The Excitement of Christmas Morning
How does one capture that feeling in words? Waking up at 5 a.m., checking the clock, knowing it’s way to early to get up and yet the butterflies in one’s stomach and the thoughts of the beautifully wrapped presents waiting downstairs under the Christmas tree ensure falling back to sleep an impossibility.
Growing up in my home, however, the excitement of Christmas morning did not end after the opening of the presents. My parents have been married 47 years and for every one of those years, my Uncle George and his family have been coming to our home for Christmas dinner. In the early years after my parents were married and before me or my siblings came along, the grown ups doted on my cousins Zana, Tony, Eddie, Cathy and George. Then we added me and my brother and sister, Peter and Paula and just for good luck, my aunt and uncle then added my little cousin Philippe and mom and dad added my baby sister Patricia.
Don’t get me wrong, there have been many others at the Christmas table over the years. My mom and dad would gather extended family and friends who were on their own to our already overflowing dinner table, an elaborate combination of traditional Lebanese and Canadian dishes. Some recipes, my mom’s secret concoctions, other dishes, recipes she’s inherited over the years from generations past. The number of tables grew from one to four as my Uncle John and his family joined us, kids got married and spouses and the next generation of children were added. Even those that have moved away come from far and wide for Aunt Patsy’s famous turkey dinner.
As you can imagine, there is much hustle and bustle Christmas morning trying to get everything ready for a sit down meal for 40 + people – the one thing my father has always insisted on – no buffet on Christmas day. My parent’s living room and dining room is turned into a small, intimate restaurant, beautifully decorated with holiday charm and warmth.
And so we get to the point of my story. There are no words to describe the smells in our house on Christmas day; of the roasting turkey, (we now cook three 10 pounders!) and all of the trimmings. The savory scent of herbs de province, homemade red wine and melted butter wafting through the air. Lebanese style mashed potatoes mixed with mint, chives, Lebanese herbs and sea salt. The smell of Bell seasoning and the toasted bread crumbs of Aunt Sue’s stuffing.
Over the years, this family tradition has withstood the test of time. We have lost many loved ones over the years but we have been lucky to add many loved ones as well. This year, the patriarch of our family, my Uncle George, is no longer with us. We will remember him and the many others who are no longer with us and know that they smile down upon us and we are all together in the spirit of the Christmas season, that our tradition of gathering together will continue with mom’s turkey the tie that continues to bind us together!
