My Childhood Christmases
My Mother, Father, younger three brothers and I exchanged gifts on Christmas Eve. I never remember being asked what I wanted for Christmas. Yet I was always pleased by the two or three gifts I received. I was also happy to give gifts. Mother would give us each one dollar and take us to Woolworth's. I remember the wooden floors and the bins of merchandise of all kinds, nothing covered in plastic. With that dollar, we could get each other and also our grandparents small gifts. One year I bought Grandpa a pink plastic back scratcher. I inherited it when he died in 1974. I still have - and wore several times already this season - the plastic 'holly' earrings my brother, Don, gave me when he was a lad. I always make them tight on my ears so I don't accidentally lose them (I may be the only living woman you know who does NOT have pierced ears!).
A Toni doll was my very favorite Christmas gift of all time. My Granny made me dozens of dresses for Toni. My friend, Pam, and I played with our dolls till the summer after our eighth grade. We talked about it and concluded, "Well, since we're going to high school next year, we probably ought to put our dolls away." And we played with them in my basement just one last time. I always remembered Toni as though she looked new. Years later, my own girls enjoyed dressing their dolls with Toni's dresses. Most of the dresses were worn out but I still have several of them.
A few years after I got married and moved away from Dayton, Ohio, my mother wrote me (back then long-distance calls were expensive and made only in case of emergencies) and said, "Dad's job will move to Sacramento, California. He says he's too old to get another job. So we're moving. I've made four piles of your stuff and your brothers' in the attic. If you want it, come and get it." So I made the trip from Danville, Kentucky to Dayton. Among my college papers and other things I saved, there was a paper bag with all my old dolls. I was so disappointed that Toni looked shabby! She was not the beautiful, clean doll of my memory. But I still keep Toni somewhere in my attic.
On Christmas morning, Mom, Dad, my brothers and I went to Mass. It was special to see the Baby Jesus in his crib with Mother Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds and sheep, along with the cow and donkey set up. The whole congregation sang the familiar Christmas songs with all our hearts.
In the evening the family visited Grandma and Grandpa in their home. On Christmas, we went in the FRONT DOOR. They lived in Germantown, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.A., in what they call a 'shotgun house:' you could look in the front door and look clear to the back door. We always entered their house through the side door, except on Christmas.
Their front room was dark, except for the Christmas tree. It was a small, artificial tree on a table (such trees in that era were a new thing, the branches were thin, actually quite ugly). The big old lights cast a beautiful glow on the tree, old glass ornaments, the room, but especially on the Nativity Set surrounding the tree. It was the most beautiful and largest 'home' collection of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, etc., I had ever seen. I would not have been surprised to see a real angel somewhere in that room! We had cookies and egg nog, then opened presents from Granny and Grandpa, and gave them ours.
The next day, our family traveled out to Jeffersontown (Kentucky) to the 'farm' of my Aunt, Uncle, and three cousins. Here we would stuff on a wonderful dinner and exchange presents again. My cousins, Martha, Mary Jeanne and I would then go upstairs to their playroom and play with dolls till some adult came up and told us it was time to go home. My brothers, Bob, Steve, and Don, played with our cousin, Jim, but I have no clue as to where or what. Although we loved to run around outside, see the animals, and go to the barn, we never did this in the winter.
Even back then I remember writing, on actual paper, thank-you notes for each and every gift received (except from mom and dad). The notes were mailed. We were taught that "the person who gave it to you spent time buying or making it and wrapping it, the least you can do is write a little note of thanks."
In the evening the family visited Grandma and Grandpa in their home. On Christmas, we went in the FRONT DOOR. They lived in Germantown, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.A., in what they call a 'shotgun house:' you could look in the front door and look clear to the back door. We always entered their house through the side door, except on Christmas.
Their front room was dark, except for the Christmas tree. It was a small, artificial tree on a table (such trees in that era were a new thing, the branches were thin, actually quite ugly). The big old lights cast a beautiful glow on the tree, old glass ornaments, the room, but especially on the Nativity Set surrounding the tree. It was the most beautiful and largest 'home' collection of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, etc., I had ever seen. I would not have been surprised to see a real angel somewhere in that room! We had cookies and egg nog, then opened presents from Granny and Grandpa, and gave them ours.
The next day, our family traveled out to Jeffersontown (Kentucky) to the 'farm' of my Aunt, Uncle, and three cousins. Here we would stuff on a wonderful dinner and exchange presents again. My cousins, Martha, Mary Jeanne and I would then go upstairs to their playroom and play with dolls till some adult came up and told us it was time to go home. My brothers, Bob, Steve, and Don, played with our cousin, Jim, but I have no clue as to where or what. Although we loved to run around outside, see the animals, and go to the barn, we never did this in the winter.
