Clinton News-Record, 1983-12-21, Page 38PAGE 14A—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, D
ECEMBER 21, 1983
7 1
Jolly old St. Nick greeted the children of Blyth with candy and smiles last Saturday.
Santa Claus was given the royal treatment in the village as he was escorted up the main
street by the fire truck. ( Rod Hilts photo)
Christmas is celebrated
in many parts of the world
Lets take a look at some holiday customs
and foods of Canadian ethnic groups.
Michelle Marcotte and Jocelyne Frenette,
both Food Consultants for the Food Ad-
visory Division of Agriculture Canada, have
compiled information about these groups so
that, "other people will borrow foods and
customs from their ethnic neighbors to
celebrate the holiday in a more interna-
tional spirit."
Traditional British
Christmas Foods
Although everyday foods from the British
Isles are different with each region, the
Christmas meal, as inunortalized by
Charles Dickens in A Christmas Carol, is the
same for everyone in England. Canadians of
British descent still maintain many of these
traditions.
Michelle Marcotte mentions that the main
meal starts around noon with a chestnut -
stuffed roast chicken or goose possibly in-
cluding sausages or ham, although turkey is
becoming more popular. Roast potatoes,
Brussels sprouts, peas and gravey accom-
pany.
The highlight of the meal is the Christmas
pudding. This fruity brandy -soused steamed
pudding is anxiously awaited and it doesn't
disappoint. It arrives topped with holly
leaves and alight with the blue flame of
brandy. Christmas pudding is served with
custard or brandy sauce, or a rum and but-
ter sauce.
The flavor and appearance of the pudding
are praised over the next course of port
wine. nuts, dried figs and dates.
Tea time starts at 5:00. Tea is served from
the best teapot and a selection of sweets.
There is always Christmas cake, a dark
fruitcake topped with, marzipan then iced
with hard white royal icing. Trifle, that very
British mixture of cake, custard, jam,
sherry and whipping cream may be offered
as well as chocolate yule log, mince pies and
shortbread.
Santa Is Dutch
North Americans inherited Santa Claus
from the Dutch. The early Dutch im-
migrants to North America brought with
them the idea of celebrating St. Nicholas,
Sinterklaas, on December 6. Later the
Sinterklaas image merged with the Father
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Christmas figure of British fame into the
North American Santa Claus.
The treat the Dutch associate with
Christmas is the speculaas, a crisp brown
spicy cookie formed to resemble windmills.
The name speculaas rhymes with
Sinterklass. These cookies are available in
many grocery stores.
Agricultural Heritage In
Scandinavian Christmas
Scandinavian countries look like
Christmas. There is snow on the rooftops of
gingerbread houses and Christmas trees
flicker with candles. December is the
darkest month of the year and Christmas
banishes the darkness.
These countries used to be based on a
storage economy. Thus, preparation for
Christmas began in October with slaughter-
ing animals, pickling fish, making cheese
and sauerkraut. There were candles to be
made, cleaning and laundry to be done. As a
further reminder of Scandigavians'
agricultural roots many Christmas decora-
tions are made from straw.
Christmas Eve is the biggest meal of the
season and of the year for Scandinavians.
Ham or roasted pork is served with apple
sauce, sausages, pickled herring, liver
paste and rye bread. Red cabbage sauteed
in pan drippings and caraway flavored
sauerkraut grace the buffet.
Scandinavian cooks prepare hundreds of
different cookies for Christmas season;
there are butter cookies flavored with
spices, anise, cloves, ginger, almonds and
brandy.
A time to sing
joyfully, as we
extend our
best wishes to aII.
MORRIS TOWNSHIP
COUNCIL
Reeve - Bill Elston
Deputy Reeve - Tom Miller
Councillors - Bob Crosby.
Doug Frasors,
Clem McLellan
and Staff
Let r 11.
Probably no time of the year is more
party -oriented than Christmas and New
Year, but behind all the fun and games,
there is an enormous amount of work for the
party organizer — and that usually turns out
to be mom. But with a little planning and the
enlistment of the family to look after some
of the details, party time can be fun time
too.
Instead of dreaming of hiring a caterer
you can carefully plan entertainment menus
and discover exciting shortcuts. To help you
in your hours of need I have pulled together
some hints and ideas that have proved their
value in many a party crisis.
