Hi depressedIRL21! My husband is Czech and I make a really nice dinner on Christmas Eve, too. In his country, like Poland, Christmas Eve is the major celebration day. Czechs like to eat carp on Christmas Eve. I hate carp. Occasionally I make it, but I rather prefer making a shrimp dish. I have spent the holidays with my husband's family in CZ. It's always lovely with lovely traditions. In Czech Republic, it is "Little Jesus" that brings the gifts to children on Christmas Eve. "Little Jesus" also brings the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. They celebrate the feast of Saint Nicholas in early December. On that day, Saint Nicholas comes to childrens' doors along with an angel and the devil. Children are given only small little gifts on that day by Saint Nicholas. Or, the devil gives them coal, if they've been bad. Some friends/family/neighbors are the ones that dress up as this odd trio.

My husband and I have made a tradition of going to Florida for Thanksgiving. We don't have any family there. We just stay in a hotel by the beach. Though I cook most of the meals while we're there, we do go to a seafood restaurant for Thanksgiving meal. My husband is allergic to garlic, and since modern day Americans nowadays put garlic in most everything, he can't eat the turkey dinners at most restaurants. Both of us rather have local fish dishes. It's delicious! Growing up, my mom made Thanksgiving dinner. It was the typical turkey dinner. She never used garlic in any of it. Garlic was not often used by my ancestors. Side dishes included green bean casserole, mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, creamed onions, candied sweet potatoes, scalloped oysters (an old family recipe from at least the mid 1800s), peas, rolls, sunshine salad, some appetizers, and then several pies (at least 4). My family loved pies! Not a low carb meal! Everyone always made fun of my great grandmother's plate. She could pile the food so high that it would look like it would avalanche. And then she had seconds, and then at least one piece of all of the different pies. There were usually about 12 to 15 people at the dinner.

Q: What is your favorite holiday tradition?