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It’s beginning to look a lot like…

December 3, 2006 By Marta Darby 4 Comments

MinitreeI have been "tagged" by my friend, Kristen with the "Holiday Edition of: Getting to Know Your Friends."

As opposed to other versions, I find this one fascinating. Mostly because the questions are about favorite Christmas traditions.  It seems everyone I know is fiercely dedicated to their own traditions and I love that about my friends.

My own family is passionate about our Christmas celebrations. I think everyone should be. The questions seem simple, but the answers feel way more complex for various reasons. I love this stuff.

With all that in mind, here are the questions and my answers:

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Egg Nog.
Not just any Egg Nog. CUBAN Egg Nog. We call it Creme de Vie. It’s the Bacardi preservative that gives it the kick.
😉
2. Does Santa wrap presents or put them under the tree unwrapped?

So much heated controversy over this one! Santa gifts are definitely unwrapped. He leaves each person a pile with their FILLED STOCKING on top.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?

Both! Love colored lights!!

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

No. We have a Cuban household, we kiss everyone when we greet them.

5. When do you put your decorations up?
We start decorating the inside of our home the beginning of December. We put up our tree and house lights around the 15th.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

Lechon Asado! (Roast Pork)

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child.

Waking up early on Christmas eve to decorate the tree with the smell of pork roasting all day.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

I think I was about 9.  My oldest sister had had a baby that year and I was enlisted to help shop for Santa gifts for her. Quite shocking.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

My (big, fat, Cuban) family celebrates Noche Buena, which is Christmas Eve. We open presents from each other.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Jewel toned balls and gold ribbon – lots of color. Very rich and ornate. The kids have beautiful mini trees in their rooms for their own ornaments.

11. Snow. Love it or dread it?
I wish I had an opinion about snow. Southern California. Snow is not even on our radar.

12. Can you ice skate?

Yes. I took lessons.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Yes. 1963: Skipper (Barbie’s little sister – I still have her), and a Mystery Date Game.

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you?

Making memories with my family – everything is "an event."

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?

FLAN!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

The Preparation.Stuffing stockings, setting an elaborate table, decorating the mini trees.

2005table

17. What tops your tree?

A golden angel.

18. Which do you prefer – giving or receiving?
Definitely giving.

19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
Arbolito de Navidad.
20. What is your favorite Christmas movie?
It’s a Wonderful Life. (click on this link for 30 seconds of  Christmas silliness)

Merry Christmas!

You might also like:

When I sang that I was dreaming of a white Christmas, I didn’t really mean it. Cuban Christmas Math – 12 days plus 3 Kings? Happy Dia de los Reyes! It’s beginning to look a lot like…

Filed Under: Cuban Christmas, Lifestyle Tagged With: blog friends, blogger friends

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lee Laden says

    December 4, 2006 at 7:01 pm

    Quick! Share the recipe for Cuban Egg Nog.And, how do you pronounce Creme Vie?

    Reply
  2. Lee Laden says

    December 4, 2006 at 7:03 pm

    Oops! I meant to type Creme de Vie.

    Reply
  3. Marta says

    December 4, 2006 at 9:42 pm

    Lee-It’s French.
    Creme rhymes with “Auntie Em”
    and Vie rhymes with “more for me!” =D

    Reply
  4. Amy says

    December 5, 2006 at 8:45 am

    I agree with Lee. I think you should share the recipe. In fact, we could have an entire lesson . . . brilliant, I know.

    Reply

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Where in the world is My Big Fat Cuban Family Mart Where in the world is My Big Fat Cuban Family Marta? 🌎 👀I’ve been so super obviously absent from all my socials, let alone my blog itself.
For a while there, I was overwhelmed by the once easy task of documenting my day-to-day life.Everywhere I looked, people moved on to high production video and I was hopelessly lost, so I put writing on the shelf and happily got caught up on all the seasons I’ve missed from the Great British Baking Show.But then, as I often say, “life is in session,” and my life was accumulating entire chapters before I could even type, “Oh, the Cubanity!”Which brings us to today. I’m starting to dip my toe back into writing online. Mostly, I miss the writing and telling about my extraordinarily ordinary life and the daily happenings at Casa de la Loma.So, tell me: Do you have any questions for me as I get back into the over-sharing of my days? 👀#mybigfatcubanfamily #belikemarta #callmewella #mbfcf
Starting my day as God intended. Amen. 🇨🇺☕️#cafe Starting my day as God intended. Amen. 🇨🇺☕️#cafecubano☕️
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I’m super crazy in love with my Christmas tree.🥰 A I’m super crazy in love with my Christmas tree.🥰
And @gloriaestefan singing about it makes it that much more beautiful. Am I right? 🤩I’m over here waiting (rather impatiently) for Noche Buena to arrive. ⏱️
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I have a gift for you today on the blog. 🎁 These C I have a gift for you today on the blog. 🎁 These Classic Cuban Crema de Vie printable labels designed by the lovely and talented @lucyruthdarby // I also share the recipe for our amazing Cuban egg nog. // 🇨🇺❤️ Merry Christmas, my friends.🎄 #itsacubanthing
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Best way to get from here to Noche Buena. Bring on Best way to get from here to Noche Buena. Bring on the @cafelallave
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