Make lists
Don't trust your memory. A little effort
spent on making lists will save hour . time
and lots of embarrassing moms . Malts
guest lists and shopping lists. List t e every-
day things you need, and the ex ras like
candles, flowers, matches and min
Your guest list is most important. ey're
the reason for your party. During the busy
party season your friends may have many
other invitations so don't forget to give them
lots of advance notice.
One way to get around this problem could
be a holiday brunch between 10 a.m. and
noon. Service is always easy going and in-
formal.
Your shopping list should be made well in
advance as there are sure to be some items
you won't have in stock. Some may have to
be specially ordered. Others may have to be
purchased the day of the party (salad ingre-
e a
dients, cream, flowers, and ice). By up-
dating your list from time to time, you'll
catch missing items.
Several days before your party, look over
your serving pieces, linen, and anything else
you will be using. Last-minute surprises in
this department you don't need. It's too easy
to assume that silver is polished or that you
have enough fuel for your chafing dish.
The menu is planned around your guests,
the theme or purpose of the party, and the
mood ( formal or informal, buffet or sit-
down ).
Always try to take advantage of dishes
that can be prepared in advance so you can
be with your guests and enjoy their com-
pany and your own party.
Plan a menu
A hostess who spends all evening in the
kitchen might as well not be at the party, so
plan a menu you can prepare well and easily
without too much last-minute attention.
Oven -to -table serving is very popular and
many main dishes can be cooked and served
in the same dishes; whether it is casserole
or electric frypan.
And don't forget the magic touch of gar-
nishes and pretty table decorations to please
the eye as well as the palate.
A freezer or emergency shelf stocked with
frozen casseroles, refrigerator rolls and
some cakes or cookies will see you through
any emergency when friends "drop in" and
you can stay relaxed.
For informal entertaining or large groups
of guests ( children or adults 1, casserole
e f .. r
recipes or chili con carne are great ideas.
They can be prepared a day in advance and
heated up shortly b:: ore serving. Served
with a convenience product such as hot cres-
cent rolls and a salad that you keep crisp in
the refrigerator by covering, they will
satisfy the most demanding appetite.
Dessert can be made the day before or even
at the last minute if you have a 10 minute
gourmet spectacular.
Let the children into the act. They can
make festive cookies with refrigerated pro-
ducts found in the dairy section.
Canapes with drinks will start your party
on the right note. Flavored butters spread
evenly on thin bread or other canape bases
can make simple or elaborate appetizers.
er
Almost anything can be used to tlavor but-
ter. Not only butter, but other soft foods may
be spread on plain or toasted bread or
crackers and served with chicken, seafood,
meat, vegetable or egg garnishings. For ex-
ample:
Sardines mashed with a little lemon or
lime juice spread on bread squares and
served hot or cold.
Sausages wrapped in flaky refrigerated
turnover pastry.
Soft cheeses blended with chili sauce,
tabasco or Worcestershire sauce.
Blue cheese mashed with softened butter
filled into canape shells and topped with a
contrasting texture of thinly sliced
cucumber, hard boiled egg or green apple.
The night before Christmas
It was the night before Christmas,
And all through the house
My mother was putting, on her blouse
We were getting ready for a party.
Everyone was merry and so hearty.
We got in the car and away we went
To get an early Christmas present.
We got to the party. We finally got there.
Then we all sat down in a chair.
Now the party had just begun.
Now we were starting to have some fun.
I ate some pie. It was so good.
I ate more than my father could.
Then I slurped down some of niy drink
But it tasted awful, so I poured it down the
sink
We began to sing a Christmas song,
We sang it for an hour, it was so long.
Now was the moment we were waiting for
Up till now it's been a bore.
Finally we began to receive our presents
Everyone was happy, and so pleasant.
I got a toy car, that was so fast,
It was blurry, when it went past
Now the party has just been done,
Now we won't have anymore fun.
But wait till tomorrow, we'll be merry and
gay
For tomorrow is going to be Christmas Day.
Jeff Westlake
Gr. 5
Huron Centennial School
VANASTRA
FACTORY OUTLET
master charge
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SATURDAY, DEC. 28-29-30-31; SATURDAY, DECEMBER
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e're hoping the holiday
brings you all the joys of the
season, shared with friends
and loved ones... today and
always! Thank you all
for your loyal patronage!
Diane Ryan
June Jeacock Ann Hallam
Joanne Bernard -Marg Crane