Thank you for sharing your Christmas traditions and your special memories.
Shared Memories and Traditions
From Bonnie – My Memory Tree
The tradition l started was a small fay husband’s and my family. l had them laminated, then l cut them in a circle and made little hangers out of metal and odd beads l had. I hung them on the tree. We enjoy this tree and think of the good memories we shared with our loved ones.
From Joanne – New Decoration
One of our traditions since the boys were born is to buy/make a new tree ornament every year for the four of us.
From Pete – Apples and Tiny Blue Lights
When I was a little girl, we always had a real tree. There was no such thing as artificial trees then. When the tree was brought into the house, Dad would hang two 5-point apples on the trunk. It was the only decoration to be placed on the tree until we saw it again on Christmas morning. Mom and Dad would do the decorating after we were asleep. I remember there were tiny blue lights and lots of tinsel. Our electricity was powered by a generator in those days and the only time it was used was in the summer months to keep the restaurant going. The one exception in the winter was on Christmas day. In the evening, Dad would start the generator and for a couple of hours the lights were on. It was beautiful!
From Mary Beulah – Grapes, Apples and Oranges
We always had a Christmas tree when I was a child. There were no lights in those days. Our decorations included a bunch of grapes that would be hung at the very top next to a homemade star. The rest of the tree would be covered in apples and oranges. I can remember using a big darning needle to pull a strand of wool through the oranges so they could be hung properly. Strands of wool were also used for the apples but it was an easier process as it would be tied to the stem with a loop to hang it on the tree branches. Little bunches of cotton wool would be placed on the branches making it look like it was snow covered. As much as I love my Christmas trees of today, those from my childhood memories were the best.
I can still picture the stockings before going to bed on Christmas Eve. We didn’t have a fireplace in our house, just a pot belly stove. So each child would place a wool stocking under the tree. And it never failed that on Christmas morning, each would find their stocking full – always a mouth organ, a ball, a little toy, an apple, an orange and in the toe, there would be a piece of cheese and a piece of Christmas cake.
And my week went like this …
A week has gone by and I am now totally convinced that those 7 days were much, much shorter than they used to be. I’m sure there was always enough time to get things done. That was the beauty of starting on December 1st … a little bit each day with time to sit back and enjoy each step. Well really, perhaps it is a case of ‘selective’ memory. I conveniently forgot to factor in the little catastrophes that were bound to occur.
The Recipe – One Pot Chicken Linguine
Thank goodness I experimented! I think I told you that my sister and her husband had volunteered to be the guinea pigs this year. They survived – barely. Needless to say a few adjustments had to be made on those spices to bring it back a notch or two.
The recipe has been finalized and is ready for printing. I don’t want to give it away until my family and friends receive their cards so I’ll wait until a later blog to share it with all of you.
The Tree – Crashed
Wait til you hear about the tree! First of all, I lost the tree stand and the tree skirt. I searched EVERYWHERE. I even dreamed about it one night. But it was nowhere to be found. Then I spotted the unmarked tub! Here’s what happened next.
The stand and skirt went in its rightful place and I plunked the tree firmly in position. It weighed a TON – much heavier then last year, I swear. It took almost a full day to spread the branches. Then came six sets of tiny white lights. Naturally, each set was tested BEFORE I put it on the tree. I proudly stood back to survey the job and flip the switch. It proudly came crashing down! A day and two sets of lights later, all was well again.
The Printer – Broke
This is the part that I really love – doing the sketches and writing the verse for the Christmas Card. By Day 6, it was complete and everything ready for production. And THEN – the printer politely gave a squeak, growled and shut down. I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry.
Day 7
The garland and wall hangings are up and the tree is decorated. Each decoration is so special.
Christmas Memories
© 2001 Beulah Peyton Bouzane
My Christmas tree is filled with things
collected through the years.
And, as I place them on each branch,
it brings both smiles and tears.
There are the crocheted snowflakes
my mother made for me
I place them near the very top
for everyone to see.
Angels from Guatemala
Decorations our son had made
Each a treasured memory
I know will never fade
And as I gaze upon the tree,
I remember voices, too;
Like my sisters singing Christmas carols
as only they could do.
But mostly I remember
Christmas means a sacred birth
a time for celebration
for all who live on earth.
Thank you, God, for memories
of Christmases long past
And, thank you for your grace and peace
the gifts of love that last.
It is the spirit of the season that I find so amazing ~ the generosity, the goodwill. We find time to reach out, to lend a helping hand.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the spirit of Christmas could continue all year through.
Shared Memories and Traditions
How do you prepare for Christmas? What are your traditions and special memories? I would love to hear about them. Send me a note and I will share it in my next blog.
