Dutch tradition has it that St. Nicolaas (or Sinterklaas as he is known to children) travels by boat from his home in Spain to Holland each year at the end of November. After the regal old gentleman comes ashore on his white horse, he rides through the villages and countryside leaving gifts of chocolate, cookies and small toys in shoes left outside each night by the children.
What most people don't know is that Sinterklaas also makes an appearance in Clinton at the home of Lora Schilder, director of admission. Lora's husband, Klaas, is a native of Holland. The family lived there from 1986-91, where one of their two daughters was born.
On the night of December 5, the evening before St. Nicolaas' birthday, the Schilders share a special dinner featuring such dishes as oliebollen (fried dough), boerenkool (potatoes and kale cooked with smoked sausage) and popernoten (small ginger cookies). They also participate in a local Dutch club where each year Sinterklaas makes an appearance with his large leather bound book that lists the names of children who have been good and those who have not. (Lora's daughters have always made the "good" list.)
Another highlight of the season is the surpriesje or "little surprise," a tradition where each member of the family reads a poem he or she has written about another family member. A few weeks earlier, family members draw names to see which parent or sibling they will honor in verse — the theme of which is sometimes sentimental, but more often a humorous way of poking fun.
"When you are a bicultural family and, especially when you have lived in and learned to appreciate the special character of each culture, it seems important to continue the traditions of both cultures for your children so they know about and can celebrate their heritage," Lora said. "Not to mention that we get to party twice as much as the average family!"
For Phyllis Breland, Posse mentor and assistant director of the Higher Education Opportunity Program, Kwaanza is a time to reflect on your heritage and the ones you love.
About 20 years ago, Phyllis' niece was killed during the holidays. To honor and celebrate her life, the family began hosting an annual Kwaanza celebration at their church in Syracuse. The event features readings, singing and, of course, plenty of food.
Kwanzaa is traditionally celebrated from December 26-January 1, with each day focused on nguzo saba, or the seven principles. Derived from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza," which means "first fruits," Kwanzaa is rooted in the first harvest celebrations practiced in various cultures in Africa.
"It's a time to celebrate life — to celebrate our progress as a community and a family," Phyllis said.
During the seven days, people share gifts of handmade items or words of wisdom such as the reading of inspirational poetry. Black, red and green candles (representing the people, blood and land of Africa) of the kinarah are lit each day, and children are given small pouches of corn and rice to symbolize their duty to plant seeds and reap the harvest. The festival concludes with the karamu, a feast of traditional foods. Phyllis often contributes a Caribbean bean-and-rice dish, collard greens or sweet potato pie.
"Through the telling of folklore stories and sharing of foods, Kwaanza provides the opportunity for me to share our heritage with my children," Phyllis said. "I want them to be proud of the role their ancestors played in history and what they added to our world."
If you would like to participate in Kwaanza at Hamilton, the Black and Latin Student Union is planning an event on Thursday, Dec. 6, at 5 p.m. in the Annex. Phyllis' family event at the Hopps Memorial Church, 1110 S. State St. in Syracuse, is also open to the public on Saturday, Dec. 29, starting at 6 p.m.
While most holiday celebrations revolve around ethnic or religious traditions, Pat Reynolds, associate professor of biology, and his wife, Damhnait McHugh, celebrate the Winter Solstice by exchanging greetings with their friends each year on December 21.
"Because it's the shortest day of the year, we like to mark it in some simple way, and we hope to build a tradition of doing so as our daughter, Nóra, gets older," Damhnait said.
Winter Solstice is often thought of as the re-birth of the Sun, or as a celebration of light, because after that time the days start getting longer. The family celebrates by sharing a special dinner, hanging their holiday wreath and turning on their Christmas tree lights for the first time.
Pat also lends his musical talents to the season. He plays the fiddle in an Irish band that participates in a Winter Solstice Concert at the Cathederal of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse. Performances this year are schedule for December 13-15. Call Pat at x-4723 for more information.
Ever since she can remember, Evelyn Pasciak, transcript secretary in the registrar's office, has gathered with her family on Christmas Eve for wigilia, a traditional Polish feast. Now as a mother and grandmother, it's her turn to host the family.
Christmas in Poland is known as Boze Narodzenie, but it is most often referred to as Gwiazdka or "little star." Once the first star appears in the night sky, Evelyn's family sits down at the table to share a rice wafer called the oplatek. Each family member breaks off a small piece and then passes it to next person, making a wish for them in the coming year.
