The ghosts of Christmas past……………………..

Christmas is a time for remembering. I don’t really remember the Christmas from this picture but it looks like it was a happy time. One of the things that always sticks out, is that we had oyster stew on Christmas eve. This supposedly was an Irish tradition, so I’m not sure where or why or how our family started this tradition, but it was a constant every Christmas eve. I remember I didn’t like the oysters, but ate the broth part with the oyster crackers. And that was the only time all year that we had the fancy oyster crackers too! We got to open one gift on Christmas eve and the rest had to wait until after dinner on Christmas day and the dishes were done. Mom always had so many baked goodies and cookies and pie. It makes the mouth water just remembering!

Another tradition was the Christmas turkey dinner with all the fixings! And of course, Grandma and Dad were there always. I like the fancy tablecloth over the top of the everyday vinyl too. Gosh we put on the ritz!

Ah yes…Zigsaw puzzles. I wonder how many of these were put together over Christmas break? And card games were also another must do in our home.

Snow—another constant memory from Christmas. I don’t remember ever having a Christmas in North Dakota that didn’t have snow, do you?

gosh this picture is poor, but looks like somebody got a fun toy that year! Another thing that happened at Christmas or during the school break was making ice cream in the old crank freezer. Nothing was ever as good as that!

Charlie Brown Christmas tree. Gosh we had our share of these. I think they must have sent all the reject trees to Havana? And do you remember the Christmas catalogs? We used to get at least two, maybe Montgomery Wards (Monkey Wards LOL) and Sears? They were almost all pages of toys and they were dog eared and worn out before Santa ever thought of leaving the Pole on his journeys!

I always remember the Christmas program at school. And after the program, Santa would come in the back of the crowd and all the kiddies would get a little brown lunch sack with goodies. I’m not sure just what all was in there, but I think maybe peanuts and hard candy but for sure I remember the Chocolate drops. they were my favorites!

Merry Christmas to everyone ! I hope you all have wonderful memories of Christmas traditions and those loved ones no longer with us, except in our hearts forever!

5 Replies to “The ghosts of Christmas past……………………..”

  1. Those are some good old memories! No, I am sure we were never without turkey, pie or snow or chores! Those were the good old days. How life has changed. Just the trees for example…can you imagine anyone putting up a Christmas tree like that one! lol
    Merry Christmas….guess your box did not arrive…Kevin has not gotten their’s either…this mail service is something anymore..it will be a New Year’s box I guess..sigh.

  2. What a beautiful post..esp enjoyed seeing the pictures of Uncle Gene and Aunt Frances…brings back so many fond memories! Have a wonderful day♡

  3. Seems to me that we came to Havana for Christmas a couple of times. I dont have any photos, do you remember us coming?
    Merry Christmas, Tupelo cousins

    1. Merry Christmas Lynne! Somewhere I have a picture of some of you girls on a sled in the snow! That is the only one I remember. I think it is from the year that you all got the flu on the way home

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