We always enjoy a traditional Latvian Christmas dinner of boiled turnips and tripe. I don't know why, since we are not Latvians! I once said to Mum, could we have a NOT SO traditional Christmas dinner with ham, turkey, Xmas pudding etc. Mum called me a blasphemed and the family stoned me to death, another Christmas tradition in our family, stoning family blasphemers. I didn't make the same mistake the next year, just ate my turnips and trip, so yummy!LOL

Dear Paul,

Thank You for sharing with us your family traditions
at Christmas. Turnips and tripe are meals that
are shared by many ethnic groups around the globe,
it's true. However, they are not a Latvian tradition
at Christmas. You're possibly confusing the countries.
Heads, brains, trotters and tripe are quite common in
Istanbul markets. Anyway, each to their own - turnips
and tripe are an acquired taste - and if that's you
and your families mouth-watering preference and food
choice at Christmas. We can't fault you for that.
Bon Appetite.

There are all sorts of Christmas traditions that others
might find rather quaint - aside from your turnips and tripe.

Like why would anyone think snapping the clavicle bone
of a dead bird is lucky? But this tradition predates
Christmas, going back to about 900 BC and the Etruscans,
who believed hens could divine the future.

More on that later on.

Again Thank You for taking the time to contribute to this
discussion. I learned something new about you.

It looks like this discussion is not going
to be taken up by anyone else. I'd like to
Thank the ones who did take the time to
contribute at this busy time of the year
and close - with one of my favourite poems:

Bush Nativity ...

The outback was buzzing with wonderful news
A wallaby passed it to two kangaroos
Spiny echidnas emerged from the ground
Busy young bandicoots bounded around
A web-footed platypus gazed at the view
Some fluffy-tailed gliders looked longingly too
Carolling kookaburras laughed with delight
Crimson rosellas sang right through the night
Along loped an emu as though in a dream
Koalas stopped munching to show their esteem
Dancing grey brolgas stepped forward and bowed
Bright-crested cockatoos chattered aloud
A possum quite joyfully pricked up one ear
And wide-eyed with wonder a wombat crept near
The stars of the Southern Cross pointed the way
to the Babe who was born on the first Christmas Day.

Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year Folks!

Take care.

Foxy, I was born in the bush and came to the big smoke (Sydney) when I was 5. For many years after we always returned to Granddads place for Christmas along with stacks of uncles and aunts, and a million cousins from all around who would be there for Christmas Day. Granddad always wanted and got a very traditional Christmas Dinner, even though it could be 110 in the shade, Christmas dinner could not be anything else than a hot dinner of turkey, ham etc etc and Christmas pudding, with threepence's and sixpence's inside, went with out saying all home made on a fuel stove by grandmas, mum and the aunt's. All this served at a great big table with a white linen table cloth (only used at Christmas). A beer for men and a cup of tea when they got a chance for the women, when they got a chance, and cordial for the kids.
I recall one Christmas dinner, one time, when an uncle came to the table wearing only a singlet on top, grandpa always said grace, but before he did, he looked at uncle and said "...where is you shirt!" Uncle who was about 35 replied "Dad its a 110 out side in the shade!" Grandpa said "Son, show your respect, a shirt now, or you do not eat at my table!" uncle got up immediately and went and put his shirt on.
cont

cont
This is a true story, the Latvian stuff was my dry humor. My oldest son wants to have Christmas at his house this year, as him grandmother died recently and I think he want's to do something special for his grandfather, his mothers father, not leave the old bloke on his own. At me wanting to know what my partner "T" wants for dinner (I've already told my daughter-in-law and she knows we eat everything) but boy (who is 31) thinks he is the catering manager, texting me. So I think I have nearly convinced him that "T" being Maori, like them Latvians, is a strange eater at Christmas, only eats 'poha and boil up' for Christmas dinner. The laugh will be on him. I've told him to get out there and gather lots of poha and get a mutton ready for the boil up, he can slaughter the poor animal Xmas morning. Children ha ha LOL.

Dear Paul,

Thanks for sharing your real Christmas traditions
with me. I'm relieved that you were only joshing
regarding the "Latvian" one. I would love nothing
more than to just stick to the traditional Christmas
lunch of Turkey, Ham, et cetera. But I do the Christmas Eve
Lithuanian stuff for my mum who's in her nineties
and it makes her happy. Your story about the shirt and
being 40 degrees in the shade reminds me of my own father
who was also a stickler for formality when it came to
special occasions like Christmas. He too used to get
all dressed for Christmas lunch - and would insist we do
the same. I miss dad dreadfully. He died of a massive
coronary at the age of 52 - back in the 1970s.

Again - Thanks for coming back to this discussion.
A big warm hug.