Wednesday, December 28, 2011

New Year more than just football

In northern India there is an ancient custom of burning effigies once a year to wipe away the tragedies and disappointments of the past year and begun anew.

The Germans shoot fireworks on New Year’s to frighten away any evil spirits in the vicinity.

Spaniards gather at midnight in the Puerta del Sol in Madrid. As the old clock strikes midnight, each person eats a grape with each strike, believing this brings luck for the new year.

Many people in France and Scandinavia burn yule logs cut from fruit trees to bring a good harvest in the year to come. All of these customs illustrate the need people feel for a fresh start in their lives.

In the United States the unofficial custom (we think) is to sit in front of the TV and watch football until the pattern comes on and the TV goes off for the night on some stations, but if you have cable football just goes on and on and you can find game playing almost any time or place.

If you aren’t a football fan, you have to find another place in the house where there is a television to watch without football. Then, too, you can entertain yourself with the computer, because there is always someone there to chat with.

Like Thanksgiving, the men (and some women) are gather around the set and can’t be torn away for the New Year’s dinner. Many homes have a buffet so all can take the time to pick out what they would like to eat, but they do it during the commercials. When one game ends another starts and there is no intermission for going to the table and sitting for dinner. Mothers and wives have learned a buffet takes care of everything.

For those of us that aren’t football fanatics, you can find oodles to take up your time. Maybe you decide to take down the Christmas tree and decorations. I like to take the basket of Christmas cards and read them all over again.

During the holiday rush when the cards start arriving, you glance through the mail and save the greeting cards, barely acknowledging who they are from. After the holiday excitement has subsided is a good time to go back and really read and enjoy your cards and letters. It’s the one time that you hear from some of your friends and relatives.

Perhaps you are lucky and are in a family that does traditional things that don’t include football. Maybe you take in a movie that takes you into the theater. So many people rent movies now that they don’t see the inside of a theater that many times anymore. For a family to enjoy a movie in a theater can be quite expensive. Remember when movies were 10 cents for kids and 50 cents for adults? Then, too, if you received ice skates, skis, or snowmobile gear, you go off to enjoy the gift. Maybe you might like to pretend you are in a southern climate or on a cruise ship and go swimming in an indoor pool. You didn’t need to take that holiday trip after all.
So, what have you planned Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions to be kept for the entire year or perhaps until the end of January? I finally gave up on even trying to keep any resolutions...I would forget I had them when I broke one, so...? It’s a waste of time.

Happy New Year, everyone.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Mother's Christmas different

When I was a little girl, my stocking, which was stuffed by Santa, was just as interesting as all of the presents under the tree.

I must take after my mother, because her Christmas stocking was important to her, too. When she was little, there were times that a stocking was all she got for Christmas.

Grandpa came from Switzerland and was a cheese maker, so with seven girls and three boys in her family, money wasn’t always plentiful.

But the family had a lot of love and good times together. The Christmas tree was a gift as much as anything.

The tree was brought in when all of the children were in school and put up and decorated in the parlor with the doors closed.

When the children came home from school they were told that no one was allowed in the parlor until Christmas Eve.

There was as much excitement over seeing the Christmas tree after supper after the dishes were done up and everyone went into the parlor.

Their father lit the candles on the tree and their mother had the bucket of water safely by “just in case.”

My mother has told me about how the children helped string the popcorn and dried berries o decorate the tree.

The bird’s nest that the children hunted for all fall was placed in the tree for good luck
The precious few ornaments that their mother brought from Switzerland were to be viewed but not touched. Grandfather played the accordion and so the children would gather around and sing carols. The Christmas story would be read by mother from the Bible and then it was off to bed to await St. Nicholas. I wonder how many families do this today?

In the morning there would be presents for everyone; my mother often wondered how her parents provided something for all of them.

It might be just one gift each, but there was something. One she received a game her father had made from wood.

In their stockings they would always have an orange, which was a really great treat as fresh fruit in winter time was not plentiful and was costly.

There would be some candy, perhaps a pencil for school, hair ribbons for the girls and always a pair of stockings which were long and mother had knitted.

There were always decorated cookies made only at holiday time and other pastries from recipes that came from the old country.

It was a happy Christmas for all.

How different it is today. Children expect expensive computer games, cellphones, tickets to sports events, expensive jewelry for both boys and girls, small stuffed animals with money tucked in the paw or neck, CDs, DVDs and players.

What would my mom’s siblings think of today’s stuffers?

Please pass on your Christmas memories to the next generations in your own family. Merry Christmas everyone!