DEC. 18, 1964
Many nationalities comprise students' christmas menus
Many nations contribute to the unusual dishes families of MW students include in their Christmas meals.
Polish food is served at the homes of several students during the holidays. Barb Zulaski '65, comments, "Before starting dinner on Christmas day, every person in our family breaks off a piece of wafer called aolatek or angel bread." Another custom which is common to the Polish is to have soup made from fish on Christmas Eve.
A typical Lithuanian meal on Christmas Eve consists of slizikas, hard biscuits, usually eaten soaked in barley or oatmeal water; also klackai, mushroom dumpling; and pickled herring served with fried onions and oil.
"The people of Lithuanian descent do not have dairy products at all on Christmas Eve," according to Sue Narbutas '65.
"The Belgium people," tells Chris Birchfield '66, "have potato soup as one of the dishes on Christmas Day."
Italian foods are also part of the dinners of several of Maine's students. Broccoli, which is stuffed round steak, is rolled up and eaten as a side dish on Christmas Day.
Exchange student Carla Fasting '65, has a type of donut with raisins and sugar. Also she tells of a kind of cake with brandy on top, which is set on fire before it is eaten.
"The Swedish have a warm drink called glug with port wine, raisins, and almonds," says Helen Lindquist '66 and Marianne Bretsnyder '66. Mary Lou Burgess '67, adds, "They also have lutfish, a holiday fish dish."
The preparation of French pastries for dessert on Christmas Day tops off the main meal for Barb Lonchar '66.
Famous English puddings are enjoyed by many families on Christmas Day. Yorkshire pudding is a family dessert enjoyed by Connie Andrews '66, and her family.