As we make our final preparations for the big day tomorrow, we’re closing out our Advent series with an look into Sarah’s family Christmas traditions. Her travel adventures around the world, and learning about other traditions from the people she has met mean she now incorporates lots of different celebration styles, as well as those from her family heritage:
Sarah’s Christmas Celebrations
“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.”
Thank you for joining us as we have counted down to Christmas Day. If you missed any of the posts in our Advent series, you can catch up with them all here. We hope you have a wonderful time however you are celebrating, we wish you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year from the Adventures with Sarah team!
