) ( ( ) Good Morning Family! ( \ .-.,--^--. ( Come on in. . . \* ) \\|`----'| - The coffee pot's on. . . .=|=. \| |// ...and we even have decaf, |~'~| | |/ tea, and hot chocolate! | | \ / _|___|_ ------ (_______) Today's topics include: 1. Welcome to new cousins 2. Holiday CHAT: forum is open 3. Christmas potpourri: a few U.S. city traditions 4. Traditional Christmas meals around the world TO OUR NEWEST COUSINS ~~ On behalf of the entire 4H family, I'd like to extend a most hearty welcome to those cousins who came into the family fold this past week. We are very glad to have you with us and hope you'll stay and remain a part of our online family. As soon as you're comfortable with us and the list, please send in your Howell lines so we can all see how we're related to you. We do not have a fancy format for sending in records or queries to the list. Post as many as you wish! If the data has anything to do with Howell ancestors or any of the 9 variant spellings we research that might help someone, please feel free to post it. Every scrap of information is appreciated. You have joined not just a list, but a family of cousins who are four teams of researchers combined into one family, the 4H. Although we are one family, we have two homesites and if you haven't visited these sites yet, you are encouraged to do so ~ Home for the HOWELL-L, HOWELLS-SOUTHERN-L, and HOWLE-L is the Howell Research Room (otherwise known as the HRR) which opened May 28th. You'll find it located at <http://geocities.com/howell_research>. While not large in size yet, this site is to become a clearinghouse dedicated to global research of the Howell[s] surname and all her variant spellings. You're invited to submit material for display at the HRR. Simply let me know you want to house material there and what it is. We can display anything, provided it doesn't involve living persons. Contact me at <[email protected]>. Home for the HOWELL-SURNAME-L is the Edward Howell Family Association site at <http://www.ehfa.org>. This is a site dedicated to descendants of Edward Howell of Southampton, Long Island, New York. There you'll find an online transcription of "Descendants of Edward Howell (1584-1655) of Westbury Manor, Marsh Gibbon, Buckinghamshire, [England], and Southampton, Long Island, New York," Second Edition by Dr. David Faris. Web mistress for the EHFA site is Kristen Howell <[email protected]>. CHRISTMAS POTPOURRI: A FEW U.S. CITY TRADITIONS *** In Pennsylvania, the Moravians build a landscape, called a putz - under the Christmas tree. *** Also in Pennsylvania, the Germans are given gifts by Belsnickle, who taps them with his switch if they have misbehaved. *** In the South, firearms are shot to greet distant neighbours on Christmas Day. Colonial doorways are often decorated with pineapple, a symbol of hospitality. *** In Alaska, a star on a pole is taken from door to door, followed by Herod's Men, who try to capture the star. *** In New Orleans, a huge ox is paraded around the streets decorated with holly and with ribbons tied to its horns. *** In Arizona, the Mexican ritual called Las Posadas is kept up. This is a ritual procession and play representing the search of Mary and Joseph for a room at the inn. Families play the parts and visit each other's houses enacting and re-enacting the drama and, at the same time, having a look at each family's crib. *** In Hawaii, Christmas starts with the coming of the Christmas Tree Ship, a ship bringing a great load of Christmas fare. Santa Claus also arrives by boat. *** In California, Santa Claus sweeps in on a surf board. TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS MEALS AROUND THE WORLD Ever wonder why your mom always served a dish not usually reserved for holiday meals, something like macaroni and cheese for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas? Perhaps it was a tradition handed down to her that arrived through the generations. Perhaps the immigrant in your family brought the tradition with him/her from the "old country." The USA is so multi-cultural that you will find many different ways of celebrating Christmas. Picture this: "Our family (Eastern European origin) favor turkey with trimmings. My grandparents and their relatives preferred keilbasi (Polish sausage), cabbage dishes, and soups. My husband's Italian family insisted on lasagna!" Here are a few countries and their traditional Christmas foods. Perhaps your family's Christmas tradition is among them. Australia: A traditional meal includes a turkey dinner, with ham, and pork. A flaming Christmas plum pudding is added for dessert. In the Australian gold rushes, Christmas puddings often contained a gold nugget. Today a small favor is baked inside. Whoever finds this knows s/he will enjoy good luck. Another treat is mince pies. Some Australians and particularly tourists often have their midday Christmas dinner on a local beach. Other families enjoy their day on a picnic. Belgium: On Christmas Eve (le réveillion de Noël, a special meal is common. It starts with a drink (apéritif) and 'nibbles', followed by a 'starter' course such as sea-food, and then stuffed turkey. The dessert is 'la bûche de Noël, ('Christmas log') - cake made with cream. Christmas breakfast is a special sweet bread called 'cougnou' or 'cougnolle' - the shape is supposed to be like baby Jesus. Czech Republic: Holiday food includes fish soup, salads, vegetables, potatoes, eggs, and carp. This is topped off with a special Christmas cake laden with currents and almonds. Germany: People often set aside special evenings for baking spiced cakes and cookies, and making gifts and decorations. Little dolls of fruit are traditional Christmas toys. Germans make beautiful gingerbread houses and cookies. The German Christmas tree pastry, Christbaumgeback, is a white dough that can be moulded into shapes and baked for tree decorations. Little dolls of fruit are traditional Christmas toys. Ireland: Irish women bake a seed cake for each person in the house. They also make three puddings, one for Christmas, New Year's Day and the Twelfth Night. After the Christmas evening meal, bread and milk are left out and the door unlatched as a symbol of hospitality. Italy: A strict feast is observed for 24 hours before Christmas Eve, and is followed by a celebration meal, in which a light Milanese cake called panettone features. New Zealand: Since Christmas occurs in summer, New Zealanders do not have a tradition of snow and ice. Sometimes the traditional dinner is cooked on the barbecue outside and may include the following: turkey/chicken, a roast of pork, a leg of cold ham, a roast of NZ lamb, roast potato, kumera (sweet potato), peas, green beans, roast pumpkin, carrots, gravy, and pork crackling. This is followed by dessert of Pavlova, an airy meringue confection made of whipped egg whites and sugar, cooked in a slow, low-heated oven and then decorated with fruit, such as kiwifruit and strawberries, and then piled high with whipped cream. Russia: Christmas dinner includes a variety of different meats - goose and suckling pig are favourites. Special Christmas food includes cakes, pies and 'meat dumplings'. Whatever your Christmas meal consists of, I hope it's one filled with peace and joy. :) It's family ... and that's what we're all about. I so enjoyed spending this time with you today. Thank you for sharing it with me. I wish each of you a week filled with health, productivity, fun, and above all, filled with love and inner peace. Happy holidays, everyone! :) ) ( ) _.-~~-. (@\'--'/. Colleen ('``.__.'`) `..____.'