Kyndra Prietzel

English 1010

September 24, 2017

“My Christmas Egg Bake”

First, Christmas is an important holiday, isn’t it? What about the traditions? You

surround yourself with family, food, and festivities. There are Christmas trees, treats, and other

uplifting treasures of the season. Traditions, however, throughout the season are extremely

important. Most families’ traditions are tied into the holiday so it can become more memorable.

Some include different events like ice skating, baking goodies, or watching a Christmas movie.

Many traditions even include food, which isn’t a surprise. It is a way to get together over one

thing, and taste and share a nice treat. In my family, we have a special tradition that includes

food.

The morning of Christmas my mother arises early to bake a special breakfast. In our

family, we call it “egg bake”, it is a mixture of eggs with ham and a bottom layer of cooked

bread crumbs. Other foods are served with it including croissants, strawberries, and toast. We all

wake up, and travel down to the kitchen with as much energy as we can muster at six in the

morning. It’s the only day where our vitality is pumping a million miles per second. It’s

Christmas, and this holiday definitely has an effect. Our whole family surrounds the table,

waiting to dig into the food that gives a thick, mouth-watering scent. We all want to savor this

glorious meal as we anxiously wait for the approval to start eating. Once we start eating it’s like

we can’t stop. This meal is our favorite, and brings out the Christmas joy and happiness in all of

us. It is scrumptious, delectable, and enthralling to bite into. This “egg bake” tradition has been
in my family for as long as I can remember. It gives us the opportunity to surround the table,

come together as a whole, and feast as a family.

From the very beginning this meal was important. It is significant to the family because it

originates from my grandmother. The recipe traveling down from my grandmother to my mother

is very important, and makes us feel love for the whole family, including our extended family.

My father always explains to the family how he always had this as a child, and how it brings

back such fond memories. His mom used to make it every Christmas morning when he was a

kid, and he loved it and still cherishes it. When he was young he would wake up early like we

do, and come running downstairs to eat some of the famous “egg bake”. The tradition is the same

in our eyes as we are children, and our mother wakes up early to cook the dish. It is a wonderful

experience that we all cherish. It, especially, enlightens my father to see his family gathered

around the dining table eating one of the richest memories he has from his childhood.

This food has more meaning that just a link to the past though. It has various meanings of

what my family truly is, and how it connects to all our lives. “Egg bake” expresses values; one

being family. “One of the main purposes of rituals, whether religious or secular, is to impart and

reinforce values. The same goes with family traditions” (McKay para. 16). The repetition of the

action enforces a permanent mark of how traditions should be. I believe this to go along with a

child’s idea of tradition, especially when I have experienced this when I was young. In a child’s

mind traditions are supposed to be permanent, but that only expresses the impact made. If

traditions have such an impact, and should be permanent in their minds then they should be with

good intent. With my “egg bake” tradition I have always thought families should be together on

Christmas. I’ve also thought that a Christmas cannot go without this meal as if they are a duo,

and that it is a necessity for the holiday to be perfect. It is a connection that links my whole
family and the season together. The food has strengthened my bond with family to the point

where I value the time we have together. Also, I admire the other traditions we do that influence

values of happiness, and love. This tradition of “egg bake” has allowed me and my family to

grow in our values, and to feel heightened together as a family.

As I mentioned before “egg bake” is the beginning of the holiday, one of the experiences

all of us wake up for to have and experience. It’s practically implanted in our minds the night

before that we will have “egg bake” the next morning. Early in the morning we awake to partake

of the delicious food, and before arriving in the kitchen its mesmerizing, tempting smell wafts

throughout the house. When we sit at the table together there is jolly Christmas music playing

lightly in the background, and everyone is having casual conversations about the food. We all sit

around and eat in our pajamas like little kids, hoping to rebuild the beautiful encounters we had

last year. Outside the window behind my father’s head snow is slowly drifting down onto our

wooden deck, and grass below. Everything is perfect. The way everyone thrills over the holiday

is magical, and the mood is always a heartwarming joy that cascades throughout the home.

