Is Spaghetti a somewhat traditional Christams Meal

[Poohforyou]

Holiday meals traditionally include special things you don't have very often whether because they're expensive and/or time consuming to make.

I wouldn't put spaghetti into that category unless it's served with some special sauce. Spaghetti is one of my quick go to dinners for dh and dd (i don't eat it). I'd have a mutiny if I tried serving it for Christmas.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

There are so many different cultures that it may be traditional to someone.

Pasteles and roasted pork shoulder (pernil) are our traditional Christmas meals. Along with other sides. My grandmother doesn't do any traditional American dishes for Christmas or Christmas even.

Tamales are traditional for Mexican families.

 

[Micca]

I know a couple Italian people and they do turkey with all the fixings plus spaghetti and lasagna and veal and a bunch of other stuff

Would you mind introducing me to those folks??? Spaghetti is good any day of the week for me, but I don't know anyone who makes a Christmas meal out of it. We're doing a beef tenderloin this year.

 

[McKelly]

I haven't heard of spaghetti either, but I have heard of a lot of people having lasagna.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I have never heard of it, but nothing wrong with it.

 

[Bilberry]

It has a college student sound to it. I used to live in a University town. It would give me a chuckle when school started up again. Grocery stores would display spaghetti and pizza items along with pyramids of macaroni and cheese boxes.

 

[RedAngie]

Linguine with clam sauce is somewhat common on Christmas Eve, but not Christmas Day itself.

 

[Vijoge]

DH's family has their family Christmas celebration on New Year's Day and they always serve spaghetti, gravy (never called sauce), and Grandma's meatballs. I also know many people who serve spaghetti, usually with no meat, as a side dish at every holiday or special occasion meal.

 

[lizabu]

Would you mind introducing me to those folks??? Spaghetti is good any day of the week for me, but I don't know anyone who makes a Christmas meal out of it. We're doing a beef tenderloin this year.

I don't think it's uncommon. There are many people who will serve spaghetti beside anything. It's pretty much at any meal. like you would still have your beef tenderloin or turkey of whatever but there would still be spaghetti bec It's expected. They're not cracking open a can of prego or Ragu either. This is homemade spaghetti sauce (gravy) that simmers all day.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I've obviously lived a sheltered life. I don't know anyone that has spaghetti, lasagna or tamales for Christmas. I say, "have what you like." To me, traditions are about individual families. My traditions may not be the same as yours, but that doesn't make either one less special. If spaghetti is what you traditionally have, Christmas wouldn't be the same without it. Enjoy!

Would you mind introducing me to those folks??? Spaghetti is good any day of the week for me, but I don't know anyone who makes a Christmas meal out of it. We're doing a beef tenderloin this year.

My parents had Italian friends that lived in Maryland. I loved, when it was our year to go visit them. They had a long rectangular table, with an eight chair capacity on the sides. Technically, it could have seated ten. For lunch & dinner, she would fill the table with food. The first meal she made for us I was amazed. Lunch was nice with salads, soups, sandwiches, dessert, etc. Dinner was astonishing. She'd make four or five entrees with many sides & two or three desserts. Their kids always came for dinner. With our help, the dishes were emptied. I'm sure she didn't cook like that all the time, but she always put on a feast for us.

 

[Jennasis]

Our family has always done lasagna.

DH and I are doing baked ziti.

 

[LovesTimone]

When we were teens we would all get together and see what everyone's family was having then starting Christmas eve we would make the rounds, then Christmas day and the day after for leftovers. We had no shame... great times...

At my house we did more of southern style meals when I was growing up, Christmas eve lots and lots of appetizers, Christmas Day being a southern family, Ham, some kind of greens, peas, rice and red eyed gravy, Mashed potatoes, homemade cornbread and biscuits, and whatever for desserts

Where I grew up there was large Italian community and a lot of my friends were Italian, Spaghetti and meatballs was a Christmas Day dish with about 100 other dishes. Christmas eve was the feast of the 7 fishes, and there was Spaghetti and meatballs then to and homemade Panettone which was so good.

My BF in school family was from Germany, so Christmas eve was traditionally brats, sauerkraut, German potato salad, and some of those little dumplings, and home made apple strudel which was to die for, On Christmas day there would be some type of roast pork and potatoes, more sauerkraut, sausages, and some traditional American dishes and more dessert so good.

Another friends family was from South American, They would have Paella on Christmas eve, and Christmas day there was a lot of fish and saffron rice dishes along with more American traditional items. It was the first time I had every seen fish cooked with the head on.

Some sisters that I was friends with mom was from Maine and on Christmas Eve they would have some kind of Seafood soup or Chowder with all the toppings and, lots of cocktail shrimp crab cakes & some fancy desserts, and an Christmas day was a crown rib roast with all the sides.

I think this was then my journey as a foodie began along with the wanderlust that I have started to develop . It gave me the courage to try new things, but also gave me a different out look as what is traditional. I became interested in finding out more about different cultures in general.

As adult at my home... I never have a "Traditional" meals during the holidays... I have mixed traditions, in my meal planning.

 

[LisaR]

I'm Italian and we always had some type of pasta for our Christmas dinner growing up. It was usually mostaccioli and meatballs or gnocchi. But we had a hodgepodge of many other main dishes like stuffed cabbage, ham, Italian sausage, kielbasa, etc. We were never lacking for options. Whatever works. Those were great times!

 

[mjkacmom]

When you say spaghetti, do you mean actual spaghetti noodles. Or any type of pasta? Spaghetti here is long thin pasta of a certain width, and no one says spaghetti sauce (sauce, tomato sauce, marinara sauce, meat sauce, gravy...)

 

[Pixiedustaway]

My MIL certainly thinks so. She makes it every Christmas Eve. I think it's weird, but I love her spaghetti, so I don't complain.

Same. Before I met my dh we would have Chinese food on Christmas Eve. Now we have all the fish and Italian food...

 

[Vijoge]

I have friends who always has grilled cheeses sandwiches and tomato soup for Thanksgiving. They've done it this way since they got married in 1968.

 

[quandrea]

We are Italian and pasta is part of every holiday meal. On Christmas there will be penne with red sauce and tortellini with Alfredo sauce. I'm not a huge fan of pasta with the holiday meal. Just feels like it doesn't go with turkey or a filet of beef. Usually pass on it. So to answer your question: I think it's probably traditional for Italians as a side not the main event.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I say yes, as long as you have other stuff. I now lots of people who have Spaghetti for a Christmas meal, but when I mention it to some people they look at me like I have 3 eyes (the red sauce is Christmas Color)

Well-timed question for me! We've always had an appreciation Christmas dinner put on by the place I volunteer for. It's always been turkey, with the violenteers bringing the sides. This year they said they'd do everything, so we showed up to....SPAGHETTI. I would have rather had Christmas tamales (we live in Texas), if not turkey.

 

[Bluestars]

I say yes, as long as you have other stuff. I now lots of people who have Spaghetti for a Christmas meal, but when I mention it to some people they look at me like I have 3 eyes (the red sauce is Christmas Color)

I guess it's traditional to a family who has it every year. I've never heard of it being served on Christmas. We usually have turkey or ham, but spaghetti always sounds good to me. I think people should have whatever they want.

 

[AustinTink]

I'm making enchiladas, tamales, pollo guisada, carne guisada, rice, beans, queso and guacamole. On Christmas we eat what we love!