Christmas Past Memories

Category: Childhood Memories | Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 12:43 am

I can remember the excitement of those childhood Christmases. Dad getting the two older boys together to go cut the tree. We always had a cedar tree. It would always be too big and Dad would have to top it out. While they were gone we would get the decorations down. Some were handpainted ornaments from Germany that Dad had sent back home during WWII, some were homemade, and of course there were a lot of the shiny glass balls, and plastic glow in the dark icicles and snowflakes. We would have the lights all sorted out, not the tiny little lights they have now, but the big fat ones. After the tree was finally up Dad would string the lights, then it was our turn. He would hold us up to put ornaments on the top of the tree when we were little. I wonder if he missed doing that when we got to big for it. The tree would be so beautiful when it was finally finished. I would sit for hours staring at it and I still like to do that. Then is would be time to start dreaming about what we would get that year. No making lists, no demanding what we wanted, it was a surprise every year. And we only got one thing apiece. I guess my all time favorite present was the treasure chest. I got the one for girls and my little brother got the one for boys. It had colors and coloring books, paper dolls, games, books to read and small toys to play with. It was really cool because it was like getting a ton of presents at once. We didn't know it until years later, but we bought our own Christmas presents. We picked pecans in the cow pastures on halves with the owner. The man, Mr. Bobby Wince, who bought them would come around and weigh them and give Dad half the money and bring the other half to the owner of the pastures. When I was older and didn't believe in Santa anymore I asked Mom how could they afford to get Christmas for six kids every year, and that was when she told me it was the pecan money that bought them. I wish things could be so simple today.

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pondlady wrote on Mon Dec 04, 2006 12:59 am:

What wonderful memories, Sharon. Better than any rich kid, I know, because it was a family affair.

zuzu's petals wrote on Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:06 am:

Oh, how I enjoyed this, Sharon.
Thank you for sharing your memories,
reading them brought back quite a few of my own.

Gardenstew wrote on Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:10 am:

I remember the childhood excitement very well too. My family never really overdid it with the decorations and we rarely received more than one present each but boy did I love Christmas anyhow.

I was actually just talking about Christmas presents as a child with a friend a few days ago. My favourite present ever was definitely a little pull-along cart filled with different shaped wooden bricks. Of course I would build stuff with the bricks but I also used the cart as a transportation device for myself (it was very sturdy). I really believe it helped build a logical and structural mind. I am gushing with excitement just talking about it now. I am 27.

glendann wrote on Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:25 am:

I to Cajunbelle came up with
a very humble up bringing.I always wanted what my brother got for Christmas instead I got a doll and fruit a pair of shoes a little doll bed.I cried .The next year I got exactly what my brother except a little smaller.A toy tractor,small cars ,a baseball glove and bat and ball.Fruit nuts and candy.The best Christmas of my life.

wannabe wrote on Mon Dec 04, 2006 3:05 am:

I remember a Christmas when I was real young. My present was a book of paper dolls, mittens, and a sock with candy, nuts and an orange. Wannabe

dooley wrote on Mon Dec 04, 2006 4:12 am:

We always celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve because we had to get up early and go to Grandma's for Christmas. Even when we had to drive hours. So, when we were little my dad always took us to see the Christmas lights around the area. We could never figure how mom could miss seeing Santa bring the presents. She always said she was busy making cookies or doing something in another room. Little kids believe in magic. Dooley