“Sharing a family meal provides an experience that touches all of our senses – sight, touch, taste,

smell and listening to warm laughter or good conversation. Family meals help provide a regular,

consistent opportunity to create a shared experience that is meaningful and offers a sense of

belonging to all” (NDSU para. 1). “Egg bake” even with its melting texture can link a memory

box to Christmas. All the sights, smells, taste, and even touch can help me remember, and

become very familiar with the holiday. My family meal allows my feelings, and past experiences

to emerge so I can bond with Christmas, and with my family. It's a wonderful time to recollect

our past and our time together. Every little detail of the breakfast can focus on the memory, and

the affiliations I make with my family and with the association of Christmas traditions, and I
love doing so. I remember little things about Christmas from seeing, touching, and even smelling

things. My family meal is the centerpiece of the Christmas traditions that my whole family

cherishes.

Additionally, I am proud to have this tradition. Compared to others, it gives my family a

sort of uniqueness. I know most families have their own traditions, and that gives us all an

opportunity to share our special differences with others. This food resembles who I am, and who

my family is. It gives us a name, and a meaning. “The traditions that one family celebrates

differentiate from other families. These differences help to make families more distinctive.

Unique traditions, rituals, customs and foods help to define families and create a sense of identity

and belonging among family members” (CafeTraditions para. 3). My family knows that no one

else in our neighborhood is celebrating Christmas by eating “egg bake”. We all love how

different this is, and how odd it may be to others. I love explaining it to those who have never

heard of it before, and watch their curious faces light up with interest. I also love talking about

with my family before Christmas, and we get all excited. It gives us a pleasure to know that “egg

bake” is generally our “thing”. It creates a sublime peace between us knowing we can share this

wonderful food between us. Also, we love how it's so special, and keeps the Christmas memories

and traditions alive.

With my “egg bake”, traditions can live on, but only if we pursue to keep them alive. At

times, the world may become too busy or chaotic to recognize the importance of traditions.

Nevertheless, they cause an impact of remembrance to look back on the years to recollect the

encounters we faced, and what is truly important. There are times where occupations,

disruptions, distractions, and other unfortunate events cause us to halt in pursuing the traditions.

In the article “Balancing Act: The beauty of traditions-even if they take place in a mall” states,
“Traditions, by their very nature, press pause on all of that. They grant you the gift of

consistency so you can drink in the good stuff – the stuff that might otherwise get lost in time”

(Stevens para. 26). Other events, memories, and hobbies can disappear through time, but if

traditions are acted upon they are never lost. As said, they enable us to stop, and take in the

wondrous of their being. It allows us to forget the chaos, calamities, and catastrophes that exist

around us and to remember the good things that still live on, and can keep going if we wish. For

my family, we are able to forget about school, jobs, and other distractions and focus on the

upcoming traditions. Especially around the most wonderful time of the year we are able to look

forward to the time of food, fun, and festivity. The food prepared is one of our favorite traditions,

and enables us to forget the present and remember the past. It helps us to feel good about

ourselves, and our usual traditions. It makes us feel like a kid again. The food assembles us

together and gives a humble harmony to remember the times we’ve had together, and look

forward to the times to come.

As it is one of my favorite traditions, on Christmas morning the breakfast is one of my

family’s most memorable traditions. We all admire that it gives us deeper meaning, diverseness,

and a specialty. Furthermore, we all cherish the unusual, unique “egg bake” that defines us, and

gives an understanding of how we celebrate the holiday. Such a different ritual creates a strong

bond, and also a relaxation away from the bombardments of the world. It creates a sublime peace

that we can’t get in everyday life, where we don’t focus on the world or our work, but on a meal

and a holiday. “Some families are being encouraged to create new holiday rituals that help them

reduce stress throughout the year” (Collins para. 2). Though this tradition is not new, sitting

around the table, and eating a meal with everyone forms a sweet serenity of love. Everyone is

happy, and directs their attention on each other and the meaning of the holiday. This food creates
the beginning of where we can sit back, take a deep breath, and let everything go. Throughout

the year it gives a sense of comfort as well. It unwinds our stress, I have experienced it, and helps

us enter into a state of overall happiness. This feeling of relaxation helps me remember the

experience of eating “egg bake” with my family. Thereafter, when the time comes again we can

look forward to that great time of sitting at a table eating “egg bake” and relishing in that

relaxation. It is the time where we can finally let the world go, and not care because it’s

Christmas, and our time to breathe and take into consideration the beautiful things in the world.

