I think the tradition started in NYC where all too many of them do, of going out for Chinese food and taking in a movie on Dec 25th. Not having grown up on the East Coast of the US, I wouldn’t have a real clue about that. When you think about it, there aren’t many restaurants open on 25 Dec. “Traditionally” it was the Chinese restaurants. And, if you wanted to do something out, going to a movie was just about your only option.

For all the years we lived in Germany, there weren’t all that many interesting dining options that didn’t involve schnitzel and staying home was just easier. In the UK the obvious choice was Indian food since, if you didn’t want to eat out, you could pick up fresh brown-bagged for home heating from M&S, Sainsburys, or your corner quick shop.

In my area of the East Bay there are even more choices, altho this year economics secondary to the pandemic are more critical to the “open or closed” decision than is any particular respect for religion or tradition. We can also add Thai, Laotian, Korean, and a couple o Halal restaurants to the previous short list of Chinese and Indian. I haven’t checked on the Nepalese or Tibetan offerings, but those would also be a possibility.

And, as far as movies? So not my thing, but I think George watched enough for both of us. No clue what the rest of my crew did. I didn’t ask.

The following term – contributed – is free for use by all – “Begathon” which came from her mailman who asked why she received Begathon mail every day.

Back to stitching and deleting Boxing Day sale ads which never wait for the 26th to drop in my email.