Oasis in the Desert

Monday, December 12, 2011

Memories of Christmas Past: Christmas 1950

As Christmas Day draws near, memories of past Christmas holidays flash through my mind.  How I spend the Christmas holiday today has changed as I pass through different stages in my own life. 

 As a child, everybody would meet at Grandma’s house.  We brought a mountain of food, traditional holiday meats, vegetables, desserts and candy.  The Christmas tree was heavily decorated and at its base, presents were stacked two and three deep.  Card tables were set up and the games began.  Card games, dominos, Monopoly, Sorry, and Potato Head were set up on the tables.

Of course, Grandma Lily was there along with Uncle Jay and Aunt Glee from Denver, Uncle Herb and Lois from Velma, Uncle Brock and Kitty from Duncan, mysterious Aunt Oma Pearl from Hollywood, and Mom and Dad.  Cousins Lee, Lynnanne, Karen, Susie, Norma Lou, Brother Tom and I chased each other through the Grandma’s small two bedroom house. 
 
The ladies would all congregate in the kitchen preparing Christmas Dinner.  The men gathered in the living room playing cards and traded tales, jokes, and laughter.  The kids were everywhere, in closets, bedrooms, living room, kitchen, and on the front porch, running from one end to the other.

Once dinner was prepared all would gather around the dining table along with card tables set up for the kids.  A Christmas prayer was given and the feast began.  The mountain of food was reduced to a few leftovers.  Aunt Lois was a star at dessert time.  She made the most delicious pies I have ever tasted.  And, of course, there was Grandma’s skillet cobbler – Wow!

After dinner the grownups would resume the game playing and all talked at once, each telling a story or two.  The kids would be taking a nap on quilts laid out on the floor and after nap time all of the kids would walk a few blocks to the downtown area and watch an afternoon movie at the Palace Theater.

After Christmas day, all would return to their respective homes and we would look forward to the next Christmas gathering.  My dad was the first of our family to pass, then, Grandma died leaving us without a gathering place.  The family met a few times, but as time passed, the kids grew up and had families of their own.  Those were good times and the memories will keep the past family gatherings alive in my heart forever.



What are your childhood memories?  Maybe the next blog I will recall Christmas 1964 – The college years.






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