December 24, 2021. Ancaster, Ontario. Christmas Eve Customs.

In 1962, my Mother gave Wendy Buckley a book, which has been read every Christmas Eve from that day to now. It was The Night Before Christmas and Rudolph, adressed to Wendy in my Mothers lovely script. In 1975 for Christmas, the book was given to my sons, Andrew and David, inscibed by Wendy. And in 1989, in my printing, the same book was given to Wendy's daughter Katey. The book is much mended and is much beloved. This evening for our Christmas Eve dinner we ate Tourtiere, a French Canadian dish traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve. In the past only the French Canadians served this traditional dish but now is eaten by the English Canadians too. Two years ago when I last celebrated Christmas here I also was served Tourtiere but I had forgotten. It ia made in a deep dish pie plate with pastry on the bottom and the top, and filled with cooked ground pork and beef along with onions and seasonings. Ken served it with brussel sprouts and mustart pickles. It is a very tasty Christmas Eve custom. The Texas family always dine on Mexican food on Christmas Eve. We often went to Christmas Eve service, then return to eat a feast of Mexican food, which Suzanne picked up at their favourite Mexican restaurant. And always, everyone was allowed to open one gift, the one that Santa delivered early and which always contained pajamas. Last thing before bedtime, Suzanne would read their copy of The Night Before Christmas. This year they are skiing in Colorado so I do not know what they are eating tonight. Every family all around the world has a tradition for Christmas Eve. At our house tonight, as we have no young children at Wendys house, our stockings are filled. But we will not open them until morning. I promised Wendy.