Page 6 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor December 16, 2010
PLAY
& MAKE IT A GREAT DAY
Christmas Eve traditions always include family
By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer
The Surveyor
“Twas the night before Christmas
and all through the house, not a crea-
ture was stirring not even a mouse.”
This line from the poem “Twas the
Night Before Christmas,” is embla-
zoned in our memories. The night be-
fore Christmas is Christmas Eve,
and the truth is, this evening is
usually anything but quiet.
It seems every family has a
Christmas Eve tradition, as do
individual countries and cul-
tures. Midnight Mass is cele-
brated by millions of people
in many different countries.
Although it doesn’t always
start at midnight ? in
fact, over the years it’s
been moved up to as
early as 7 p.m. in
order to accommo-
date a modern
lifestyle. In an unsci-
entific online poll I con-
ducted on Facebook, several re-
spondents stated it was their family
tradition to attend “midnight” Mass
and then drive around looking at
Christmas lights.
For many families and in many soci-
eties, the Christmas Eve meal is an im-
portant and strictly observed ritual. In
Poland the meal includes some type of
fish, and this seems to be true in many
European cultures. Italian Catholics
eat seven different varieties of seafood
CROSSWORD SOLUTION
on Christmas Eve. My husband’s fami-
ly, who is of German, English and
French descent, always has oyster
stew, although grilled cheese was
added to the traditional meal because
his little sister didn’t care for oyster
stew.
Like Christmas itself, the eve before
the big day is steeped in both Christ-
ian and pre-Christian rituals. For
instance, in the Balkans, after a
meal of fish, baked beans, sauer-
kraut, walnuts, red wine and a
dessert of dried fruits, the table is
not cleared until the next morn-
ing, thus leaving some leftover
food for the holy spirits, a
custom that most likely
originated in pagan
times.
My family always
opens presents on
Christmas Eve.
When we were chil-
dren one large pre-
sent was left for
Christmas morning. It
turns out our tradition of Christmas
Eve gift giving was in keeping with
those in parts of Germany, Switzerland
and Austria, as well as many other Eu-
ropean countries or countries with
strong European ties, such as Argenti-
na and Uruguay. Even the British Roy-
al Family opens their presents on Dec.
24, in keeping with their German her-
itage. In Latin countries, families often
stay awake until after midnight to
Sudoku is a
number
placing puzzle
based on a 9x9
grid with several
given numbers.
The object is to
place the num-
bers 1 to 9 in the
empty squares so
that each row,
each column and
each 3x3 box
contains the same
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once.
open their presents in the wee hours of
Christmas Day.
My Facebook friends seemed to have
a variety of unusual traditions, like
eating tamales, egg rolls or fondue as
their customary Christmas Eve meal.
Some went caroling after dinner and
others recall being read “The Night
Before Christmas” every year. No mat-
ter the continent or culture, Christmas
Eve seems to involve a family activity.
Whether it’s a meal, Mass, trimming
the tree, or driving around the city
looking at Christmas lights, families do
it together on Christmas Eve.
beatcalendar
Candlelight Dinner Playhouse:
The Will Rogers Follies
“A Life in Revue”
Through Jan. 16
970-744-3747
4747 Marketplace Dr., Johnstown
Rialto Theatre:
Third Annual Interstate Cowboy
Christmas Ball
Friday, Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m.
Bells of the Rockies presents
Christmas Bells-Ringing in the Season
Saturday, Dec. 18, 7 p.m.
Rocky Mountain Chamber Singers
presents A Christmas Carol
Sunday, Dec. 19, 2 p.m.
970-962-2120
228 E. Fourth St., Loveland
Boulder Dinner Theatre:
Hello Dolly!
Through Feb. 26
303-449-6000
5501 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder
BUSINESS & SERVICE
DIRECTORY
Business & Service Directory ads
are only $20 per week.
Call 970-532-2252 to place
your ad today.
ALTERATIONS
• Repairs
• Alterations
• Home “Dec”
Jo Buckridge 970-217-3726
jbuckridge@aol.com