Welcome …The big day is nearly here so I guess this will be the last Christmas Traditions and Treats for this year…I would like to thank everyone who has commented and contributed to these posts it has mad the time spent writing them very worthwhile and I have also got to know some of you that little bit better.
I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Christmas Jumper CornerThis week is a bumper week I have two photos of my great nieces in their jumpers and are they, not the cutest little people just gorgeous and of course my nearly resident guest ( he featured) most weeks the lovely Hugh…
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My two Christmas menus have been a great hit over at Sally’s and Sally herself in her 12 days of Christmas has pulled out a few nice dishes…This one has a lovely recipe for eggnog and Jacquie Biggar who is featured also today posted her recipe for eggnog french toast...Yummy is not the word it looks awesome…How about that for a Christmas Morning breakfast?
Did you know? I didn’t until recently and I think it is so lovely…
NORAD’s “Santa Tracker” was started quite by accident due to a misprint in the newspaper. A 1955 Sears advert was supposed to print the number of a store where children could call and tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas.
The number printed was to the hotline of the Director of Operations for the U.S. Continental Air Defense. Colonel Harry Shoup ordered his staff to give the children updates on the flight coordinates of Santa.
That was how this tradition began and continues until this day. NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) continues to provide flight updates on local news, the Internet, and even a special iPhone application every Christmas.
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Father Christmas or Santa Claus is what I have always known the man in the red suit as…Not so in the rest of the world, Santa goes under a few different guises…
Today I am going to take you on a little trip around the world just to give you a flavour of the foods served and how some of the customs vary from what we know..all very interesting, some delicious foods and the different names our beloved Father Christmas is called…
Santa Claus is someone who will remain in the hearts of children forever. He is the make-believe person ( or was he?) who brings toys and other gifts to children at Christmas.
Santa Claus also has some other names: Saint Nicholas, St. Nick, Kris Kringle, Pelznickel.
Two of his names — Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas — both come from the Dutch who settled in New York long ago.
The Dutch believed Saint Nikolaas gave gifts to children. They honoured this kindly saint with a yearly festival on December 6th. The English-speaking people who lived nearby greatly enjoyed Dutch festivals. And they brought the saint and the custom of giving gifts into their own celebration at Christmas time.
England, of course, knows him as Father Christmas… Turkey, roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, stuffing, cranberry sauce, Brussel sprouts, mince pies, Christmas pudding and trifle being favourite foods at Christmas.
In Brazil, he is called Papai Noel… or Bom Velhinho (Good Old Man).
The Christmas meal is also served on the evening of the 24th rather than the 25th and consists of a Chester( chicken) Salted cod balls, no roast potatoes but cold potato salad and instead of gravy farofa, a mix of fried cassava flour and chopped bits of crispy bacon. Cabbage is replaced by kale heavily flavoured with salt and garlic.
A custom in Brazil which I am sure that many would love to have that same custom where they live is that it is common in Brazil to get a ’13th salary’ at the end of the year – i.e. in December you get twice the normal amount of pay for that month!
The idea is to help boost the economy around Christmas. This has been going on for decades and most people don’t even question that other countries might not do it!
Favourite Christmas foods in Brazil include pork, turkey, pork, ham, salads and fresh and dried fruits. Everything is served with rice cooked with raisins and a good spoon of “farofa” (seasoned manioc flour.) Popular Christmas desserts include tropical and ice cream.
Hawaii the jolly, white-bearded man is called Kanakaloka he, however, does not wear the traditional red suit we all know and love but flowery Hawaiian clothing…
And on the Christmas menu here it is a traditional lu’au, complete with a pig roasted in an underground pit, chicken long rice, lomilomi salmon accompanied by the traditional Hawaiian music and Santa arrives in a red canoe…
How cool is that???
In Hungary, the Winter grandfather( Mikulas) comes on the 25th and only to good children and there is no jolly Mrs Christmas but a scary assistant called “Krampusz”…
Christmas fare in Hungary is Fish soup, stuffed cabbage, fried fish and rice, other meats(Pork, Chicken) an elaborate fruit topped Christmas cake, gingerbread cookies, Bejgli with walnut or poppy seeds( which is the traditional Hungarian Christmas cake)
India Baba delivers presents from a horse and cart and of course, the menus are spicy with spicy dumplings and curries, Biryani, poda, mathri and lots of other yummy sweet dishes.
Lastly, in Italy, he is called Babbo Natale… Doesn’t it just roll off the tongue???
There is no Christmas like an Italian Christmas…Christmas Eve sees the feast of the seven fishes swordfish, tuna, salmon, octopus salad, smelts, calamari, spaghetti with clam sa
Christmas Eve sees the feast of the seven fishes swordfish, tuna, salmon, octopus salad, smelts, calamari, spaghetti with clam sauce and the famous Italian classic—salted cod, known as baccala. Followed by the sweet treats galore biscotti, pandoro, torrone (nougat candy) and almost always a candied loaf of panettone…
The Christmas day lunch lasts for hours..those Italians can certainly eat…
I think I will stop there… Because after Christmas there is Boxing day..phew that is some eating fest…
I hope you enjoyed this little trip around the world…
What are your Christmas traditions????
Over at John Reibers House, it is going to be his delicious potato dish and one I am definitely going to try as it looks just awesome…
Did you know?
You can thank Prince Albert for your Christmas tree.
Did you Know?
