Tuesday, December 23, 2014

CHRISTMAS PAST

                    Memories of Christmas Past are floating through my mind.

Christmas was a BIG deal when I was a child. Unfortunately, those were not the times of picture taking. But, the images are still crystal clear in my head.

Mom, my sister and I lived with my Grandparents and an aunt who had never married and at times an uncle or two. On Christmas Eve, my Aunt Lena and her husband would drive up in their BIG black car to spend the night and join in the festivities of the following morning.

Aunt Lena

She was a school teacher and it was her role to be the organizer. Because of that.... our Christmases were wonderful.

Just remember, it was in the midst of the Depression and there was little money for gifts. But, I can tell you more about those magical holidays than the ones more recent. So, let me just drift back in time..........

In the wee hours of Christmas morning, when all were fast asleep, someone would wake up and holler, 'Christmas Gift' and so the sentiment was passed from room to room much like everyone on the Waltons saying goodnight, John Boy and so on. Then we all fell asleep again til morning light came.


Everyone dressed and we gathered around the live cedar tree in the sitting room. It had been cut and dragged in from the pasture. We had strung paper roping around and around the branches. We had draped the entire tree with foil tinsel.

Aunt Lena would seat us all then start us singing carols. After a couple of carols she'd glance out the window and announce... 'Let's sing Jingle Bells' and so we would start 'Dashing through the snow in a...'. and by the time we got to the chorus there would be heavy footsteps on our front porch.


She would fling open the door and Santa would come marching into the room, a big bag slung over his shoulder.

 Inside were wrapped presents... clothes we needed, books to read, coloring books and paper dolls. Once I got a large book about the Night Before Christmas and it was my job (an idea from my teacher aunt) to memorize the verses to recite to Santa the following year.



Years passed, I got older and my uncles got married and started having Christmas at their house. My aunt was faced with a huge problem ...

                                                     Who would be Santa?

So, she enlisted my Mom for the task. When I saw him, I thought Santa had lost some weight, wasn't as tall... and hey, wait a minute... Santa has on my Mother's shoes!

                      And, so the magic that was Christmas for this small child came to an end.

Do  you have a favorite Christmas story?

7 comments:

  1. Love your Christmas Story.... Sounds like you had a fantastic Christmas each year as a child.... Love it.

    You probably read my favorite Christmas story on FB.. Anyhow--if not, here it is again. One year I asked Santa for a big sliding board to go with my swing set... BUT--I was SO concerned that Santa couldn't get that big sliding board down the chimney... I went to bed on Christmas Eve worried about that... BUT--on Christmas morning, I found a note from Santa (beside the empty cookie plate and milk glass) saying that he put the sliding board on our side porch for me... I was SO happy ---and sure enough, that big sliding board was sitting up on the side porch... (Wonder how 'Santa' was able to even get that big gift up on the porch???? My "Santa" was a wonderful man, wasn't he????)

    Merry Christmas.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  2. Oh, Mom! I've heard this story, and it was such a delight reading it here. I have always loved this! I miss Aunt Lena...she had a certain way, that's for sure, and loved to organize! I'm glad her organizing made your childhood Christmases special. I can see all this happening, and it brings such a feeling of warmth to my heart. Merry Christmas, Mom! Love you so much!

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  3. Hi Latane..... When I was a little girl, I could not understand the Christmas song - "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"! I kept asking my mother - "Mommy, how can that be? You would not kiss Santa Clause!" I had this image in my head that Daddy would not like it one bit! To this day, even though I understand it now, I do not really care for that song!

    Have a wonderful Christmas with your family. Let there be Peace on Earth!

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  4. Oh, this is such a magical post, filled with all of the wonder and delight of childhood.
    How blessed you were to be so engulfed with such love, care and devotion.
    Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas,
    Jemma

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  5. Sweet post! I had a teacher named Lena - but I'm sure it wasn't your aunt!

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  6. What a wonderful story! I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

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  7. Oh my goodness....this saga of your Christmases past could mimic mine as a child. I loved going back in time when things were less hectic and the holiday actually meant so much more than just presents.

    by the way...did you Memorize the Night Before Christmas? Or was this the year that Santa was wearing your mom's shoes?

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