Gabby you explained this so so well. As a Brit living in the states, sometimes Christmas here feels so weird not having the full uk dinner. One year we told my grandad that we had lamb for Christmas dinner and he replied with “oh so you’re not celebrating Christmas today?” ha! I miss it and also enjoy making up our own mix and match of both sides of our family x
Haha it really is a lynchpin not at all recognized in the US! I’m very curious about expats impression of American Christmas if you have any other observations you’ve made during your time here!
Loved this article. You did a perfect job of explaining the puzzling and complicated relationship we have to Christmas meals as Americans.
I wanted to add one thing, I am a Scandinavian Minnesotan, and in my family growing up Christmas Eve was always the big event. Church at 3/4pm, then a big Christmas dinner and present, with desert and coffee and games going. Into the wee hours. We always had Swedish meatballs on my dads side, and ham on my moms. So we did have a formal dinner with a mostly static menu and it included things like lefse, lutefisk, etc. Christmas Day always felt a bit boring/stressful to me, a whole day with nothing to do and nowhere to go. I wonder how many other Americans brought traditions with them from wherever their relatives came from. Love your tamale tradition! I really enjoy all the many different foods we can include as a country that includes people from such varied backgrounds. It’s a beautiful thing.
Julfrokost (Christmas lunch) is a massive thing in Denmark with a very strict menu. I've always found it interesting too --- people have several throughout the month. Usually in small groups of friends (your high school friends, then your college friends, then your work colleagues etc) and then finally the big family meals on the holidays.
The US is definitely a patchwork quilt of holiday meals! Since my Dad's side of my family is Norwegian-American, we always celebrated Christmas with lutefisk and potato klubb. But on my mom's side of the family it was much more informal with an ever-rotating buffet of dishes.
Reading your article made me think about how much I appreciated that our traditional "Norwegian-American" Christmas dinner was always the same. I can recall the small of my grandma's house on Christmas day while the klubb simmered. You might have inspired me to try making it this year 🧡
A lot of my Minnesotan friends from high school would make something from their Scandinavian heritage— I distinctly remember some kind of Swedish pancake??? Maybe I’m making that up. Anyway. Interesting that it’s similar in Denmark. I’d never heard of Julfrokost! Definitely going to be googling that now 🤓
Loved this and your wonderful description of the supermarkets gave me a new lens of nostalgia and joy on the sometimes maddening amount of commercialism that happens for Christmas here. I’m also amazed because I was sure we stole the traditional uk Christmas dinner from America !
We have the same meal every year - homemade manicotti (think crapes meet lasagna)... and when I say home made, I mean my mom makes every single ingredient from scratch. A side Caesar salad. Home made dressing, served first, of course. And lastly, home made bread with a butter board (half sweet, half savory). I look forward to it every year. <3 I love a tradition.
I always get a little overwhelmed when trying to explain to America what these stores are in general — let alone at Christmas time! So thanks for the validation haha! I like the idea of doing Mexican for Christmas. What’s on the menu?
Homemade guacamole, elote corn dip, sriracha & lime salad (alright not technically Mexican, but I figure the flavours will work 😅) and for main course it’ll be pork carnitas tacos 👏🏼
Gabby you explained this so so well. As a Brit living in the states, sometimes Christmas here feels so weird not having the full uk dinner. One year we told my grandad that we had lamb for Christmas dinner and he replied with “oh so you’re not celebrating Christmas today?” ha! I miss it and also enjoy making up our own mix and match of both sides of our family x
Haha it really is a lynchpin not at all recognized in the US! I’m very curious about expats impression of American Christmas if you have any other observations you’ve made during your time here!
Easily my favorite article ever. Perfect.
High praise from one of my favorite writers. Thanks for reading Brooke. Merry Christmas!
The warmth of it has really stayed with me. Obsessed. Merry Christmas, friend!
Loved this article. You did a perfect job of explaining the puzzling and complicated relationship we have to Christmas meals as Americans.
I wanted to add one thing, I am a Scandinavian Minnesotan, and in my family growing up Christmas Eve was always the big event. Church at 3/4pm, then a big Christmas dinner and present, with desert and coffee and games going. Into the wee hours. We always had Swedish meatballs on my dads side, and ham on my moms. So we did have a formal dinner with a mostly static menu and it included things like lefse, lutefisk, etc. Christmas Day always felt a bit boring/stressful to me, a whole day with nothing to do and nowhere to go. I wonder how many other Americans brought traditions with them from wherever their relatives came from. Love your tamale tradition! I really enjoy all the many different foods we can include as a country that includes people from such varied backgrounds. It’s a beautiful thing.
Such cosy reading, really enjoyed this. Quoting you've got mail is just *chef's kiss* for me. I mean that so sincerely.
Julfrokost (Christmas lunch) is a massive thing in Denmark with a very strict menu. I've always found it interesting too --- people have several throughout the month. Usually in small groups of friends (your high school friends, then your college friends, then your work colleagues etc) and then finally the big family meals on the holidays.
The US is definitely a patchwork quilt of holiday meals! Since my Dad's side of my family is Norwegian-American, we always celebrated Christmas with lutefisk and potato klubb. But on my mom's side of the family it was much more informal with an ever-rotating buffet of dishes.
Reading your article made me think about how much I appreciated that our traditional "Norwegian-American" Christmas dinner was always the same. I can recall the small of my grandma's house on Christmas day while the klubb simmered. You might have inspired me to try making it this year 🧡
A lot of my Minnesotan friends from high school would make something from their Scandinavian heritage— I distinctly remember some kind of Swedish pancake??? Maybe I’m making that up. Anyway. Interesting that it’s similar in Denmark. I’d never heard of Julfrokost! Definitely going to be googling that now 🤓
Loved this and your wonderful description of the supermarkets gave me a new lens of nostalgia and joy on the sometimes maddening amount of commercialism that happens for Christmas here. I’m also amazed because I was sure we stole the traditional uk Christmas dinner from America !
We have the same meal every year - homemade manicotti (think crapes meet lasagna)... and when I say home made, I mean my mom makes every single ingredient from scratch. A side Caesar salad. Home made dressing, served first, of course. And lastly, home made bread with a butter board (half sweet, half savory). I look forward to it every year. <3 I love a tradition.
As a Brit, I have nothing to add to your description of Waitrose/M&S Christmas food - honestly spot on, no notes.
This year we’ve decided to do Mexican food for Christmas Day, because we felt like it. Every time I mention it to someone, it blows. their. mind. 😂
I always get a little overwhelmed when trying to explain to America what these stores are in general — let alone at Christmas time! So thanks for the validation haha! I like the idea of doing Mexican for Christmas. What’s on the menu?
Homemade guacamole, elote corn dip, sriracha & lime salad (alright not technically Mexican, but I figure the flavours will work 😅) and for main course it’ll be pork carnitas tacos 👏🏼
Perfect quote to end on! Loved this read, Gabby.
Always Nora Ephron 🫶🏼