Before it turns 2013, I must tell you about my first authentic British Christmas. It was spent with Judith, the women I live with, and her son, Ronald, who was up from London. Oh, and let me not forget–Mungo, his, black, spastic Pug, which, in a moment of un-supervision, ate more than half of a package of gourmet hot chocolate powder perfectly packaged for me under the tree. I forgave him. Barely.
Christmas Day 2012 was filled with Scottish/British traditions entirely new to me. It started with a glass of champagne at 12:30 am, after returning home from the Christmas Eve Watch Night Service! Christmas morning proper consisted of a ‘long lie’ (i.e. sleeping in), followed by cinnamon rolls made by Yours Truly, and a walk at the harbour.
After the walk we returned to the cottage to open presents, primarily gifted from Santa and the two dogs, and to have our Christmas Tea and Cake (think incredibly dense fruit cake with every spice in your pantry)!
After presents, we cooked a bit, and then, as if the Queen herself was coming to visit, Judith and Ronald donned their best sweaters and sat down with a glass of Prosecco to watch her annual Christmas Day speech on the telly. She is well-received in this Scottish family.
As the time for The Meal approached, I realized more and more that I was no longer in Minnesota. It was not so much due to the food. That was typical… minus the red cabbage… and the starter of Salmon Mousse! Let’s just say there were no paper plates on this dining room table. No sir. It was the once-a-year tableware.
As I sat down to my first authentic British Christmas dinner, my initial thoughts drifted to Jack Dawson and his maiden voyage into fine dining on the Titanic. Feeling his formal flatware angst, I wanted to exclaim as he: ‘Are all these for me?’ ‘Start from the outside and work your way in’, was the advice given to him, so with the same I forged ahead in my most formal dining experience to date. Who knew that a proper meal is eaten with four knives, three forks, two spoons, and three glasses? Not this country girl.
The meal was made complete with the Christmas Pudding (another dense fruity and spicy cake, topped with Brandy Cream). Personally, I’d rather have pumpkin pie. (But let’s keep that between you and me.)
All told, it was a very good Christmas Day here in Scotland. And though it definitely lacked the typical Goranson Family Christmas Etiquette, it was nice. Nevertheless, I think I’m still a fan of having one fork and glass to rule them all. We country girls don’t change that quickly. I’ll take paper plates, family Bingo, Euchre tournaments, 40+ people-in-a-house chaos over flatware confusion any day! But you better get me home for Christmas soon, otherwise I might decide to start enjoying fine dining. Then I would really not be ‘my mother’s daughter’!
Judith said that she’s coming home with me for Christmas next year. Bahaha! She wouldn’t survive. Only the strongest and bravest do. And they seem to come home less and less every year…
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