Day 22...'Spreading Holiday Cheer'
FOR YOU
Day 22.....Pour a glass of milk and enjoy a few Christmas cookies.
Yesterday my poinsettia and Christmas cactus delivery made a big hit as there was a deserving individual who needed a cheering up.
I kept a small poinsettia for my house. It brightened my day.
Part V of "A Hand Me Down Christmas" follows.
Part V
"A Hand Me Down Christmas"
The week's heading up to Christmas at school was exciting. We practiced each day for the holiday school assembly. My class was going to sing "Oh Christmas Tree". We would be seated on the stage in what would be rows that would shape a tree. The shortest kids would sit on chairs in front then next tallest behind and so on. The tallest kid in class would be standing on a stool holding a star. All of us in class would be wearing ornaments and a few of us girls would have angel wings pinned on us. I was going to be one of the angels. A few classmates would have silver garland around their necks.
The last day of school before the Christmas break we'd have our class Christmas party. Santa would make a visit our teacher told us. On that day each student would give teacher her Christmas gift.
Di, JJ and I still tolerated each other. They avoided me when possible and I them. I kept to myself and would color in my coloring book. I dreaded having to spend days upon days during Christmas break with them. I hoped by some miracle I would not have to see them Day in and day out during the break. Well a miracle come through. I went to spend a few days with my uncle, aunt and cousins (who I had lived with during first grade); but that was after Christmas.
Christmas Eve arrived with fanfare as there was a traditional meal grandma made. (She was from Eastern Europe and made many ethnic type foods.) This being my first Christmas with my new family I had no idea what to expect. Di and JJ gave me a quick run down. It would be the same meal they always had on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. At first I thought they were lying but soon learned the truth.
Here's what will happen according to them.
After supper we'd take a short nap since we were going to Midnight Mass. After Mass we'd come home, hang up a stocking then go to bed. The following morning we'd have breakfast after getting dressed for the day then open our gifts. We were not allowed to go into the living room until after breakfast and we do the dishes.
I listened their instructions as I thought of it as.
Time for Christmas Eve Activities.
Christmas Eve meal consisted of foods I never ate before. Before we began the meal everyone was given a quarter piece of white bread spread with honey. A
piece of garlic on top was placed on top of the bread. We all had to eat it first. I asked about this and was told it's a tradition but never told the reason behind it. After eating this piece of bread (yuck on liking garlic at age seven), the meal began (after a prayer).
This meal consisted of a soup made with sauerkraut, rice and Polish sausage; the meal also included pierogis, a dish made with homemade egg noodles fried in brown sugar and finely crushed walnuts; some type of a dumplings dish with poppyseed on them (it looked like ants to me) and a few other items. After supper a bowl with fruit placed on the table (it included oranges, tangerines, grapes, pears, a ring of figs and some dates); a wooden bowl of shelled mixed nuts (I only enjoyed the almonds and walnuts); and then the cookies, walnut roll and other goodies baked by grandmother. My dad and grandpa enjoyed some chestnuts (another yuck). A small tier candy dish also was placed on the table with Fannie Mae chocolates. I took a few of the cutout cookies. I never can resist a bell or tree shaped cookie. Di enjoyed the oatmeal cookies with either a red or green maraschino cherry in the middle JJ ate chocolate chip. We each were permitted to have ONE piece of the Fannie Mae candy.
Supper finally over, we sat in the living room till nine o'clock when we were to go take a nap till eleven. At eleven we got up; dressed quickly and walked to midnight Mass. Four of us attended; dad, Di, JJ and I. I almost fell asleep. It seemed like it never would end.
Mass finally ended and we strolled home enjoying all the decorated houses in the three block walk. On Christmas Eve we kept the outside lights and tree lights on all night. The lights were shut off in the morning; only the tree remained lit all through the day.
Di, JJ and I hung our stocking in a designated area in the foyer. I could not wait to crawl into bed.
Stay tuned for Part VI and the conclusion.
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