My Ex's family had a Christmas Eve tradition of File Gumbo with shrimp and crab; salad, bread, etc........his Dad and Mom would make gumbo and all I had to do was contribute salad, desserts, etc......even after our divorce I still continued with them in this tradition. The in laws have been gone a long time but my youngest still wants to continue tradition.....SO, this year, we spent the evening with her Dad, my Ex since 1993.......I made a huge vat of File Gumbo and he provided every thing else......it was a very nice evening....he even said it was as good if not better than his parents made for years (maybe he just forgot) ! On Christmas Day we had ham and I made potato salad and other side dishes; plus dessert. Since I live alone and am lonely it was sort of nice to revert back to tradition for the day.