In the world, there are two islands that are named ‘Christmas’ – one is in the Pacific Ocean and the other in the Indian Ocean.
Did you Know?
The Rubik Cube was the highest selling Christmas toy in 1980. That time it sold for $1.99 and today it retails for $10.
Thank you so much for reading and contributing to these posts I hope you all have an awesome Christmas and a fantastic 2019 xxx
And don’t forget to leave Santa a Mince Pie and a carrot or two for his trusty reindeer xxxx
About Carol Taylor:
Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them.
I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetable ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling.
Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use contain to improve our health and wellbeing.
Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!
Retired? No one told me! 
I didn’t know about NORAD! We often have tamales, chili and margaritas on Christmas Eve. Not very spiritual, I know! All the best to you in 2019. Thank you for your support of my blog.
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Likewise wishing you a joyous and healthy New Year…I think you should eat and drink whatever you like on Christmas Eve ..Chilli and a Margarita or two sounds good to me…Tamales I haven’t tried but think it is time I did 🙂
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What a treasure trove of fun, Carol. Lovely traditions, delicious food, and that bevy of beauties and their Christmas sweaters. (Fun surprise to find lovely Hugh here.) 😀
I’m very intrigues by the Brazilian dishes. Wishing you a magical Christmas. Hugs!
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Thank you, Teagan..Yes, Hugh has popped in a few times over this series…Merry Christmas xxx
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Thank you for sharing your traditions for Christmas. Have a Merry Christmas and a healthy New Year. HUGS
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Thank you, Chuck and a Very Merry Christmas to you and a Happy and Healthy New Year …Hugs x
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Merry Christmas, Carol!! Your nieces are gorgeous! And Brasil’s 13th salary sounds like an excellent idea to me!
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Me too…Fat hope of that though…lol..Yes, they are I hope you have a wondrful Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year x
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You too, CArol!!
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Thanks for all the Christmas traditions posts you have published over the last month, Carol. I’ve enjoyed reading all of them and am very happy to have been a part of them. Learning about how others around the world celebrate Christmas is very interesting. I certainly won’t be forgetting to leave Father Christmas a mince pie and glass of port on Monday night. Oh! I won’t forget carrots for the reindeers either.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you. 🎅🎄✨
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Thank you, Hugh I have enjoyed writing them . Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and prosperous New Year 🙂
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Lovely!
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Merry Christmas Carol to you and your family. xxx
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Merry Christmas to you and the family Carol. Xx
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Those two little cuties are adorable Carol! I love their Christmas sweaters! I don’t think that I would have liked to grown up in Hungary! And all of the fish in Italy… I don’t know about that either. Don’t get me wrong, I like fish and all but I will stick with our turkey. But isn’t that the point? We grow up and end up loving our traditions. Every Christmas, my mom baked me her shortbread cookies and that is saying something since she didn’t particularly like cooking or baking! I think I would have liked to visit Hawaii for Christmas though. Merry Christmas! xo
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Yes they are so cute and you are right, Lisa it is what makes us individuals and unique with our own special memories and traditions …I hope you have a great Christmas, Lisa with lots of treats and icecream…Much love and hugs xxxx
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Dear Carol, the kiddies are adorable!
That was an awesome run-through of various international holiday traditions and menus.
Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy, and productive year!
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Dear Dolly, yes they are…Thank you and thank you for your kind words and support throughout the year…I would also like to wish you and yours a happy, Joyous and healthy New Year xxx
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Thank you so much!
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I think I must be a closet Italian. Their idea of Christmas is right up my alley 🙂
Thanks for this fascinating journey around the world and for sharing my French Toast with your readers.
Merry Christmas!
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Yes, I don’t think I would be able to get up from the table after all that and would probably be under it…lol but a fabulous way to enjoy your food. You are welcome it looked so inviting and worthy of a share…Merry Christmas x
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Reblogged this on Jacquie Biggar-USA Today Best-selling author and commented:
Carol Taylor shares Christmas traditions around the world on her lovely #blog, Carol Cooks 2. Stop by for a visit, she’d love to hear from you 🙂
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Many thanks for the reblog, Jacquie…Enjoy your weekend x
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You too 😊
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Thanks for sharing my potato cake recipe – it’s on my list to make again this year!
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You are welcome , John it sounds like a lovely dish 🙂
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I LOVE IT!
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Thank you, Carol, for this lovely post. Merry Christmas to you all.
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Merry Christmas to you and your family , Robbie 🙂 x
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Its a very wonderful posting, Carol! Most of the things a never heared before, but they a very important to understand Christmas. Thank you very much. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you too. Michael
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Thank you so much, Michael I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year 🙂
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Thank you Carol! You too. 🙂 Michael
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Loved this delicious trip around the world. My Christmas food tradition is making springerle cookies. My mom probably had an old family recipe from my dad’s German side, but I just use a recipe I found online. I would LOVE if you kept your foodie ears open for a good springerle cookie recipe, as I wasn’t over the moon about mine this year. Your post has inspired me to do some seafood for Christmas eve!
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I have never heard of springerie cookies , Rebecca but have googled it ..They look like very pretty patterened cookies with an anise favour and look like shortbread.. I hope you enjoy your seafood it makes a lovely starter 🙂
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine and commented:
Carol Taylor with the last of her Christmas traditions and recipes… a great series with lots of interesting snippets to enjoy…
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Thank you, Sally…Hugs xxx
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