Holiday Rituals

Written 12/16/10 ~ Holiday rituals come in all shapes and sizes, but some of the most enjoyable are, not surprisingly, the small ones. Tonight's entertainment, for example: we watched the 1938 version of A Christmas Carol. It was charming, sweet, and very touching. By now, everyone knows the story: by way of supernatural intervention, a hard and mean miser rediscovers his compassion, his ability to accept love and joy into his heart, and the universal truth that it truly is more blessed to give than to receive. Yes, I'm a big sap; this version of the holiday classic tugged my heart strings and ruined my mascara. Thanks a lot, TCM. Okay, I'm kidding about that last part. I wasn't wearing makeup. But I'm completely sincere about loving this holiday ritual. These lines, spoken by Scrooge's nephew, especially stood out:   

"I've always looked upon Christmas as a good time; a kind, gentle, charitable, forgiving and pleasant time. It's the only time when people open their hearts freely. The only time when men and women realize that all human beings are really members of the same family; that being members of the same family they owe each other some measure of warmth and solace." 

                             

I think that sums up the holiday feeling rather nicely. Before we settled in to watch the movie, my husband, being creative with spirits of a completely different sort, came up with this perfect holiday beverage. I love that it is rich, tasty and sweet, somewhat like traditional nog, since it is dairy based, but without the crazy-long list of frightening sounding ingredients, or the torturous, wrist-punishing whipping of the many eggs required for making egg nog from scratch. Here's the recipe -- for responsible grown-ups only, of course -- I call it Not Nog.  

                             

                          

Fill a Tom Collins glass about halfway with ice

Add 2 oz brandy

1 oz Frangelico or Hazelnut Liqueur

1 oz  Baileys

add milk or 1/2 & 1/2 to taste

grate fresh nutmeg over top, if desired

stir and enjoy

          

I am grateful for these little gifts we share: a nice festive cocktail, sipped while watching a holiday classic about selflessness and redemption. I raise my glass to pleasant holiday rituals and offer this toast, a gentle reminder from Dickens, "I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."