Stille Nacht. And I had no idea that round ornaments represented Eve’s apples. Then there is the new recipe I must make – dates and cheese wrapped in bacon. Yum. Of course you saved the very best for last, the tradition of books on Christmas in Iceland. ❤️

    Liked by 2 people

    1. CarolCooks2 Post author

      Thank you, Jennie I am pleased you enjoyed this post and yes I love the Stille Nacht version as well I am just a sucker for the pure sound of a choir boys voice… Enjoy your Sunday 🙂 x

      Liked by 1 person

      2. CarolCooks2 Post author

        I love that Church…my grandson from very,very young age loved churches and that used to be one of our favourite days out exploring churches…I was also a choir girl as was my son ..Memories Jennie are so special aren’t they ? Have a lovely Sunday 🙂 xx

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Hugh's Views and News

    Kivak? I think I will also pass on that one, Carol. I can think of far better things to put into cocktails.
    Thanks for the mention again. Now it’s December, nobody can have a grumble about it being Christmas, can they? Love the dog photos. My two dogs refuse to wear any clothes. How did I find out? They just won’t go to the toilet when wearing clothes.
    Here’s one of my favourite facts about Christmas Did you know that Tinsel was invented in 1610 in Germany and was once made of real silver? Yes, real silver. Can you imagine how much that would cost to buy? Thank goodness I don’t use the stuff to decorate my Christmas tree anymore. 🎄

    Liked by 1 person

    1. CarolCooks2 Post author

      Yes, I would think it is a very aquired taste, Hugh a bit like something the Thais make with fermented fish not for the faint hearted 🙂 Yes it was nice to get some Xmas Photos maybe I will get some more now.

      My dog wouldn’t take too kindly to being dressed up I don’t think ..lol..I didn’t know that about tinsel, thank you, Hugh it looks like you will get another mention you may soon become a permanent fixture at this rate 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Victoria Zigler (@VictoriaZigler)

    Thanks for featuring Kero (AKA Cubby).

    I don’t think it matters if you call them jumpers or sweaters. We all know what you mean. In my house the word used varies, because of hubby being Canadian and me British. Same with several other things. As long as everyone knows what you’re talking about, it’s all good.

    I don’t have a favourite version of Silent Night. Although, I posted a sweet version by then five year old Claire Ryann Crosby on my blog last Christmas.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. CarolCooks2 Post author

      I don’t either, Tori ..A jumper is a jumper unless it’s a sweater…lol..Not heard that version but will listen to it as I love Silent Night and you are welcome they are cute pictures 🙂

      Like

    2. Darlene

      Our house is the same, I’m Canadian and hubby is Britsh so we have two names for many things. Makes for interesting conversation at times!! Have a great Sunday!!

      Liked by 1 person

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