Today (December 7) is my sister's birthday. (I won't call her out in public--she knows who she is.) Years ago our grandmother would have baked her a cake in the shape of a snowman, with eyes and buttons of (I think) gumdrops. I hope she never felt like the upcoming holiday overshadowed her special day. Happy birthday to my big sister!
But I remember that her birthday was an important day leading up to Christmas. December 1 was a deadline of sorts, too. I can't say for sure which day meant what, but it was all part of the big countdown.
There was a rule in our house that Christmas music couldn't be played out of season. We could maybe play it in our bedrooms after Thanksgiving. But we couldn't have it loud enough for anyone else to hear until the the 1st...or the 7th...one of those.
Do you remember the big Sears Wish Book? That was THE place to pick out what you wanted for Christmas. We could page through it as soon as it came in the mail. Oooh...look at all the pretty new toys and games and dolls and stuff (yeah, and clothes, too). We three kids would carefully examine each item on each page. Apparently, Santa got his supplies from Sears, because then we could write our initials by the goodies we wanted. BUT...not until the 1st...or the 7th...one of those.
Christmas decorations and the tree certainly wouldn't go up until at least the 7th. The big Santa on the front door is particularly memorable, and still makes an appearance. Sometimes my dad would take movies of us hanging ornaments and tinsel. This was the '60s, so I assume it was an 8mm camera. I just remember the bright lights, on a separate piece of equipment. They would illuminate the scene, but for heaven's sake don't look right at them! There's film of me trying to wave at the camera while not looking at the lights. (I was pretty darn cute, if I do say so myself.)
Our tree had traditional ornaments. They were mostly round, mostly glass, with old-time lead-laden tinsel. And the lights! Those big, hot, bright bulbs. We'd always examine the tree after Dad put the lights on to make sure there weren't two of the same color too close to each other. He had to use a hankie to grasp the bulbs once they were on so as not to burn his fingers. I guess Christmas was dangerous back in the day.
I don't remember exactly when it started, but Mrs. Santa started getting a new ornament for each child (or grandchild) every year. The trick is to figure out which are the new ones, and then make sure there are enough of the same style to go around. Especially for the younger generation, it gives them a great start on their own collection when it's time for the first tree of their own.
One year we started hiding a pickle ornament, and more recently a red chili pepper. You just know they're on the tree somewhere! But the oldest tradition, at least from my perspective, is the finding of the Santa and snowman ornaments--small, fragile, bells (I think). We never actually hung them on the tree. They were left out, easy to find, and Santa would put them on the tree when he brought the gifts. It was always a bit of a competition to see who could find them on the branches. It was part of the Christmas morning routine. There's still nothing like the sight of the tree on Christmas morning...colorful lights, pretty ornaments, and sparkly garland or tinsel.
Christmas Eve meant the Sunday School program, then up to visit one set of grandparents (and have some fabulous kuchen), and home to bed nice and early. Don't forget to put out the stockings (really just socks, but they served their purpose nicely)! I don't think I woke up unusually early on Christmas morning. But we couldn't head out to the living room until all three kids were awake and ready to go. As the youngest, I was likely the most anxious. I would call out in a loud whisper trying to make sure my brother and sister were up. And I'm pretty sure my sister would on occasion pretend to still be sleeping. But she couldn't hold out forever, so we'd all walk out together. Ooh and aah at the tree and the gifts that had appeared. Toast and cocoa (who could eat a regular breakfast with all that stuff waiting?). And don't forget to take your vitamin! A few hours later, the other set of grandparents would come over...more gifts and fun. Christmas dinner was back at the other grandparents' house, followed by some rousing Bingo with the cousins. Just simple quality family time.
Every year at this time, a song or an ornament or a cookie momentarily transports me back to those Christmases of my youth. For me, new songs will never top the oldies but goodies. I still make the same treats as we did back then, though I wish I could find the recipe for that coffee cake. We still stay in our pajamas to open gifts. And emptying the stockings still comes first. The details are modified as we get older, but the way I feel inside hasn't changed.
And for me, it really starts to kick in on December 7. Happy birthday to my sister!
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