Holiday traditions.

 RHYS BOWEN:  At this time of year I love to read books about the holidays, watch movies about them (Love Actually, White Christmas and The Holiday being favorites) and I’ve also written books set at Christmas time. I think my favorite of those was THE TWELVE CLUES OF CHRISTMAS, set in the quintessential English village with all of the customs of traditions that I loved when I was growing up: the carol singers going around the neighborhood, being invited in for mulled wine and mince pies, the Christmas pudding brought in flaming to the table and containing silver charms that predicted your year ahead (you had to eat very carefully). There were always crackers, the type you pull and go bang, with silly paper hats we all wore, and even sillier riddles and useless gifts in them. We played party games and I loved indoor fireworks. They were pieces of paper you lit on the fireplace. One twisted and turned into a snake. Another had fire racing through it and ending in a small bang. They were harmless enough if Daddy supervised but now they are illegal.

So I put all these traditions into my book, reliving them each time I read my own book again. I’ve tried to keep some in my life here. I make mince pies every year, and sausage rolls. I do buy crackers every Christmas. This year they contain wine up reindeer and we’ll have races. I buy a Christmas pudding although nobody likes it except John and me. But I miss the atmosphere… the carol singing, going out into the crisp night air. When I was in school I was in the madrigal group and we went around the big houses near by school.  Sometimes a maid came to the door and brought us out cookies or mince pies. Sometimes we were invited in. It was always magical to hear our voices hanging in the night air. 

So what family traditions do you try to keep up for your holidays? And who has a favorite Christmas movie they have to watch?

 

LUCY BURDETTE: I love writing books set at Christmas time! The first one I wrote was PREACHING TO THE CORPSE, taking place in my hometown in CT with lots of scenes at our Congregational Church. I could enjoy the holiday church supper, the beautiful lights and music, and more, vicariously. I have to say one of my favorite endings ever was in that book–very Christmas related, but you’ll have to read it!

I’ve also done two Key West Christmas installments, DEATH WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS and THE KEY LIME CRIME. Key West is beautiful and quirky during the holidays, with the hometown parade, lighted boat parade, astonishing decorations, and more. I love sharing those traditions with my readers!

JENN McKINLAY: I’ve written a couple of Christmas mysteries and one romcom (THE CHRISTMAS KEEPER, SUGAR PLUM POISONED, and A MERRY LITTLE MURDER PLOT) and it is fun to write about the holiday, although I’m usually writing it in July - lol. 

My traditions are fluid because we often travel for the holiday, but no matter where we are it’s Christmas Eve service (love the candle lighting and carols), presents Xmas morning, and prime rib for dinner! Pass the horse radish sauce. And, of course, it’s never Christmas until the first box of See’s Candies arrives! 

HALLIE EPHRON: Just realizing that I’ve never put Christmas in one of my books. Not once. 

Jerry and I lit Hanukah candles and sang the blessing and ate brisket and potato latkes and mandlebrot (cookies) for dessert. Ecumenically, on Christmas morning we exchanged gifts. No tree and I hang some kind of greenery on the door. 

No Chrstmas decorations, though I do love having a bright red amaryllis in bloom, but usually I think of it too late. It worked for us. 

We’re surrounded by Christmas celebrants and it’s so much fun to walk the neighborhood and see magnificent decorated trees through the windows and glorious outdoor lighting. Not to mention blow-up Santas and Grinches and reindeer. 

DEBORAH CROMBIE: Rhys, your Christmas books are so much fun, and the best part is the food! And you just reminded me that I don't think I got crackers for this year and now it is probably too late!

I've written three books that are set around Christmas, AND JUSTICE THERE IS NONE, WATER LIKE A STONE, AND A KILLING OF INNOCENTS, and I think they are among my favorites. I love seeing my characters celebrate Christmas.

We do a tree–so much work, but my favorite tradition. Christmas morning stockings and Santa presents, then Christmas dinner in the afternoon. The fixed thing is NO TURKEY! We usually do a rib roast, but this year I think we're doing pork shoulder, with potatoes and hopefully Yorkshire puddings. I love Jamie Oliver's recipe. I gave up on the steamed pudding, no one else will eat it. And no one else likes mince pies, either, boo!

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: My first book, IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER, is set in the Cristmas season, but it’s taken until the latest one, AT MIDNIGHT COMES THE CRY, to really lean into Christmas, as it were - a visit to Santa, a Christmas parade, decorating the tree, etc. (One of my agent’s notes was, “Christmas it up!”) Since I love reading stories set during the holidays in November and December, I’m happy to offer the same experience to my readers.

One of our iron-clad traditions, that may be in the minority now, is having a real tree. I mean, living in the Pine Tree State, how can we not? This year, it’s going up very late - today, in fact - because although we’ll be having a gathering on Christmas Day, our real family celebration will be in mid-January, when Virginia comes home from the Netherlands for two weeks. Spencer and his new girlfriend will be flying up from Norfolk, and of course, Victoria and her new wife will be there as well!

HANK PHILIPPI RYAN: Growing up? We celebrated everything you could get presents for, frankly. We celebrated Hanukkah and one memorable tradition was us kids griping at my mom that she was giving low-key presents on the last day. GUM? We would howl. GUM IS NOT A GIFT! We were terrible kids. :-) 

We had a Christmas tree, too, until Mom decided it was inappropriate. We rebelled, but that’s a whole nother story. We always had standing rib roast and yorkshire pudding, and I can still recall the incredible fragrance.

Now we are truly low-key–the kids are coming whenever they get organized to this weekend–there’s finals week and soccer and so many things to juggle!--and we’ll celebrate the whole kit and kaboodle. Always champagne and delicious goodies, and I am, actually, considering the rib roast!

RHYS: I do love the scent of a real tree, but we moved from it years ago because I like it see it up early and I was always afraid it had dried out by the time Christmas was over. 

And you'll notice I have cleverly highlighted everyone's Christmas books, just in case you need ideas for last minute stocking stuffers!

What traditions do you have in your families?