Holidays are a time to celebrate and eat good food. Many times, traditions and food go hand in hand. High school junior Marin Douglas says that every year her “family has take-out Chinese food on Christmas Eve, and home-made crepes for breakfast on Christmas day.”
Desserts or treats are usually homemade. As for Sarah DiGabriele, her family makes “Pitzelles” which she describes as “an Italian cookie that’s flat and so good.”
Common favorite treats are usually in the cookie category: gingerbread, chocolate kiss cookies, red velvet cookies, Christmas crack, etc. The treat itself is very yummy, but what is so fun about making cookies for Christmas is that they’re for Christmas, and you are interweaving the holiday with you and your friends or family.
Making cookies with your siblings, friends, or parents is a way to spread the holiday cheer and get something sweet to eat. When I spend the holidays with my family on my mom’s side, we usually make meringues, and it’s always a family endeavor. They turn out amazing every time. My mom and I love to make peppermint bark. We make a bunch of batches so we can give some to our extended family on Christmas Eve.
My cousin Katie and I love to bake, so during Christmas time we always sneak off and bake tons of cookies, cakes, and other random treats that we come up with. This past Christmas we made a Christmas tree cake that ended up being the center of our family meal. We were very proud!
Breakfast on Christmas morning is usually a fun family meal. At my house, my mom and I make Pillsbury cinnamon rolls. Other families do pancakes or waffles, crepes, eggs, etc.
The main meals of the day- such as lunch or dinner- are commonly spent with extended family. This is usually a big meal with many different favorites. Roasted potatoes are a big hit with a lot of people, ham, mashed potatoes, latkes, green bean casserole, candied yams, and so many more.
Food is such a big part of the holidays, whether iit be a full meal like prime rib which is my mom’s favorite holiday meal, or something more simple like peppermint Hershey kisses. The holidays are times to make the recipes that have been passed down through generations or come up with a new food tradition for your family. Baking, cooking, or even just buying something, is such a wholesome way to connect with your friends and family during the holidays.