Santa Lucia night

On Saturday night we went to a friend's house for a "Santa Lucia" evening. They had the Swedish flag hanging outside their house, a fire blazing in the hearth inside the house, and decorations throughout the house. We were immediately served a delicious red punch. I think they said it was made from lingon berries. My kids actually tried a little bit, but were excited to be offered soda instead (My husband told my daughter not to shake the bottle, so what did she do, but shake it up and it sprayed all over the carpet! Ug!). My favorite food, however, was the Swedish meatballs with sauce. They also had other delicious foods like gingerbread cookies, rice pudding, potatoes in a rich sauce, fruit "soup" with blackberries, and a cucumber salad with lime sauce. It was fun to try a taste of another culture's Christmas.

Does your family remember its heritage? What food(s) does your family make each year, as a tradition? Do you have recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation? Does your family or any you know of host a whole evening (every year) dedicated to a certain country?