Shrimp for Christmas Dinner
Happy Monday everyone!
It's hard to believe that it is almost Thanksgiving, and then before we know it...Christmas. Is everyone ready? Christmas is my favorite time of year, and at the beginning of each season, I have to have a talk with myself and remind myself not to get stressed out! I am determined this year to bask in the spirit of the season and shed some of the worry that often comes with hurried shopping, organizing meals, putting up decorations, etc...
Last night, I spent some time on the phone with a friend of mine. Barbie lives in Lancaster County, and her husband, Elam, grew up Amish. He was never baptized into the faith, married Barbie, and they run Beiler's B&B in Lancaster County (which I highly recommend, by the way). Each year, they spend Christmas with Elam's family, who of course is Old Order Amish. Barbie grew up Beachy Amish, which is similar to Mennonite. I asked Barbie about some of their traditions, and they really aren't that different from other religions. While there isn't a Christmas tree, decorations are plentiful, and gift giving is based in financial status, but it's never extravagant.
When I asked her about the traditional meal, she said that Elam's family has shrimp every year for their Christmas meal, and that they aren't alone - lots of Amish families forgo the traditional turkey and dressing for something different at Christmas. The reason is - Amish weddings always take place in November and December, and the main meal for a wedding is turkey roast. Then there is Thanksgiving...more turkey. She said that they are always tired of turkey by Christmas, and shrimp has become the family tradition each year.
I've tried a few times to nudge my mother away from turkey and dressing at Christmas, since we just had it Thanksgiving, but that's not going to happen. It just wouldn't be Christmas for my mother if we weren't having turkey and dressing, so that's cool. But I was just curious...what's your Christmas meal? Is it the traditional turkey and dressing, or does your family have a special meal for Christmas besides turkey, dressing, and all the trimmings?
It's hard to believe that it is almost Thanksgiving, and then before we know it...Christmas. Is everyone ready? Christmas is my favorite time of year, and at the beginning of each season, I have to have a talk with myself and remind myself not to get stressed out! I am determined this year to bask in the spirit of the season and shed some of the worry that often comes with hurried shopping, organizing meals, putting up decorations, etc...
Last night, I spent some time on the phone with a friend of mine. Barbie lives in Lancaster County, and her husband, Elam, grew up Amish. He was never baptized into the faith, married Barbie, and they run Beiler's B&B in Lancaster County (which I highly recommend, by the way). Each year, they spend Christmas with Elam's family, who of course is Old Order Amish. Barbie grew up Beachy Amish, which is similar to Mennonite. I asked Barbie about some of their traditions, and they really aren't that different from other religions. While there isn't a Christmas tree, decorations are plentiful, and gift giving is based in financial status, but it's never extravagant.
When I asked her about the traditional meal, she said that Elam's family has shrimp every year for their Christmas meal, and that they aren't alone - lots of Amish families forgo the traditional turkey and dressing for something different at Christmas. The reason is - Amish weddings always take place in November and December, and the main meal for a wedding is turkey roast. Then there is Thanksgiving...more turkey. She said that they are always tired of turkey by Christmas, and shrimp has become the family tradition each year.
I've tried a few times to nudge my mother away from turkey and dressing at Christmas, since we just had it Thanksgiving, but that's not going to happen. It just wouldn't be Christmas for my mother if we weren't having turkey and dressing, so that's cool. But I was just curious...what's your Christmas meal? Is it the traditional turkey and dressing, or does your family have a special meal for Christmas besides turkey, dressing, and all the trimmings?
Posted by Beth Wiseman at 11/16/2009 7:58 AM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: An Amish Christmas Plain Promise An Amish Christmas Dinner Beth Wiseman Amish
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: An Amish Christmas Plain Promise An Amish Christmas Dinner Beth Wiseman Amish
We have fondue for Christmas!
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Hi Beth,
Thanks for sharing about non-traditional holiday meals! My family feels the same way about the Turkey! So, when my step-sister's family and my family get together, we usually pick a theme that's non-traditional and it is so much fun. Last year we had a Fiesta theme, we had a taco bar, chips, salsa, guacamole and cheese dip. Our husbands and kids loved it! It's all about celebrating Jesus and spending time with family. I appreciate spending less time cooking too! May God Bless you and your family this Christmas Season!
