Christmas to me is carolling, festivals, pagents and parades. My Christmas begins on August 25 when I e-mail my co-workers to remind them what day it is. 'Only four months away,' I tell them. Their responses range from asking if I am crazy to telling me to shut up. So on September, October and November 25 I just send a little reminder to them. November really begins the actual 'Christmas Festivities.' A Christmas craft fair at our local high school is where we faithfully purchase fudge and a Christmas tree ornament, signaling our celebrations have begun. Then in middle of November, when the weather is just cold enough to freeze everybody, we head of to the Saint John Santa Claus Parade. After sitting outside for an hour in freezing temperatures, my little boy (James) asks if he can just go inside long enough to warm up and I say, 'oh, but this is so exciting, we don't want to miss anything!' Towards the end of November we go to the Christmas tree festival where little elf's will take the children into a little room where no parents are permitted and let them chose a present for their favorite somebody--usually Nannie or Papa. At the end of December Santa Claus arrives by fire truck in St. George with bags of goodies for all the little children. With December comes all the Christmas pagents and parties. Parties for families, ladies, children, work and church are attended. Great excitement is in the air. We attend Church pagent practices for the children and the youth class (which my husband teaches) sometimes three times a week. Last minute shopping is worked on in a frenzy and on the 23rd our tree is put up. Each year a new ornament is bought for each of our three family members, and as I see them placed on the tree I remember the day and place I bought it, as well as the reason why. When finally December 24 arrives I go to work so excited and don't do any work, we just talk about what is to come. It seems like life has suddenly slowed down and we can breath and be excited about Christmas. We all go home and prepare to spend good time with our families. In the evening, where ever we are, we turn on the Santa Tracker -- lately I must say though the Santa tracker is watched on the net. James will head off to bed early so we can wrap his things. We go to bed around 3 am and get up at about 6. Since James isn't up yet, we go and get him amid much complaining and whining until he sees the tree and things waiting for him. We all sit around a circle as Joe reads Luke chapter 2 from the Bible and a portion in Isaiah, then presents are opened. For breakfast we have french toast, ham and mozzarella cheese with maple syrup. Oh, how I love Christmas.
Christmas is a great time. I remember Debbie Howe and I standing at my bedroom window at Ford's house talking over wether or not there was a Santa. We decided there was that Christmas. I would question it now and again but would shun it off to make sure it was an exciting time. The next year it was decided that I would pretend to believe because mom seemed so excited about us being excited. I remember the first time I brought Dawn up home at Christmas in the old house and dad trimmed the tree that year. It touched me to watch him, what he did for the tree was for us and he has trimmed my life with rich memories. I began to cry reading your Christmas story and I still am writing mine. Mom always got me what I thought she never could. I to would go to bed and struggle to try to go to sleep. Late in the night I would hear stirring down stairs and wonder what was going on. I would begin to dream about what I might find when I could get up. We always got up in the early hours of the morning, sneak down the stairs and begin to shake with excitment at what was placed in my spot in the livingroom. Every Christmas I got more than what I ever expected. My toys have worn out and have been cast away, my clothes have faded away but the memories mom gave me of all my Christmas's at times I almost shake and can't help but cry thinking of my Christmas memories. The Christmas dinner, the table was packed as tight with food as our livingroom was with presents. I would look around the table and watch the happy faces of my sister's and look at their guest's they had brought with them "new dolls". The best part about my Christmas's was the family was together and still is. I love you all. Thanks for all the gifted memories you have given. Thank you Lord that this Christmas I still have my Dad and mom and my sisters Lorraine, Elaine, Angela and Shelley. They are my greatest gifts and memories of all my Christmas past.
Christmas traditions in my home growing up, would be everyone gathered at either my house, my grandmothers or my aunt and uncles, every year we would rotate, take turns. Every other year the day we celebrated rotated as well. Sometimes we would celebrate it on Christmas Eve, then next year it would be Christmas Day. That was to accomodate my uncles wife's family. (In-laws) When we celebrated on Christmas Eve, we didn't eat meat, we would have a fish dinner. Pasta to start off, then a main course of all the fish you could imagine. Served with vegetables, salad and bread. It must be an Italian tradition, because for as long as I can remember its always been that way. My background is Italian. When it came around next year, we would celebrate it on Christmas Day. We would still have pasta of course, a Turkey, Rabbit, Veal, veggies such as potatoes, onions, broccoli, green beans, you name it, we ate it. Salad and bread of course. Italian's love to cook, especially the Nonna's (grandmother's) Red and White Wine, and all sorts of liquor. Egg nog with Kahlua or baileys...Mmmm. After dinner, all the kids would go off and play and the adults would drink and talk about old times and other things. After a few kids whining to open gifts, the adults would give in and someone in my family would always dress up in a Santa suit. He would pick up a gift and read the card and call up the person to sit on his lap, the person would have to come up there, whether big or small and sit there. We always got a kick out of the adults sitting on Santa's lap. After the gifts we all sat down for dessert, which was usually Tiramisu and/or Italian pastries. Apple and Pecan Pies, Cappuccino and Espresso coffee. I didn't know what was better, opening gifts or eating pastries...a close tie thats for sure. Those were our family traditions. ~If you're a bad boy/girl you'd get onions in your stocking. (instead of coal) Merry Christmas to all, and a Have a Healthy, Happy, Prosperous New Year!
