One year everyone decided they were tired of getting together to make the capalettis and we didn't have a sit down meal that time. Oh horror!!!! we had pizza:). My dad actually got sick went out side to barf:), LOL, and the kids who weren't all that old, in their teens, whined and complained about the day not seeming special. We figured it was my mom sending a curse down for being so lazy:). Anyway it taught me that even kids rather they conciously notice the special touches or not, do appreciate them. I think it's very important to build the memories of special occasions with family. I know they don't remember each individual Christmas, but they remember that Christmas was a special time when you sat down together and had a nice meal.
I know when the time comes that I quit doing it my two will continue the tradition. I don't know if my nephews will. Neither one of their wives seems interested in learning how to make the food items that we have only for Christmas, and they always comment on why I don't use paper plates:)...LOL, and I don't even make any of them wash any of them. I just do it the next day. It will be interesting to see what happens in the future. My kids, all of them even the inlaw children, could make this meal happen even if I died tomorrow:).
Becky
That's so good for your family. I do remember the big holiday meals growing up, partly because they were always the same, we always went to the beach house grandma's, for Christmas Eve usually, not Christmas day. It's different now, and I miss that sometimes, you and I have talked about all that before, what it's like to be left with only the guys in the family - and me, I'm probably too close to the paper plate inlaws... ;~D