Christmas in our house follows a set pattern. It was the same this last year. On Christmas Eve, we go down to the church in the afternoon and set up the candles. Then, in the evening, it’s the Carol Service: the glorious Christmas readings and the best of the carols with everyone giving it all they’ve got. Once home after the service, despite the slightly hoarse voices, supper is always something special (this year, it was Soo’s and Tim’s special invention involving fried Camembert cheese, garlic sausage, asparagus and onion chutney – unbelievably good!!), alongside what we call ‘pickie’: that means all sorts of cold things that we each pick through and make wonderful sandwiches or whatever we fancy.
After a night’s sleep (eventually), we get up (It used to be that the children woke us but now I wake most people.) and eat croissants for breakfast. Somehow the tradition of croissants for Christmas Day breakfast has grown up and it cannot be broken! It’s so important, in fact, that, this year, Kat actually made them herself and carefully transported them all from London
After breakfast, we go to church. Christmas Day without Church is unthinkable and it’s a family event. Then, once we’ve wished everyone a ‘Happy Christmas’, played with the children’s presents and counted how many santas Wendy is wearing this year, we’re off home and the place we all pile into is the kitchen. Christmas dinner just wouldn’t be a special dinner if it weren’t prepared ‘en masse’ by the whole family. So, a couple hours later, when one has created the most wonderful stuffing in the world and another has magicked a pile of potatoes into glorious, crunchy roasties and another has made the table beautiful while someone else again has carved the meat…. Christmas dinner happened.
There were meats and vegetables and sauces; there were puddings and cream; there were wines and juices to drink and crackers to pull and silly jokes to share. Presents came next, then Christmas cake, then chocolates. It was Christmas Day!
We got an extra treat this year. As it was Tim’s 30th birthday (30 years old – how did that happen?!) just after New Year, we threw a surprise birthday party for him on Boxing Day. It had to be that day because that was the only opportunity for us all to be together. The party mainly consisted of a feast of all his favourite foods. They aren’t normally served together but on this occasion, it didn’t matter: that was all part of the fun. So, Middle Eastern dishes rubbed shoulders with Indian ones, alongside the steak and kidney pudding, Italian salads and a tarte au citrone and, of course, it was completed with a big birthday cake. The cake was decorated with, not just ‘Happy Birthday’ but a quote from Psalm 30 (where else?) to praise God for the blessings of the last 30 years.
God and food.
Family and church.
I couldn’t imagine Christmas any other way. I know other families have other traditions but I don’t want to change ours. I think it’s a good pattern for the whole year, in fact. Special foods mark the special family occasions, both at home and at church. Christmas cake marks Jesus’ birth (it’s His birthday cake really) and bread and wine mark His death. A special time just isn’t special unless we’re together. So that birthday party had to be when we were all here. In the same way, we had to gather with our brothers and sisters to celebrate the coming of our Saviour into the world.
God and food. Family and church. They go together. They make things special. That’s the way God made us. That’s why we celebrate as we do.
I wish a glorious and blessed 2009 to all my brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s wonderful to be in the same family as you all!
Liz Edwards
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