Since I’m thinking about cooking, here are some of my mother’s Christmas recipes, from my no-longer-very-active tumblr.

Christmas Pudding - Best made around August, to allow time to mature:
http://samsfoodnotes.tumblr.com/post/103903319502/christmas-pudding

And for Polish Christmas Eve:

Barszcz - soured with lemon rather than fermented. Taste and adjust the seasonings until you like it:
http://samsfoodnotes.tumblr.com/post/76131293178/samdodsworth-my-mothers-recipe-for-barszcz

Mushroom pancakes - more work than they sound but very good:
http://samsfoodnotes.tumblr.com/post/76244200944/my-mothers-recipe-for-mushroom-pancakes-to-go