Even back then I remember writing, on actual paper, thank-you notes for each and every gift received (except from mom and dad). The notes were mailed. We were taught that "the person who gave it to you spent time buying or making it and wrapping it, the least you can do is write a little note of thanks."
Christmases with My Children
Anna, our oldest child, #1 daughter, was nine months old on her first Christmas. She could not quite sit up by herself, so we propped her up and took her photo in front of the big, real Christmas tree before she fell over sideways. Of course, she didn't know what was going on but loved the lights of the tree.
My Mother, Grandmother, and I had always baked cookies for Christmas when I was growing up. I continued this tradition. As the years progressed, I baked more and more kinds of cookies. When the children were old enough, I rolled out the dough and they cut out Sugar Cookies into various shapes. After they cooled, they decorated them with different colors of Icing. This generally took a whole day - they were on vacation from school. It resulted in a kitchen full of flour everywhere, especially on the floor, but I didn't care.
Fish
For several weeks before Christmas, I stored the cookies in big gallon glass jars or large round tin boxes. They would be 'snitched' now and then. One year, I put cookies in a box, wrapped it with freezer paper marked, "Fish," and put them in the freezer. None of the clever little urchins bothered them that year!
With More and Older Children
Fast forward, oh, about fifteen years or so. My family lived in the very small town of Danville, Kentucky, U.S.A., from 1969 till 2000. With six, seven, finally ten children of, as they say, 'stair step ages,' Christmas was a somewhat wild party. Everybody in the family bought (if they had a job) or made (if they didn't) everybody a Christmas gift. There was nothing fancy. Sometimes the younger children would draw a picture for their present or give a 'Book of Promises.' Each page would be a 'coupon' for a particular favor: "I'll do dishes for you one time. . .I'll clean the bathroom once when it's your turn. . .I'll do. . ." We used a lot of wrapping paper and tape! We opened gifts in two sessions on Christmas Eve.
Around 4 o'clock we gathered in the family room and each child put their pile of presents on the pool table top. Then, one at a time, they gave them out and they were opened. This was lovely! And also very loving - they took great care making their presents.
After dinner, we gathered in the living room and took seats, with several on the floor. Dad would give out presents, and one by one, the treasures would be opened. This took quite a while. Each child generally received three presents from their mom and dad plus some from their Grannies and Grandpas in distant cities.
Before bed, we went back in the living room. All the lights were off except for those on the big Christmas tree. Dad would read, from the Bible, the story of Jesus' birth. The children sat and listened; sometimes I had to give dirty looks to a squirmy kid or two so they would behave. Then we had cookies and egg nog and went to bed.
A 'baby gate' was placed at the end of the hall before the living room when we went to bed so whoever got up early would not go into the living room. We waited till they ALL were up, in their pajamas, before we went into the living room to see what Santa brought in their stockings. The gate was removed and the children RAN to their stockings, laid out on the couch and big chair. This, too, was fun!
Now we could have a leisurely day of getting ready for church and going together.
Christmas With Grandchildren
Life gets complicated when you still have children at home, several of the older ones are married, and you have Grandchildren! If the married adults children live in distant cities, sometimes they are not able to come home for Christmas - they have their own homes! That's why we have mail service and Skype!
Now I'm living by myself. This year several of my adult children told me, "I'm sorry I can't come for Christmas this year." I told them how very, very much I appreciated them coming to my Retirement Party this past June: That was My Christmas present!! However, out of my 17 grandchildren, I'll see the local six, several times over! I'll bake cookies this Christmas Eve afternoon, to share.
Christmas Eve Morning, 2013
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| There's a dusting of snow in my front yard! This qualities as a White Christmas, for sure! My house, in Lexington, Kentucky, 12-24-13. |
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| The morning sun highlights Baby Jesus in this Nativity Set on my piano top. I made this ceramic set several years ago. Circling in the front are the ceramic angels made by my Mother and Grandmother. An addition this year are the three palm trees. I got the idea to add them when I went to Israel in October. All their Nativity Sets had palm trees. But I couldn't find them sold individually. I treasure this set! It is about the size of my Grandmother's set.
May you enjoy a most blessed and peaceful Christmas this year! Share your own memories with us, if you like, in the 'comments' section.
Love and Merry Christmas Hugs to All,
Jan
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