When I think of Christmas, I think of the cards, the nativity, decorating the tree and the house, getting together with family, baking, etc. We send out our Christmas cards with our newsletter and often photos too. My mom always sent out tons of Christmas cards mostly with notes or newsletters, but even then she would write a personal note in many of the cards. We helped her get the cards ready to mail as a family. She would set up an assembly line in our living room. We each had our area: Jeannette would sign cards because her handwriting was very nice and legible, Mom would write the addresses on the envelopes, one of us would put the stamps on, and another one would put the return address labels; and often fold and stuff in the newsletter and then seal the envelopes. Then the envelopes were separated by zip codes and rubber banded before being taken to the post office.
We also decorated the house. When we lived in Roseland, Illinois my mom would tape the Christmas cards we received on the Venetian blinds. I didn’t understand why nobody else did that in their living rooms. Card traditions were carried on in our next home in Dolton, Illinois.
Even after Ron and I were married, whenever we visited my parents at Christmas, my mom would show me the cards she received and we would read the newsletters and notes. Often, they were funny and we would laugh about them.
My Dad also did this with me after my mom died. My mom sent cards to everyone, but my Dad’s policy was to wait until he received a card, and then sent one out. For many years, my Dad sent out cards and a newsletter that he wrote. He also wrote letters to friends and family.
This will be the first Christmas without Dad. We miss seeing him. Even when he was in the nursing home, he appreciated our visits. We would talk to him and laugh with him. I miss holding his hand and telling him that I love him. He was a really good Dad. We spent a lot of time with Mom and Dad and I am very glad that we stayed close to them. I know that their influence and example made us who we are today.
So I come from a family of people who write letters and send cards. Sticking with tradition, these days I tape up our cards on the walls, and doors in our Victorian house. I notice that visitors and my girls and my grandchildren will look at them when they come over.
My three girls, granddaughter Jazmyn and I will have our cookie bake soon and carry on the tradition that started with Mom. This year we will have two little girls, Addy and Ayla, in high chairs joining in the fun. I remember when Elizabeth was in my old wooden high chair at Mom’s cookie bake and also when Michelle was and Lisa was there too. We would give them some dough to play with and eat while we made the cookies. Mom gave cookies to everyone she knew and even people she didn’t know very well. It was her way of spreading God’s love. Mom showed love to people all year round, but especially at Christmas time and we are carrying on her legacy.
Ron’s Corner:
Christmas traditions are funny. Often no-one knows where they started or why we feel obligated to carry them on. Maybe it reminds us of happier, more care free days when we were young and in awe of the season. Maybe we feel obligated to pass something on to our children. Or maybe, in some way, we feel we are honoring our parent’s efforts and love.
My experiences are somewhat different than Crystal’s. I really had nothing to do, but enjoy. Mom did most of the work. Oh dad and I would go out and pick the tree and I suppose he mailed the cards and letters and shopped for special foods and for mom’s presents. Of course, he drove us to downtown Chicago every year to enjoy all of the store window decorations and the huge Christmas tree inside Marshall Fields. But honestly he and I were both spoiled. Mom did all of the heavy lifting. She did most of the shopping, cleaning, decorating, wrapping and all of the cooking and baking. She wrote all of those cards every year most with hand written notes. Usually she hosted a tea party for her neighbors and friends during the Christmas season which they totally enjoyed. We never went around with trays of cookies, but inevitably were visited by a number of friends, neighbors and even dad’s business associates. I swear, none would ever be allowed to leave empty handed or hungry. Mom wouldn’t allow that to happen. Occasionally, they would stagger ever so slightly as result of mom’s eggnog. Crystal insists it was more nog than egg.
Even for our girls, Christmas often meant a trip to Chicago and a Mimi Christmas. Mom was still putting on a show into her eighties; though I remember her for the first time complaining about how hard it was becoming to roll out the lebkuchen (German form of gingerbread). The girls and older grandkids enjoyed the Christmas decorations, German cookies, five course dinners, presents wrapped beautifully, and singing Silent Night with Mom and dad on Christmas Eve. They would sing at least one verse in German.
While Crystal and I have hosted a number of Christmases, along with Larry (Crystal’s brother) and Linda (Larry’s wife and Swedish version of mom) as well, our girls seem excited, even grateful to continue Christmas traditions with us and at their homes.
So this year, Crystal and I will be especially grateful as we celebrate the Lord’s birth with warm cookies, friends and family. I’ll bet Heaven has some really wonderful cookies. No eggnog required.
Enter a new member in her new home for her first Christmas. Aylla with mom and Nana Crystal