Finally the meal begins — a feast consisting of 12 courses, one for each of Christ's apostle. The table is always set with one extra placesetting in memory of a departed loved one or to accommodate an unexpected guest in memory of the Christ child, Mary and Joseph for whom there was no room in the inn at Bethlehem.
Foods range from fish entrees to assortments of holiday breads to pierogi, dumplings stuffed with cabbage, potato and cheese, or fruit. One of Evelyn's favorite wigilia recipes is prune cake.
"In our family, Christmas Eve is more holy than Christmas itself," Evelyn said. "We open our gifts and sing Polish Christmas carols before heading out for midnight mass. It's a wonderful family tradition."
Some of the fondest childhood memories for Deborah Reichler, instructional technology specialist, are celebrating the Jewish holiday traditions with family. During Hanakkuh, she fondly remembers lighting the eight candles of the menorah, singing songs and playing with the dreidel, a small top inscribed with Hebrew letters used in a game of chance. Traditionally children receive coins from their parents to make wagers; in Deborah's family, M&Ms served as the jackpot.
Although Hannakuh is not considered a major holiday in the Jewish calendar, Deborah and her partner, Shoshana Keller, associate professor of history, celebrate the season in their home. In addition to keeping their cat away from the menorah ("He singed his whiskers a few years ago," Shoshanna recalled.), Deborah prepares latkes, fried potato pancakes, from a recipe handed down by her grandmother. She confessed, however, that instead of hand grating the potatoes, she opts for the convenience of a food processor.
Unlike Deborah who grew up with the Jewish traditions, Shoshanna was raised in a Lutheran household and converted to Judaism as an adult. "My contribution was purchasing the heavy cast iron skillet — essential for perfect latkes," Shoshanna said.
Victor Stucchi, painter foreperson, is living proof that you can take the Italian out of Italy, but you can never take Italy — or at least the passion for its traditional foods — out of the Italian.
Born in Abbruzzo, Italy, Victor moved to Central New York with his family at the age of 14. Although his father and sister eventually moved back to their homeland, Victor's mother and several aunts and uncles stayed and, through the years, perpetuated the tradition of a true Italian feast each Christmas eve.
The menu is meatless and includes sarde (small fish fried in oil), baccala (salt cod) soaked and sautéed with fresh onion and tomatoes, stuffed squid, shrimp, octopus and zuppa di pesce, a soup of mussels, clams, monkfish. And, of course, there are also an assortment of Italian cookies.
Up until she died two years ago, Victor's mother served as "head chef." Now that duty belongs to his wife who is, in turn, teaching their daughters-in-law the true Italian secrets (even though Victor's small grandson still proclaims "Noni's" meatballs the best!).
"I have to give a lot of credit to my wife," Victor said. "She spent many years learning from my mother. I don't go out to restaurants because I'm used to eating better at home. The only problem is we have to be on a diet all the time!"
Although the celebration may not be a three-day festival like it is in China, the families of Penny Yee, associate professor of psychology, and Hong Gang Jin, professor of Chinese, ring in the Chinese New Year with their families in Clinton.
Chinese New Year is set according to the lunar calendar and comes in either January or February; in 2002, the date is February 12. Some of the rituals include a thorough housecleaning on New Year's Eve to get rid of evil spirits and start anew. New clothes are prepared for the next day, and children receive small red envelopes of "lucky money" from their parents and grandparents for good fortune.
Penny and her husband, Greg Pierce, associate professor of psychology, leave small dishes of candy and tangerines in their children's bedrooms. "We tell them it's a wish for sweet and good things in the new year," Penny explained. "But the fruit is also a little tart, reminding us that life has some things that are bitter and sad, and we need to face those things while looking toward the future."
As for food, Penny typically prepares bean sauce noodles, which represent long life. Hong Gang Jin and her husband, De Bao Xu, associate professor of Chinese, celebrate with a special dinner with friends. The menu includes such selections as dumplings, symbolizing togetherness, and fish (although not all of the fish is eaten, representing hopes for a surplus in the new year).
Hong Gang might also serve huoguo or "hot pot" (for ideas, see http://www.sinica.edu.tw/tit/dining/0196_HotPot.html).
"Especially in the winter, hot pot gives us a wonderful warm feeling," Hong Gang said. "You can cook anything you like (lamb, seafood, chicken, vegetables) and everyone eats out of same large pot in the middle of the table. It's a nice feeling to share with your family and friends."
