Wednesday December 24th 2014
Merry Christmas Eve.
Not everyone has great memories and fond recollections of Christmas Eve, but that, when I was a child was THE holiday celebration. That was the day the family gathered at Grannie's cottage.
That was the evening of the big turkey dinner. 14 people in a small house. No one cared they were crowded. No one cared if buns were thrown to the other end of the table. We were all together.
After supper, due to the size of the house and miniscule kitchen, dishes were done in an assembly line from the sink, down the small hallway and all the way to the dining room table to be put back in the china cabinet.
White Christmas could be found playing on the tv, and people singing and dancing and talking around the giant lazy susan candy trays.
For many years we went to the 8pm mass while we were all little, then a quick drive around to see the Christmas lights and then we were sent off to bed after so Santa would come. Later years saw some of the family go to the 10pm mass. This began the Night Before Christmas tradition. We would sit in a circle around the living room taking turns giving the lines of the story and if someone made a mistake we would have to start over.
When the clock struck midnight it was a mad rush to run around the house kissing everyone and hugging and saying Merry Christmas to each other. NOTHING happened until the grandfather clock struck midnight and everyone was seated again.
Then one adult and one child were selected as `the elves` to distribute the gifts. Some years we all just ripped into our packages, some years we took turns. The image I remember best and yearly, was of my Grannie covered with gifts and piles around her.
Going home was usually close to 2 or 3am. We did not live far away. More years than not, we managed to talk mom and dad into staying up and opening our gifts from Santa who had arrived while we were out!
I hope if you have them, you remember past Christmases fondly. Share them with your children and grandchildren. Make new traditions so THEY have amazing memories to recall when they are older. Traditions do not cost money, traditions take up no space. Traditions are things you repeat because they remind you of fun times and amazing people who you knew.
And so, the last 8 simple things for this Christmas.
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas Eve.
Not everyone has great memories and fond recollections of Christmas Eve, but that, when I was a child was THE holiday celebration. That was the day the family gathered at Grannie's cottage.
That was the evening of the big turkey dinner. 14 people in a small house. No one cared they were crowded. No one cared if buns were thrown to the other end of the table. We were all together.
After supper, due to the size of the house and miniscule kitchen, dishes were done in an assembly line from the sink, down the small hallway and all the way to the dining room table to be put back in the china cabinet.
White Christmas could be found playing on the tv, and people singing and dancing and talking around the giant lazy susan candy trays.
For many years we went to the 8pm mass while we were all little, then a quick drive around to see the Christmas lights and then we were sent off to bed after so Santa would come. Later years saw some of the family go to the 10pm mass. This began the Night Before Christmas tradition. We would sit in a circle around the living room taking turns giving the lines of the story and if someone made a mistake we would have to start over.
When the clock struck midnight it was a mad rush to run around the house kissing everyone and hugging and saying Merry Christmas to each other. NOTHING happened until the grandfather clock struck midnight and everyone was seated again.
Then one adult and one child were selected as `the elves` to distribute the gifts. Some years we all just ripped into our packages, some years we took turns. The image I remember best and yearly, was of my Grannie covered with gifts and piles around her.
Going home was usually close to 2 or 3am. We did not live far away. More years than not, we managed to talk mom and dad into staying up and opening our gifts from Santa who had arrived while we were out!
I hope if you have them, you remember past Christmases fondly. Share them with your children and grandchildren. Make new traditions so THEY have amazing memories to recall when they are older. Traditions do not cost money, traditions take up no space. Traditions are things you repeat because they remind you of fun times and amazing people who you knew.
And so, the last 8 simple things for this Christmas.
- In addition to your regular list of card recipients,
track down a couple people you've lost touch with and send them a card - Save a length of tree trunk to burn next year as the yule log
(or in a bonfire on July 24th) - Look the other way when Grandparents spoil the children
- Don't forget to put out milk and cookies
- Don't forget the mistletoe
- Don't forget the batteries
- Don't forget the real reason we are celebrating
I hope you have 30 minutes tonight to sit with your significant other and just stare at the tree in silence with a drink. I love that moment even now, with Judy being older.
Merry Christmas
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