Thank you for all of your books and your blog too,
Amber Mullis
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Hi Beth,
As our family tradition has had it for years, turkey is at Thanksgiving and ham is served for Christmas. Ham, twice baked potatoes, creamy green beans, cranberry relish and glazed carrots is an easy meal to prepare ahead so we can enjoy each others company the rest of Christmas Day. Happy Holidays and God Bless~
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Growing up we had turkey for Thanksgiving & ham for Christmas. But after I married into a large Hispanic family - tamales has become our traditional Christmas dinner (of course my "madre-in-law" makes them - not me!
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Well we do have Turkey and Ham but we also have several different things that all the family looks so forward to, they are pea dumplings, pintos and slaw, kraut and wennies, several people think we are strange but it is nice to have different stuff that everyone likes! I just feel it is whatever you want to have, as long as your families enjoy them together!
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Shrimp for Christmas sounds great, however, I am like your mother- I HAVE to have turkey for that special meal- then I have lots of left overs! The difference is that our Thanksgiving is in early October, so I am ready to cook another turkey meal. Due to my daughter's part time job, she does have to work on Christmas this year, so we are going to meet her in Niagara Falls about 7:30 and go to a local hotel for our dinner this year, then I will cook the turkey on Boxing Day- then we have two special days!! (University students take any shifts when they can make more money!!LOL)
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Sometimes we have turkey and dressing again at Christmas but it has become rather optional. One item that is not optional, that appears no matter what, is chicken and dumplings made from scratch ... no biscuit dough or other weirdness used to make them! It's a long time tradition my Granny started many moons ago and now my kids are as big of fans of them as I always was! Thanks for sharing your conversation with us!
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Hi Beth,
It was great hearing what the Amish do for the holidays. We like to keep it simple for Christmas, so we have Ham, mashed potatoes, carrots, peas, homemade applesauce, rolls, pies and cookies.
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We have the traditional turkey and stuffing. Sometimes a little ham as well. I love shrimp though, maybe I could add that in there this year.
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Beth,
It was fun to read your blog and the comments from readers today about their holiday dinners.
On Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve, my son and my daughter-in-law invite me to their house. She cooks a big meal and I go there with my elderly mom who LOVES what a fuss Rachel makes over cooking the traditional turkey dinner and decorating the house with her snowman and snow lady collection even though she's a busy mom of three. On Thanksgiving, my daughter eats at her dad and step-mom's mid-day and then comes to my house for another turkey dinner that evening -- and brings her plastic containers for leftovers! Isn't she clever? On Christmas Eve, my daughter and I decided to do something different several years ago and we loved it: I bought her a fondue set and we had cheese fondue, little meatballs, and salad, then chocolate fondue with Stella D'Oro almond toast cookies and several different kinds of fresh fruit to dip in the chocolate for dessert. We decided that would be a tradition for Christmas for a while...
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Christmas day, our daughter and her husband, and their two children and our son and his wife come for dinner.
We have a Prime Rib Roast for our meal.
It's so easy to make, just put it in the oven and when it's done the way you like it (we do med. rare) just slice and eat. We do oven roasted potatoes at the same time, right in with the roast. We also have stuffed mushrooms which my husband and daughter fight over to see who gets the most(even though we have two platefuls). I love having the family all together and laughing and enjoying each other.
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We grew up with the turkey and dressing and the whole nine yards, but now have done different things from wild game fondue to beef stew, which by the way was a hit with MOST of the family, with a few still stuck in a rut.
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With me and my family,it's usually always Turkey and the dressing, but, we also sometimes have Ham... Or sometimes we have both, turkey and the ham...
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Hi Beth,
Our Thanksgiving is traditional Turkey and dressing but our Christmas is OUR traditional ham. We have corn filling balls, mac & cheese, green bean casserole with a twist, cranberry sauce, and some other food, but we have the same thing every Christmas dinner and the day after. We celebrate Christmas at my home with my family and it is the most wonderful time. Playing games and chatting, what a wonderful time. I can't wait for the Christmas season either as this is my most favorite time of year also. I also have to remind myself to not be anxious and stay focused on the reason for the season, which above all is the birth of our Savior!
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