Christmas childhood memories.
I know I have written about my childhood Christmases previously, but I still love to go over the memories.
A little decorating has begun, with my Austrian angel busily announcing the news.
The rushing home when term ended, knowing it would be time to put the tree up. The excitement of finding the box of decorations, pawing gently through the shiny baubles, remembering them from years of use. The favourites, the Angel, the star for the top of the tree. The discussions/arguments about just how much silver tinsel to use. (For me less was more. For my cousins...throw it all on!) Being allowed to clip the real candles on the tree, but not to light them.
And then mornings of making, what we would now term Craftwork. Making paper chains, laboriously licking the ends of each paper (no pre glued papers then). Painting walnut shells silver and making tiny boats to hang up on branches. Artificial 'snow' from a can being placed on the ends of branches...how we loved putting it on everything else too! Wrapping up our home made presents and hiding them. All our family Christmas cards were home made, messy, struggled with, but real.
The scents, oh, those Christmassy smells of spices, currants, citrus wafting from the kitchen as Grandma made the puddings. Then the savoury, sage and onion, used to stuff the turkey. The one and only time my Grandpa had a glass of sherry, an annual treat, the rich scent of that as he poured a glass.
No prepacked, no frozen, no supermarket last minute buys.
No media telling us what we most 'wanted' for a present.
But the fun of writing a letter to Father Christmas and sending it up the chimney.
And the best bit, saved till last, the arranging of the little carved wooden Crib scene on the side table, painstakingly placed amongst tufts of straw and with the baby in just the right position.
A little decorating has begun, with my Austrian angel busily announcing the news.
And then mornings of making, what we would now term Craftwork. Making paper chains, laboriously licking the ends of each paper (no pre glued papers then). Painting walnut shells silver and making tiny boats to hang up on branches. Artificial 'snow' from a can being placed on the ends of branches...how we loved putting it on everything else too! Wrapping up our home made presents and hiding them. All our family Christmas cards were home made, messy, struggled with, but real.
The scents, oh, those Christmassy smells of spices, currants, citrus wafting from the kitchen as Grandma made the puddings. Then the savoury, sage and onion, used to stuff the turkey. The one and only time my Grandpa had a glass of sherry, an annual treat, the rich scent of that as he poured a glass.
No prepacked, no frozen, no supermarket last minute buys.
No media telling us what we most 'wanted' for a present.
But the fun of writing a letter to Father Christmas and sending it up the chimney.
And the best bit, saved till last, the arranging of the little carved wooden Crib scene on the side table, painstakingly placed amongst tufts of straw and with the baby in just the right position.
21 comments:
And no TV telling us what we must-have, and must-eat. No fresh cranberries, or sprouts on the stalk, or salted caramels back then... I loved the dates in the glove-box with the funny plastic branch. And a tin of toffee with a little hammer. And Nana always had a bottle of non-alcoholic ginger wine.
It sounds like your childhood must have been wonderful, I can feel the warmth in your words and memories xx
Your lovely words evoke times past when enjoyment was deep and celebrations were simple. Those memories are cherished through the years.
Your memories are wonderful! What joyful Christmases you had!
We like to make Christmas special for our family, too, and we don't worry about what is the 'latest must have'. We buy books, something needed, special to the person, but not costly.
Thank you for sharing your memories!
Your telling of these special memories is poetic! I am feeling the beauty of your celebrations...almost like reading a Tasha Tudor storybook.
and pushing cloves into oranges to make pomanders, stuffing dates with marzipan and an almond in the middle for sweet treats, the 'gold top' foil milk bottle tops were our best baubles and so easy to make even for small hands (ours often had a hole in the middle already where the birds had got to the doorstep first. Sort of wish it could be a bit more like that once more :D
Such precious memories! It is so sweet to remember at this time of year. God bless you and your husband with a wonderful Christmas!
Beautiful post, Elizabeth! Thank you.
Beautiful.
Loved your Christmas memories. We always had tinsel on the tree when I was growing up. It was more sturdy then and my mother would take it off the tree at the end of the season and save it for next year. She put each strand on one at a time. I have so many Christmas memories too. Thank you for sharing yours.
Oh Barbara...what a delightful post this was! My memories are different, since Cartagena, Colombia has different customs during this time of year. And what lovely angel you have shared! Thank you for sharing your memories with all of us sweet lady :D mari
How lovely to hear the precious memories of your childhood Christmas, just the way it should be, real! Thank you for sharing this today, a perfect reminder of just how special this time of year can be if one just could just stay out of the stores, and shut off the TV! Hugs to you today dear friend!
What heartwarming memories to share. Oh the wonder of it all...
I have very similar memories to, if you have the opportunity go along to Trerice NT, they have turned one of the bedrooms into a 1950's Christmas lounge scene. all the things you have mentioned, Christmas Blessings to you and your husband.
Thank you for letting me know about that. I hope I can get to see it. We are only half an hour from Trerice.
EVERYTHING sounds just like my childhood Christmas celebrations in Torquay - where of course we'll be heading when the ship returns to England. We fly to Heathrow tonight and I'm still packing, ugh!
Oh yes, I remember the real clip-on candles for the tree - we would light them once for just a brief few minutes only - so dangerous! My mum make everything from scratch - even her almond paste for the fruit cake - and hers were the best mince pies, Christmas cake and pudding! Wonder if I'll get any of those traditional goodies on the Queen Victoria as it's going to be close the the 25th before we disembark.
Dear B, thanks so much for the memories!
Hugs and have a very Happy Christmas with your dear one close by.
Mary xx
Ooooo... what a lovely unfolding of such sweet memories. They remind me of so many of my own childhood remembrances. Paper chains and egg carton cups wrapped in shiny chocolate bar foil, not to mention the homemade cards and gifts made in school art classes.
For me, remembering those dear memories are what sprinkles the bits of magic and marvel and sparkle and awe to our present day holiday preparations. The child within us reminds us its still wonderful.
We're going to test our fruitcake later on this afternoon. With cups of tea. In front of the fireplace and next to the just decorated Christmas tree. Wish we could share a cup with you.
Wishing you a beautiful week ahead...
Brenda
xox
Aww!!! lovely fun-filled childhood memories.. It is very delightful to read your writing...
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I love your memories, Barbara!
oh I loved reading about your Christmas memories and all so wonderful!
We too had tinsel on the tree, but we were to place it very thinly and gracefully, not just throw it on in clumps. My mother was an amazing decorator and she made Christmas very special with all her fine touches through out the home.
I can remember wrapping up gifts for my siblings that were things of my very own.
Your minced pies you shared in your other post look delicious! My grandmother would make those and oh so yummy.
What a lovely visit with you here today, sweet lady~~
Have a most blessed Christmas season.
This made me smile, Barbara! Our childhood memories are so precious and long-lasting. Praising God for good ones! Love you, my friend!!!
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