On one side of the La family’s living room in San Rafael, a small Christmas tree twinkled with colored lights. On the opposite wall, an offering of dumplings rested on a wooden altar to the Buddha. The two displays reflect the blended traditions that Vietnamese-born Michael and Thiem La share with their four American-born daughters.

“My grandmother called the other day to remind my mother that it’s the time of year when you buy sweet sesame dumplings and pray to the Buddha,” said Jennifer, 12. “When you eat the dumplings, it symbolizes that you are a year older.”

As Jennifer talked, her older sister Susan, 17, dashed off to her part-time job as a retail clerk, where she was putting in extra hours over the holidays. Little sisters Angela, 6, and Emily, 5, drew busily with colored markers at a child-size card table, their eyes sparkling on the first day of winter vacation.

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