@Lynoure:
“We’d get some toy presents already on Christmas Eve morning”

Hehe, you were even more impatient than the rest of us :) That’s great!

@Shirley:
I have to agree with everything on your list.

It’s great that there are times like this that are mostly devoted to the family and spending time with loved ones. And luckily it doesn’t have to end when the Christmas holidays are over.

@Dren:
Celebrating Christmas twice a year! That sure is something special. Thanks so much for sharing your traditions with us! I love this comment – I learned so many new things by reading it.

@Shane:
Hehe, it sounds that you guys are having relaxing, nice holidays even if you can’t quite decide on whether you want to celebrate them or not. And I think that’s what really matters: having some time for yourself and your family.

Hmm… I can’t quite find the common denominator between all the options Julie is considering… :)

@Bob:
Thanks, Bob! Merry Christmas to you too!

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

As in all good marriages, though I fought off the Christmas tree in my house for years, it has finally manage to sneak its way into our living room. I like like the smell, but its an eyesore.

We visit julie’s family. Mostly it is just hang out time. Read, watch movies. We played charades last night with the extended family, which was fun. There is nothing like watching your conservative father-in-law be a good sport and act out “Debbie does Dallas” when he landed the card. Oh and the caramel – I don’t care for chocolate, but most of Julie’s extended family makes home made caramels each year and they are yummy.

Other specifics – Julie’s sister has master this recipe for orange rolls. they are yummy.

Right now – hot tub, then we go try bowling … not sure how it will work out but I’m game.

How’s that? Well since the catholic xmas and the orthodox one are celebrated at a different day, I get to enjoy both, celebrating the first one my catholic friends, and sharing the bliss and happiness with my family and orthodox friends for the other, just two weeks later :)

So, this is how it looks like when orthodox are celebrating Christmas:

1. Orthodox Christmas is all about tradition, family&friends, good will and lot of good times! We, in Macedonia, celebrate it on 7-th of January according the Julian Calendar.

2. Kolede Fires! – actually celebrations in Macedonia start in the evening on 5th of January. Large fires are set in every neighborhood, around which people dance, sing and drink warm rakija (Macedonian homemade brandy). These fires should chase the evil spirits from the Earth.

3. Kolede Singers – in the morning next day, 6th January, small children are going from a home to a home in their neighborhood, knocking at the doors and singing Kolede songs. The home-owners give the children candies, sweets, fruit and coins.

4. Badnik – with the ritual of the kolede singers begins the celebration of Badnik – the day that announces the Birth of Jesus Christ – Christmas. The same morning (on 6th of January) in every place in Macedonia people gather in front of the temples of the Macedonian Orthodox Church to sing traditional songs and dance folk dances.

These people carry Oak tree branches. The oak tree represents good health, wealth, happiness and love.

5. The Badnik Godfathers – for every year every town appoints its own Badnik Godfather (usually a public person). The old Badnik Godfather comes in front of the Church in a pajton (a horse-drawn carriage) and gives the Badnik Cup to the newly elected Badnik Godfather. Afterwards, the people, together with the priests and famous show business persons continue the Badnik celebrations.

6. The family dinner on Badnik – Badnik is the only holiday when you can find rich and poor gathered on one place. In the evening on Badnik, the closest family is gathering around the Badnik dinner. We usually gather under the roof of my dad’s parents, so there are 3 more families, my uncle’s, my aunt’s and our (my dad’s :)). So it is a full house event and it’s always full of jokes and laughter!

7. The food for Badnik evening – fish, products of Macedonian zimnitsa (homemade conserved vegetables stored for the Winter, including turshya and ayvar), fruit and wine are served for Badnik dinner.

8. Hidden Coin Bread – the main event at this dinner is the cutting of the Christmas bread on pieces for each member of the family, one for the home and one for Jesus Christ. Inside the Christmas Bread there is a coin. There is a belief that who ever finds the coin in his/her piece of the bread will have luck the whole year. The coin is put in a glass of wine and the lucky person should drink from the wine. (By the way – not once did I get this stupid coin! I always suck at whatever requires lucky wins!)

9. Christmas day – the next morning is Christmas, family holiday when family is paying visits to their closest relatives or friends. (Man, do we always get stuffed on all these lunches, dinners, fests! It’s like the hosts compete among each other who will prepare the most delicious foods and who will bake in larger amounts.)

10. What can I say, but – I just can’t wait for 5th January to arrive! :) And to all of you celebrating Christmas today:

Merry Christmas and peace to everyone!

1. Food – of course. While many people love traditional ham, or turkey, many of us also experiment with eating our favorite foods like lasagna and prime rib.

2. Music. Christmas carols are playing on the radio 24 hours a day. Everyone seems to be caught up singing and laughing.

3. Family. Whether you visit them, call them or send them a card, family is in your thoughts and your hearts this time of year.

4. Playfulness. Mischievous elves sometimes hide presents and leave riddles to send you on a hunt to find them.

5. Candy, cookies, pie and yummies. We all love chocolate, pecan pie, sugar cookies and all sorts of yummy goodies. There’s always way too many to choose from!

6. Christmas movies. We love gathering together to watch our favorites from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” to “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” and “A Christmas Story.”

There’s much more, but it’s about time to rejoin the fun. Have a very Merry Christmas everyone!!

- We’d get some toy presents already on Christmas Eve morning. I guess my mother found out it makes us nicer and more patient.
We’d actually wake up ~5am, sneak the presents from under the tree, played with them a bit quietly, and fell back asleep.
In the evening we’d visit the grandparents and get the more boring presents (+ usually one or two fun ones still).
- Ginger bread dough was made for Independence day (Dec 6th) in order to make a ginger bread house. Sometimes house got made, sometimes the dough got eaten instead.
- Ham
- Chocolate
- Fazer green balls!

Now:
- Christmas is about the only time I eat chocolate.
- I give presents if I run into perfect ones, but don’t go present hunting at all.
- I get hardly any Christmas presents, and that’s ok too.
- The day(s) get spend leasurely at home and in the days between Christmas and New Year I usually visit my mother.