saint lucia dinner
To me, this isn't the right forum for discussing religion. In my little corner of the internet I'd rather celebrate our common goals and interests without alienating anyone. With that said, you may have figured out that we're not particularly religious. BUT I so admire those of you with strong faith and tradition, and we've been slowly trying to create some rituals and traditions that work for our little family.
I decided we should try a special dinner on Saint Lucia Day. This feast day falls on one of our darkest days of the year, and honoring this part of our season by coming together over the warmth of a big meal and candlelight feels right. St. Lucia was said to be kind, devoted, and generous. This is, of course, a hugely simplified description, but those are attributes we can all value, no matter our religious persuasion.
I had a vision of us sitting down enjoying the evening, all relaxed and twinkly, and it went a decidedly different direction: one child moaned about a tummy ache, one fidgeted and complained, there were two unavoidable phone calls regarding the buying and selling of used cars. In the end we did eat a nice meal of veggie chili with all the fixings, fruit, and a pretty loaf of St. Lucia bread. So all in all, it wasn't terrible. I think it's a tradition we can grow into; I just need to set aside my grand expectations.
p.s. Lovely weekending to you all.
Comments
aah, expectations. the killers of all things good, no? certainly looks like a lovely evening. and sounds like a great tradition to grow into - what's not to love about light in december?
hoping the mayfly-mobile situation works itself out soon, alicia.
Posted by: emily | December 14, 2007 12:54 PM
I had never heard of St. Lucia Day before. what a neat little tradition to start- thanks for sharing!
Posted by: apples on a stick | December 14, 2007 01:39 PM
oh, real life. Do you always have to be so real? Lovely ice pics below, as well, speaking of real life. Glad you guys escaped the worst of it though. Save the snow for Christmas please :-)
Posted by: Amy | December 14, 2007 02:08 PM
it's always the grand expectations that come back to bite me in my ass.
Posted by: capello | December 14, 2007 02:13 PM
The bread looks amazing! I can't wait to try it. The pictures rae gorgeous!
Happy Holidays!
xoxo
Posted by: Morgan | December 14, 2007 04:37 PM
Veggie chili is one of my favorites and over candlelight is especially wonderful. Wow your bread is divine.
Happy weekending to you too; do you think we'll get more snow?
Posted by: hrsj | December 14, 2007 05:47 PM
I love St Lucia Day, too. We celebrate so many of these holidays less out of religious observation and more from our Waldorf persuasion ... and I agree with you about discussing religion here, too. I go in spurts with it all myself.
Posted by: Grace | December 14, 2007 08:46 PM
That looks lovely. I'm totally with you on wanting some good, solid, family traditions. With a new babe in arms I feel too overwhelmed to tackle anything this year, but I'm living vicariously through you.
Thanks. : )
Posted by: Julie | December 15, 2007 01:08 PM
At least you tried. Some day you'll realize that even though the kids might not seem to appreciate it now, they will look back to these times with great fondness and remembrance.
Posted by: lera | December 15, 2007 02:00 PM
I think that is how any event is with small children. Going to the zoo, sledding, baking cookies, swimming...I have these grand expectations but then reality hits and sometimes it's more of a chore than fun.
But I think we'll remember the fun instead of the complaints someday. Happy St. Lucia Day...(whatever that is...haha!)
Posted by: Lynn | December 15, 2007 06:59 PM
I'm with you: St. Lucia Day is a tradition we celebrate. My daughter loves it: waking up early in the AM to pass around St. Lucia buns to the family. We were first introduced to the holiday through their school and it has always remained magical for us...
Your photos are absolutely beautiful.
Posted by: Amber | December 16, 2007 01:00 AM
I think with little ones that's how it has to be - you have to develop traditions slowly. We are among the strong faith and tradition crowd but those traditions still have to adapt with the kids.
Posted by: Mama Urchin | December 17, 2007 06:39 AM