Christmas Memories

Thinking about Thanksgivings past made me also think about Christmases past, too. Now we were poor but never knew that we were poor. Mom had made a star for the top of the tree out of cardboard and covered it with tin foil rescued from gum wrappers. We had that star for many many years. The earliest Christmas that I remember was when I was probably about 3 years old, and we lived in Ellis Hollow outside of Ithaca, NY, on the Sally Dunn Farm. We would get up all excited on Christmas morning to receive our little pile of presents put neatly by the ends of the couch. There was no wrapping paper. Later in the day we would drive to Grandmother Roe's house for dinner and later presents. Now she had wrapping paper that was saved each year and pressed neatly and reused the next. She also saved the ribbons and gift cards so that they could be reused.

We always had stockings and had to see what Santa had left, and usually they contained an orange, a few uncracked nuts, very thin ribbon candy, and maybe a candy cane. When asked about the wrapping paper, the answer was that maybe next year we could afford some. That year finally came, but we could not tear into the paper as each piece had to be neatly saved for the next year.

One year Maurice and I waited in bed to hear Dad slowly climbing the stairs after getting presents ready for the next morning. Of course, we were too excited to sleep. So a bit later, we quietly crept down stairs to see what Santa had left and were having a wonderful time when Dad yelled from upstairs, "What are you boys doing? Get back to bed right now!" Being afraid of a spanking, we hurried back to bed, and I guess slept awhile before getting up for Christmas morning. We did get some grumbling but received no spanking that time.

One year I asked Santa to bring me a rabbit, as I was fascinated by the Uncle Wiggly character and was happy to get him for Christmas and dragged him around, usually by the ears for many years. He was called Pea, probably short for Peter, but I am not sure of that. Later I found out that other kids got bears and always wanted one, but it was not to be.

I still find the joy of spending Christmas with family to be a high point of the year and especially enjoy the looks on grandchildren's faces as they look forward to unwrapping presents. All of our children have worked to make their kids understand that this is really a celebration of the birth of Jesus and not just about giving and receiving presents. We are pleased to see this focus for this celebrated birthday.

I firmly believe that Christmas is not about what you have, receive, or give, but rather a celebration of the birth of Jesus.