noche buena, christmas day and boxing day in photos

i think this christmas is the most unprepared we were this year. everything was done to the last minute and rushed. we were harassed to the very last minute. days and nights before the noche buena,we were still meeting a lot of people for do's and little get togethers, buying the presents here-there-and-in-between, as well as preparing the house for some guests.

some pictures from the holidays:-)


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The noche buena:

the UK does not celebrate noche buena, but since i moved to the UK, i have influenced Adrian and his family to celebrate it.

this was the spread we had for the 24th.. cold cuts, salmon, gammon, sausage and bacon, breadstick, etc. i forgot to take a pic of the sotanghon i made for myself haha:-)

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the next day: christmas day

Adrian harvested carrots from the now-dead-from-the-winter garden

lotte and mark. my ready-made family:-)

the 9 kg. turkey

the christmas chef

just before we attacked the table

after dinner chaos..we were watching DVD by then

after we got our presents, we were engrossed on our pressies





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Boxing Day:

boxing day is a bank holiday in the UK, celebrated every 26th of December. my brother-in-law Alan said it started really to honour the servants and workers of the Kings and Queens where the 'thank you's are boxed, like sort of a tip for their hardwork. it then evolved into putting money or gifts for public worker (ie: the postman, the bin man,etc).

the whole country now stopped the boxing of money and presents for their servants and public workers, and Boxing Day is still a recognised holiday, and now has become a nationwide SALE day. but in Adrian's family ,its always an extended christmas celebration to see one another and celebrate a second christmas gathering to catch up, play games, congregate about food and current events as well as share travel plans.


some photos:

food!

their tree

Paul and Lotte

food after the games

lovely food from Anne's kitchen

mince pies and stollen.


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xxx