Left: This highly desired gift in Elida Willis’ white elephant exchange is known as the “Posadas Venado.” Right: Handmade Star of David with aluminum foil tops Cathrine Tuck and Matthew Fott’s interfaith holiday tree. Photography by Jessica Turner.
Happy Festivus, everyone!
Enjoy your traditional Feats of Strength and Airing of Grievances. Not your thing? No matter your beliefs or holiday of choice, we all have our holiday traditions, but some East Dallas neighbors have found unique ways to celebrate and honor the season, and they involve a tin foil Star of David, a wine-guzzling-reindeer bottle holder, and ribs — lots of ribs.
For East Dallas neighbors Cathrine Tuck and Matthew Fott, it’s all about the Christmas tree, topped with the aforementioned star. It’s one of their traditions to honor the blending of their Christian and Jewish heritage.
The two met in sixth grade and reconnected about 20 years later. They carried on a long-distance romance — she in Dallas, he in St. Louis — until Fott made the move to Texas six years ago.
Tuck’s children, Ella and Sean, were 8 and 5 at the time. Tuck says they knew little about the Jewish faith but were aware of the Star of David. So they decided to create a star for the top of their Christmas tree as a welcoming gesture for Fott and his daughter Harper. “It was completely their idea,” Tuck says.
They cut a star shape out of card-board, covered it with aluminum foil, embellished it with a little glitter glue and voilà! Star of David. A toilet paper roll cleverly glued to the back would facilitate its treetop positioning. When Fott opened the gift from Ella and Sean, there might have been some misty eyes in the room.
“I was flabbergasted,” Fott says. “The kids wanted something special for me to feel a part of this family. For me, it represents a blended love for each other.”
Ella, now 15, says, “We wanted to let Matthew know that he was welcome and accepted and that we would incorporate his traditions with ours. I feel like it reinforces our bond. We may not be related by blood, but that’s not the only thing that makes a family, is it?”
The star holds a special place in their tree trimming each year. It’s always the last ornament to go on the tree and the last to come down, and the children alternate year after year for the honor of placing it atop in a “solemn ceremony.”
“It ties together our two faiths and continues our own family tradition of hanging all handmade ornaments on the tree,” Tuck says.
She adds, “And it’s a reminder that in a loving family, there’s always room for one more. We’ve proven that. In seven years, our holiday table has grown from four seats to about 10,” including Tuck’s dad who moved in with them, longtime friend Bill who no longer has any living family, and the family of four next door who are dear friends.
“But no matter who is with us or where we spend Christmas, the Star of David goes on the tree,” Tuck says. “It’s simply not Christmas without that star.”
For Hollywood/Santa Monica neighbor Elida Willis and friends, their unusual tradition also involves an object: a gaudy, tacky, wine bottle holder disguised as one of Santa’s reindeer who apparently has indulged in one too many nightcaps after pulling the sleigh all over the world. His eyes appear glassy, his feet are up in the air, and his hooves are ready to grip a bottle of vino. Rudolph needs a drink.
This, friends, is the “Posadas Venado,” the highly desired gift in the group’s white elephant exchange.
You may be familiar with the traditional Mexican posadas celebration, which reenacts Mary and Joseph seeking shelter. But for some, such as Willis et al., it is a more informal get together involving a meal and a competitive gift exchange.
For the past 15 years, Willis and her friend group of 20-30 people have celebrated the holidays in this unique way. Taking turns hosting, the party has occurred in homes all over East Dallas: Lakewood Heights, Forest Hills, Lake Highlands, Junius Heights and the M Streets. There are also friends from other states who join the fun remotely.
The first few were progressive dinners, the group going from house to house for various courses. But after kids came along, it became easier to host in one spot. The meal is frequently built around ham and tamales unless it’s catered, as it was last year by our neighborhood’s own Matt’s Rancho Martinez.
The food is festive, sure, but the party starts rolling when it’s time for presents. The infamous chugging reindeer first appeared 12 years ago.
“Someone brought this stunningly hideous hunting-themed wine bottle holder in the shape of a deer,” Willis says. “It had an orange vest and a camouflaged hat and boots. A Bass Pro Shops favorite! It was sadly abandoned at the party.”
Unwilling to merely toss it, Willis decided to give it a new life and identity. She took it home, painted its clothes a festive red and green, and added a red nose. You know, the bright nose that guides Santa’s sleigh. She re-gifted it the following year.
It was a hit and suddenly became a desired gift. Well, sort of. The reaction when the beautifully wrapped gift is revealed? “Oh, it’s always an audible groan,” Willis says. But it’s all in fun. “People have always included a gift card, so it’s not a total loss. It’s more of an honor.”
The lucky recipient has his/her name written on the bottom and has the option of adding to the reindeer’s splendor. Additions have included an ugly holiday sweater, knee pads, an earring, and a, um, star-shaped anus. “This guy has been to Seattle, New York City, and back to Dallas,” Willis says. No doubt the inebriated reindeer will be cleverly disguised for this year’s Posadas in an elegantly wrapped box. Choose carefully.
Matt Wilshire fires up the smoker for Rib-A-Rama 2022. Photography courtesy of Laura Gonzales.
Enough about December holidays. How about New Year’s Day? Wilshire Heights residents Laura Gonzales and Matt Wilshire smoke ribs, of course. Doesn’t everyone?
Wilshire says the tradition began with his father in the 1970s in Houston. Looking for an alternative to raucous New Year’s Eve celebrations, they opted for a more relaxing Jan. 1 gathering during which they would watch football, drink beer and eat lots of ribs. Dubbed “Rib-A-Rama,” they even had T-shirts printed for the occasion.
“Over time it became a thing, and more and more people started showing up,” Wilshire says. “It was a good way to break all of your resolutions on the first day.”
Fast forward to 2006 when Wilshire and Gonzales were living in Washington D.C. For years, they had heard stories about Rib-A-Rama and decided, at long last, to revive the tradition, though the first year they had to manage with mail-order ribs.
The couple eventually bought a smoker and began to draw a crowd of friends to indulge with them. They laugh as they recall that they generally had pretty good luck with the weather except for the one memorable year when Wilshire was smoking ribs in sub-freezing temperatures.
In 2019, the couple moved to Dallas where they continued the tradition. Some of their D.C. friends even made the long trip to Texas for the 2020 version of Rib-A-Rama.
It’s now a family affair. While Wilshire and their 12-year-old son are busy preparing ribs, Gonzales hits the kitchen to make sides, usually green beans, cole slaw, corn pudding, queso and guacamole. Guests bring a side or dessert to share.
Gonzales says in the last couple of years, they scaled back the festivities due to the pandemic. But no matter the size of the event, Rib-A-Rama lives on. “I think we are one of the few houses where you’ll see smoke rising from a pit on New Year’s Day,” Gonzales says.
Neighbors, whatever you celebrate, find a way to make it your own. Happy holidays, East Dallas!
