Tis' the season for "Fa la la la la" and "Ho Ho Ho!"... but also it's the season for weird, wacky, and wild eats from your most unhinged family members... oh no!

My Family Isn't Immune

Over the years, my family has had its fair share of poor dinner decisions. One of them I fondly remember, and do not miss, is my stepfather's dumplings. Softball size (not kidding) dough balls with pieces of ham shoved into them.

(POV Above: Our last "Family" Thanksgiving Dinner this year. My parents sold their place in Miles City, and this is the only photo I captured. No dumplings, thankfully. But, great ham. And, yes. My grandmother was very unhappy I took this photo.)

Every time that was the meal choice... I abstained. I'd rather eat a PB&J. Call me ungrateful... but I remember those moments from years ago... I am glad I chose the classic PB&J.

Enough About Me...

Let's Talk about the Top 5 WORST Montana Christmas Dinner Choices, shall we?!

#5: Vegetable / Shrimp Trays

For the holidays, I know we all get busy making sure the presents are wrapped... ham is in the oven... and the side dishes are ready to rock. But Aunt Lisa needs to leave the Shrimp Tray at Costco. Nobody likes watery shrimp and cheap cocktail sauce.

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#4: Oyster Stew (A Travis Lee Suggestion)

I've never personally heard of this tradition, but... absolutely not. At least, not here in Montana. I've got roots here in Montana, North Dakota, and a bit in Idaho for family... and we have NEVER done this. The heck. Though, if you are psycho, here's a recipe for it.

#3: Turkey Anything

Leave it at Thanksgiving. It was dry anyhow. And ham is better. Fight me.

#2: Chinese Food Takeout / Fast Food

Sure, we've all been there before at one point or another. Christmas dinner is ruined by the oven that went rogue (or your mind that wandered), and you need a quick solution. However, if you can avoid it, try to not bring the entire Chinese Buffet to dinner.

#1: Bear & Booze

Now, this is a throwback to the 19th-century Montanan lifestyles. According to Distinctly Montana, most non-indigenous people living in Montana were men... and those men often devolved into town-wide drunken brawls thanks to those demographics.

Though, between their sparring, they found time to celebrate Christmas. State legislator William Thompson took part in such a... less than appealing... meal in 1863. It was "Roasted Cinnamon-Bear Meat", paired with frozen onions from the trash can behind a general store... with Whiskey, sugar, cake, and coffee to finish the menu.

I'll stick to PB&J.

And hey! If you liked THIS Top 5 list, check out the Top 5 Most Rural Post Offices in Small Town Montana below!!