Oyster Stew on Christmas Eve

[bigredbill]

As a kid, my family always had a tradition of eating oyster stew on Christmas Eve. This came from my father's side of the family -- from the folks that immigrated from Germany. I have tried to find out the origins of this type of tradition, and it sounds like it is more of an Irish tradition that German. Anyone out there eat oyster stew around the holidays?

 

[Lintasare]

Not quite the same but my father's family is from Poland and Christmas Eve at our house is always meatless. We usually have some kind of seafood chowder for dinner. So kinda similar to your tradition.

 

[clarabelle]

My I-laws do it. They had a Scottish heritage for the most part.

I understand that Oysters were so plentiful here at first that it sprung from that.
So European Catholic immigrants that were used to having fish had oysters instead because in colonial america oysters were plentiful and cheap.

 

[Keli]

I have it every year on Christmas eve but thats because we spend the evening with some close friends and it is actually their tradition. I'll ask her where her family got this tradition. Now I'm curious.
BTW, I'd never had oyster stew until we started celebrating Christmas eve together but I love it!

 

[swandiverpatt]

My mother (and her mother before her) always made it for Christmas morning. They were of Scotch/Irish heritage, generations back. While I never cared for the oysters themselves in the "stew", I enjoyed the soup.

 

[Willa]

I grew up with oyster stew every Christmas Eve. The tradition came from my mother's side of the family, who were of German heritage. Interesting to hear that it's an Irish thing as well!

 

[jiminyC_fan]

How interesting. We always had Oyster stew and we are Scandinavian. (50% Norwegian, 50% Swedish)

 

[vicki_c]

My mom always cooked that - she is of English ancestry.

 

[Jingle]

My mom's side of the family has had oyster stew on Christmas Day for many years. They are Scotch/Irish. My father, who is 100% German, never had it until he went to Christmas dinner with my mother for the first time.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

The Irish half does the oyster stew on Christmas Eve. The Italian half does the 7 fishes on Christmas Eve. Either way, I can't lose!

 

[Talking Hands]

Growing up we always had oyster stew. It was a tradition in my father's family. His family was originally from France and came to the US before the Revolution. They settled on the Eastern Shore of Maryland where oysters and other seafood was plentiful.

 

[SandrA9810]

My grandmother used to make oyster stew as well, but some where down the line it got expensive. So instead, it got changed to potato soup, which is what I remember growing up. That is what I'll be making on Christmas Eve this year.

My grandmother is also German decent. Although I'm not a 100% sure, as her maiden name is a Kn (pronounce the K), and that's scattered about northern Europe.

 

[skater]

DH's family always had oyster stew for breakfast on Christmas Day. I thought it was weird at first, but now its our own tradition. The kids love it too and I bet they won't be able to have Christmas without it either .

 

[Allison]

We do the same thing in my family. I don't eat it myself.