As I open my son's backpack to see what treasures he's come home with this time (What would it be? Wet socks? Forgotten food? Overdue library books?) I discover, via a cheerful note, it's the annual class luncheon! Yes, parents! Share your family Christmas Eve food traditions! Bring enough for you and 6 people! No pressure!
I added the last part because, really, I am feeling the pressure. Why, you may wonder? Allow me to introduce myself, and my husband for that matter - Hi, we are the Borings. Perhaps you have heard of us? No? That's because there is nothing to hear.....seriously. If we were a colour, it would be beige - not oatmeal, as it has too much "texture". We don't follow any religion, custom or tradition - and I have never felt the need to until this damn luncheon.
I feel like I should write my son a letter, to apologize for short-changing him somehow because we don't light anything in recognition of, or abstain from something to remember, or go to a gathering to sing and praise. We do not bake the bread of our ancestors; or serve the meal that our forefathers supped on many a cold night during the potato famine, for all they had was cow dung and bay leaves to make a broth from (or something like that). Am I robbing my son of rich delicious traditions that could make a warm family fabric to cover him in?
As I pour over cookbooks, trying to conjure up some inspirational dish to pass off as a diverse family recipe passed down by numerous generations, I have to wonder - why I am sweating this. Is it because I am worried that my dish, my meager offering, will be judged by my son's classmates' parents? Yes, that is absolutely it. Seriously.
The sad thing is, I did grow up with two festive holiday traditions that I cannot bring to a grade one luncheon : my grandmother's flaming plum pudding (rum + matches=open flames) and my parents' beer-batter fondue (sharp spear-like forks dipping raw meat into hot/boiling oil) - on second thought, my son would absolutely love it (food for thought).
I will post my recipe of choice in the next few days as I am still trying to find something believable (and appropriate) to bring. Wish me luck.
Bwaaa haa haa - I laugh 'cause I relate! Don't know what Christmas Eve food traditions would look like. From my house, it could very well be take out pizza! Send along some hot dogs and see who's the most popular Mom!
ReplyDeleteGawd, we must be related. Quinn comes home and asks us "what our food is". Um, how about chicken wings? Roger is from Quebec, so we could bring some head cheese or tortierre. Who would eat that crap though? Add in that you and I should chat so we can at least eat each other's gf food and we should just bring what we like to eat! Good luck.
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