A Family Christmas, Circa 1910-15

Over ten years ago my Grandfather sat down and wrote out his memories of Christmas. This year my wife and I will be with him as he celebrates his 98th holiday. I thought his writing might give all a chance to pause and reflect on the one of the true meanings of the season.

A Family Christmas Circa 1910-15 (Bridged Version)

We were a family of ten, living in a small house, still standing, now somewhat remodeled in Clinton, Iowa. The front room, the only room with a rug, unheated, is where Santa performed his magic. It could be entered from either the front porch or the sitting room.

As I look back, Im sure that Christmas was for the small ones. There wasnt money for luxury gifts for the older ones. We younger children received a good Christmas from our parents and older siblings. On the afternoon of Christmas Eve, one of the older children had the duty of taking the younger ones uptown to a movie house. That effectively cleared the house for Santas preparations, because the movie houses were a two and a half mile walk each way. By the time the movie-goers returned, Santa had indeed made the necessary preparations; the door between the sitting room and the front room was tied closed!

But first; supper. Not a dinner; the little ones were too excited for a time-consuming meal. I remember one detail: fudgeons were a tradition. I have a hard time describing fudgeons. They are somewhat like a fritter but more or less spherical, deep-fried, the dough more like that of a raised doughnut, raisins interspersed, and inclined to have little projections which fry deliciously brown and crisp. The fudgeons were rolled in white granulated sugar.

Supper finished, the kitchen, where the family ate, must now be put in order, a never ending task it seemed. Finally, the great moment arrived. Pa went outside to consult with Santa to make sure that Santa was ready (invariably, he was).

When Pa returned, the family lined up at the door to the front room, where Santa had presumably done his duty, the youngest near the door, then up the stair steps, by age. Pa would cut the string closing the door, and thenecstasy!

The tree was alight with real lighted candles (a fire hazard) and decorated with ornaments, tinsel, and stringed popcorn. And under the tree, gaily wrapped gifts.

Our parents gave us all the gifts they could afford; by Grandmother Ns standards more than they should. I remember getting a Wabash sled one ChristmasI had wished for a Flexible Flyer but just having a sled was heaven. One year an Erector starter set; with earnings from my paper route (65 cents a week) and special pieces made by my father, it grew into a dandy, electric motor and all. Never did get shoe ice-skates, but none of my gang did. Of course, Christmas was the time for replenishing clothes.

There was no Christmas stockings, but in the days before Christmas there was always the story of the disobedient boy whose stocking contained only a lump of coal. An orange apiece was a Christmas treat. And, of course, gaudy candies which my great- grandchildrens mothers wouldnt allow them to view through a shop window. Nuts of the boughten varietiesnot the black walnuts and hickory nuts that my brother and I harvested.

Our Christmas dinner was on Christmas Day. A roast goose, and dont knock it! I dont ever remember having a turkey. Apple and raisin dressing, for which I agitated all the years of my wife and Is married life. She, supported by my treacherous daughters and sisters, maintained that it wasnt suitable for turkey. Real mashed potatoes, rich gravy, creamed peas, creamed corn (Niblets were to come years later), and whatever pies came to Mas mind. Always a Non-Such mince-meat pie, and a great variety of cookies, some seasoned with cardamon, some with anise. No saladI cant remember Ma ever having a salad dressing in her house. She made her own for her potato salad, and we did have wilted lettuce in season.

We kids had appropriate Christmas programs in school; most of us dreaded the prospect of the teacher assigning a piece to speak. We had no church affiliation, but the younger ones attended Sunday School at Chancy Chapel, a Baptist mission in our end of town. We were especially faithful in attendance at Christmas, when timely attendance picked up a sack of candy.

And that was Christmas at our house. Meager by today’s standards; measured by the happiness of the youngsters, and the devotion and sacrifice that our parents put into it, surely the equal of any.

Copyright 1990. All Rights reserved. Used by permission.