Over the years, our traditional Jerusalem Supper has always been part of my Christmas Eve recaps. But I feel like there needs to be one post highlighting this favorite tradition. And also the ways we have changed it to work for our family through the years.
I don’t know that there has been a year we haven’t had this as part of that evening to usher in the true Christmas spirit. Not in Dave and my family, nor in my growing-up family from whom we “inherited” this tradition. And I believe it’s the perfect way to set the stage for “nativity” and the sibling gift exchange that happens following this special candlelit dinner.
The Original “Eyre Method”: How We Did It Back Then
I think it’s crazy with all the hundreds of photos we have from Christmas Eves over the years, if we go back to my childhood, this is the single photo I can find:
I actually think that even happens to be me in the forefront. I’m pretty sure the mullet gives it away:)
Setting the Stage
But even without photos I do remember gathering around our candlelit kitchen table when I was a little older. All of us dressing up as different people from that time way back when Jesus was born. Oh, all of us girls wanted to be Mary, of course. And I don’t remember who was who after that. And it changed from year to year. Someone was Joseph, some people chose to be the parents of those two, aunts and uncles. Perhaps a neighboring woodworker. Sometimes we got creative.
What We Ate
My dear mother created what she thought would have been a typical meal back in those days. There were dates and unleavened bread. We generally had fish. This meant that the broccoli that she added, always conscientious to help us get in our greens, was my favorite part. Ha! I did like broccoli, but needless to say, this wasn’t my favorite tasty meal of all time. But probably everything else made up for that.
Getting into Character Over Dinner
We sat around the table and got into character. Asking the lucky actress portraying Mary how she was feeling and why they were leaving on the donkey. What were things Joseph planning to do to help Mary cope with the travel. We got creative on that as well. But it was a kind of cool way to take us back to those times way back when that giant star was emerging in the sky. I think my parents called it a “Jerusalem” supper rather than Bethlehem because it was meant to be the time before Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem.
I don’t have a lot of photos from when my kids were little either. But here’s the Christmas when we had just arrived fresh from our semester living in China.
Combined with other family members…who I think have all adopted this tradition. Here they are getting their Jerusalem clothing all set:
And I simply can’t skip this photo of these adoring angels basking in the birth of that “newborn babe” after the Jerusalem supper was over.
The Ongoing Evolution of This Tradition
As most traditions that are passed down go, we have shifted and tweaked this tradition as we have incorporated it into our family through the years.
Every year we have a new configuration of people and needs.
We have had just our family as well as some bigger groups some years. This one was with my family:
We have introduced this tradition to Dave’s family too:
We’ve gotten more casual on our dress through the years…also brighter lights since it’s more difficult for Lucy to see in candlelight.
How the Food has Changed
We have worked through different kinds of food. Since I wasn’t such a fan of the “Jerusalem” food my mom made, even though I loved the idea, we switched it up. We made a fancy meal for a few years. But when our whole family fell in love with chicken tikka masala and started asking for it on their birthdays, we somehow landed on making it every Christmas Eve.
Nope, it has nothing to do with Jerusalem, but somehow it seemed to fit the bill for us. And we all love it. Well, Lucy more endures it kindly. But it is so good!
How the Conversation has Changed
One year one of our girls, I think Claire? Had the idea to put one piece of our special olive wood nativity on each plate before dinner started. We take turns talking about who we got on our plate and what their perspective would have been way back then.
This includes even the sheep and donkey.
And of course, baby Jesus.
I love it. Once we have our turn, we place that piece of the nativity where it belongs.
We use my pottery I brought back from my study abroad in Jerusalem.
And yes, it all just sets such a great tone to officially welcome in Christmas.
After dinner the “donkey” takes “Mary into the family room for the nativity.
And then onto my favorite of favorite traditions: the sibling gift exchange.
But that’s a story for another day.
For now I’ll just say I do so love a good Jerusalem supper on Christmas Eve!
Such a beautiful tradition !!