Sounds delicious, and yes, poetic! My family traditions are slowly dissipating and my husband's family are not foodies (they even serve store-bought garlic bread). I plan to host Xmas eve next year. On the 23rd I visited Mom and went over old recipes (many on deposit slips, envelopes, scraps of paper) for a book I'm collecting of hers and Dad's recipes. Reminded me of the rich food traditions I come from, much of it bound up in the holidays.

I love your custom of an adult cocktail party for the holiday! (in the East Village no less). We're having an open house on January 3rd.