Welcome to 12 Days of an Adventures with Sarah Christmas!
To celebrate the holidays and count down to the big day on December 25, we’ll be sharing lots of festive cheer with you with a special feature each day. From the best Christmas dishes enjoyed around the world to our favorite festive movies and music, a look at the long history of winter celebrations to our own personal holiday traditions, we want you to get into the Christmas spirit with us.
To get things started, here are Sarah’s family Christmas traditions, which draw on her travel adventures around the world as well as her family heritage:
“I like to mix traditions from the different cultures that have influenced me, so our Christmas celebrations are a blend of unique elements. On Christmas Eve for example we have Italian tortellini soup, made with a clear broth that I prepare earlier in the week that I pair with tortellini from the store (or homemade, if there’s time).”
“On Christmas morning, we always put a piece of fruit in the toe of our stockings. This tradition comes from Britain and Ireland, where oranges were often considered a special Christmas treat. My dad used to say an orange was sometimes his main Christmas gift! We’ve added a twist by using unusual fruits, like a pineapple or even an avocado, turning it into a fun family joke.
For Christmas dinner itself, we honor my grandmother’s English heritage with prime rib and Yorkshire pudding. On the Slovenian side of the family, we include potica, a traditional Slovenian roll cake with a walnut filling. My grandmother used to make it, and it’s a favorite, so I either bake it myself or try to buy one if I can find it. Since I’ve spent time in many different countries, I always like to add something to the Christmas table that reflects the traditions of the different places we’ve lived.”
“Our family also attends church for Christmas Eve Mass, which has always been part of our tradition. On Christmas morning, we spend time opening presents, and in the evening, we enjoy dinner and play board games together. This is pretty typical, but it’s always special.”
Make sure to check back tomorrow for the next instalment of our festive series, we’re looking forward to spreading the holiday spirit with you all!