More than relieving stress and defining my family, this meal is a fond memory of who I

am, and where I belong. It allows me to understand that this is my family, this is my meal, and

this is my Christmas. “If people do associate food with feelings and identity, celebratory meals

will always remain part of human culture” (Taylor para. 14). My meal is a symbol of my

belonging, and my identity. It validly, and vividly clarifies who, and what culture I belong to. I

am a part of the Prietzel family, and that is who I am. It gives a feeling of family, and security.

Through this food I know who I am, and how my childhood has affected as to who I am now. I

can turn different directions in life, but always come back to the traditions that will always

remain a part of me. It will forever be a part of my past and family that build up my personality.

It will always give me a unique meaning, and define me. “Egg bake” has given me the

opportunity to understand who I am, where I belong, and where I came from.

As part of my identity, my “egg bake” is the formal introduction to the day of Christmas.

It creates a harmony, a home of loving people, and a holiday tradition. After the sun rises my

brothers argue who will get the first piece of it, and who will eat the most. The food is a

thickening evolvement of emotions that link us together through time. We can always come

back, whether that's physically at Christmas time or resurfacing past emotions and memories. It’s
different, and special and no one else has that. “Differences between families' holiday rituals

often center on details that, while seemingly trivial, may be invested with strong emotion”

(Collins para. 4). This food is our central connection with each other no matter what day or age it

will be. The meal creates an emotion of belonging, and realizing the importance of family and

traditions. Though it is an inanimate object it still speaks to all of our hearts. Even the very sight

of the yellow-baked casserole brings back fond emotions from times pass. My “egg bake”

reminds me of my past, who I am, and where this food began. It began with my grandmother,

and now it is a tradition that I am positive will pass down in generations. I love my “egg bake”,

however, I love the meaning and understanding it gives more. It is a special Christmas

connection that we, the Prietzel family, all share together.

This tradition is extremely important to my whole family. It is something that I can’t get

anywhere else in the world. “Holiday traditions of cookie baking, candy house making and tree

decorating are important and meaningful. They are rituals that center us in a world that is

changing faster and faster, said Cindy Kaliff, counselor at Career & Life Options” (Anderson

para. 6). Though the topic is not about baking cookies, but eating “egg bake”, it still means the

same thing. This holiday tradition as stated above is like a family ritual that brings us together,

and make us one. Stated after that sentence from Cindy Kaliff is another indication that traditions

anchor a family in a culture (Anderson para. 7). This meal is not only a chance for me to get

together with my family, but to also “anchor” with me. Meaning it is giving me the chance to

bond with them again, and create a hold emotionally with them that I might have lost throughout

the busy year. This tradition grounds us, and helps us begin again or renew of how we feel about

each other, and enables us the opportunity to further a relationship that could or does mean a lot

to us. “Egg bake” is especially important in strengthening bonds, and centering around us to
come together again. It has been a part of our lives since forever, and part of lives before us.

“Egg bake” gives a rich, deep meaning of the holidays and what is truly important to us. What is

truly important to us? Family, and speaking for my family, we cherish and embrace the times we

have with one another.

From my grandmother, down to my mother the recipe hasn’t changed a bit. She created it

during her time of being a mother for her dear little children. Inspired to create something that

would draw the family closer together she invented the wonderful meal, “egg bake”. Ever since

then we have been doing the tradition and we don’t go a year without it, and I doubt we ever

will. It draws us closer together to remember the tradition of where this meal began, and why.

The dissolvement of the taste in our mouth recollects the experiences before it, even the ones

where we weren’t even alive yet. The meal allows us to remember the potently influence of

family traditions, and how important it is. It gives meaning to gather together and share such a

special gift. “Egg bake” provides a sense of identity, and self-evaluation that helps us understand

what the purpose of it is for. This meal isn’t just a dish, but a symbol of my family’s unity, love,

commitment, and traditions that we all hold dear to our hearts. It is a meal that helps us feel

loved, appreciated, and cared for. Providing such a scrumptious taste the dish lets the whole

family enjoy, and admire the time we get together to connect over the food. “Egg bake” is my

family in a dish, it is the holiday in a dish, and it is a tradition in a dish that I will never forget.

Works Cited
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