Just as red represents festivity in her life, Ruth always hangs a decorative wreath on her front door to celebrate Christmas. It symbolises hope, life and strength and to her the circle also represents sharing good Christmas food and fellowship. Food trends come and go but the ritual  gathering together endures. For many it’s about multi-generational family while for others it’s about friends and sometimes expanding the circle to include strangers. Ruth says her childhood Christmas dinners were very oriented to English traditions; nowadays food choices are more likely to include ideas, ingredients and dishes from different cultures, in a relaxed New Zealand style. "Our food is more varied as many of our families are more global and we extend our own circles. Christmas is about generosity and hospitality, the passing on of small traditions like youngsters setting the festive table - and so the circle of life, food and families continues,” she believes.  Share Ruth’s culinary and decorative ideas and practical tips for delicious and creative Christmas celebration food for your circle. Cheers! (Classes run from 10am - 4pm.  Coffee is served from 9.30am)