Usually at this time of year I’m sporting a frown, a bit green (not from excessive alcoholic intake) and grumpy about the fact that it’s Christmas. Mariella the Grinch.
But at the moment I’m excited, after a long year, I’m looking forward to waving it goodbye by the beach with a mojito.
I’m excited to spend this festive season hanging out with the crazy folk that I love, eating some great food, drinking some delicious beverages and listening to the kids squeal about their Christmas presents.
Our Christmas is celebrated on the 24th December and we get together for a big family dinner where the food isn’t plated but placed in the middle of the table like a banquet.
Every year Mum makes stuffed hens, at our request, which is a dish that she grew up eating in El Salvador. The hen is stuffed with a vegetable, refried beef and refried pork concoction that my mother no doubt invented and then finished, very typically, in this fragrant and delicious salsa.
It’s so popular amongst our family friends that they placer their orders with my mum weeks before Christmas. For Christmas she cooks about 5 hens and gives them away, much to the dismay of us kids who don’t like to share Mum’s amazing food.
The hen is accompanied by traditional salads like my mum’s ‘Russian Potato Salad’ which my older brother adores, rice and of course tortillas – you can’t take the Central American out of us.
With full bellies we then get one of the kids to hand out the Christmas presents which are always received with lots of noise, kisses and hugs… even if they’re terrible!
This year mum took the plunge and moved to Houston to be with her hubby, why she couldn’t just purchase a Ferrari like every other mid-life crisis victim is beyond us all. So, unfortunately she won’t be with us physically this Christmas and sadly there’s no Ferrari we can joy ride in.
But despite her vertical size and calm nature she’s so powerful that we continue those same traditions even when she’s on the other side of the planet.
And that’s why I’m excited about Christmas because I get to do all the things I love, with the people I really care for, I get some gifts, sloppy kisses from my nephews and I don’t have to worry about the calories until January 2nd.
For all of you who have read the blog this year, a massive thank you for your support, it’s been a blast. Let the Melbourne exploring continue!
Have an amazing Christmas with the people who you love (and some you don’t), stay safe and eat until you can’t breathe but don’t stop exploring Melbourne.
Share the Christmas love with me on the comments section by telling me how you celebrate your Christmas?
Leave a comment