DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Bad Manners and Brimstone
HTML https://badmanners.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Holidays
*****************************************************
#Post#: 19452--------------------------------------------------
Year-End Holiday Traditions You Loved.
By: Thitpualso Date: November 20, 2018, 5:00 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Since the Christmas tree thread is veering off into traditions,
i thought it might be a good idea to start a thread on
traditions.
My mother was a bit of a Christmas Crazy. The holiday lasted
most of December. The tree went up early and, as gifts were
finished or purchased, Mom and I wrapped them and put them under
the tree. By Christmas Eve morning, the space under the tree
was filled with gifts to be delivered. All the wrappings were
the same.
Because just about everyone with whom we’d exchange gifts lived
within a ten mile radius the cheerful tradition of ‘Bringing Out
the Bags’ developed. Back then, stores had brown paper shopping
bags with stout handles. On the day or two before Christmas Mom
and I would decorate them and tag them with the names of
households. After lunch we’d pack up the bags and delivery
would begin. Dad and I would go out while Mom stayed at home to
serve hot cider or tea and cookies to relatives who were doing
the same thing.
It was great fun. In some homes, my cousins would be trimming
their tree and I was allowed to hang an ornament or two. Our
tree was already dressed but there were always foil wrapped
Santas, angels or snowmen for visiting children to take home.
By Sudown it was all over and the space under our tree was again
filled with packages but they were completely different. It was
a great holiday tradition that I sorely miss.
#Post#: 19518--------------------------------------------------
Re: Year-End Holiday Traditions You Loved.
By: frog24 Date: November 21, 2018, 1:13 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
New Year was the big celebration in our house. The tree went up
a few days before (or after) Christmas, and we'd get to shop all
the sales for presents for each other (lots of new decorations
each year because they were always on sale). Some years, dad
would go out and say to the guys at the hardware store "what are
you doing with those leftover trees?" and they'd just let him
take one, so we had a real tree to decorate.
Each family in our group of friends would take a turn hosting
(so one year the party was at our house, the next year at
another family's) People would arrive around 6 and dinner would
start at 7 with cold salads, smoked fish, and other appetizers.
Then the main course would come out (usually turkey or roast
beef) with all the side dishes.
By 9pm people would get up from the table and dance, or chat,
then around 10 everyone would settle back down (sort of... there
was a lot of booze flowing for the adults) for dessert and tea.
After dessert, more dancing and chit chat. Kids would fall
asleep wherever if they were tired. Some years, we didn't get
home until 5 or 6 in the morning.
The next day, most people would come back again around 2pm to
help polish off the left overs and have a (much more) sedate
visit. The kids were sent out to go ice skating or tobogganing.
Those were really great celebrations.
#Post#: 20515--------------------------------------------------
Re: Year-End Holiday Traditions You Loved.
By: Nikko-chan Date: December 2, 2018, 2:52 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Can we please bring these traditions back? They sound amazing!
#Post#: 20521--------------------------------------------------
Re: Year-End Holiday Traditions You Loved.
By: Thitpualso Date: December 2, 2018, 10:40 am
---------------------------------------------------------
There was also the tradition of the Ellish box.
One year in the early 1950s, an aunt worked at Ellish. This was
THE store in the county. For example, it was the only place
with a bridal salon. Because of aunt’s employee discount, my
mother received her gift in the distinctive Ellish gift box.
This would have been as prized as a box from Tiffany.
Because we were a thrifty tribe boxes got reused from year to
year and went from one side of the family to the other. The
following Christmas, Mom used the box for her SIL’s gift. SIL
used it for a cousin on the other side and the tradition was
born. The box was coming to be considered a special wish for the
New Year.
When the ‘Thank You’ phone calls started around noon on
Christmas Day, the big question was, ‘Who got the box
this time around?’
Everyone liked the game and the box was carefully passed on for
a good 20 years. Of course, cardboard gift boxes don’t last
forever. Over time, the box was repaired again and again. It
began to resemble the Grandfather’s axe story. ‘This is my
Grandfather’s axe. My father replaced the handle and I replaced
the head This is my Grandfather’s axe’. Still, the Ellish name
and logo were always preserved.
Finally, the tradition came to an end. Another aunt thought it
would be a good idea to welcome her son’s fiancée
into the family by wrapping her bridal shower gift in the box.
Unfortunately, no one told her about the tradition. The bride
was disgusted with the ratty box and threw it away.
It may just be coincidence but the marriage lasted no more than
a year.
#Post#: 20526--------------------------------------------------
Re: Year-End Holiday Traditions You Loved.
By: Luci Date: December 2, 2018, 10:48 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Usually we had an open house New Year Eve party where guests
were asked to bring one appetizer. We started about 5PM and just
snacked our way through the evening. Lots of healthful food was
served, just a little richer than necessary. Then we would get
out the champagne and sparkling juice, make the toast, and burn
a calendar if we had a fireplace or campfire. The next day we
had filet mingon grilled or over the campfire for everyone.
(Yes, it was usually below freezing and a little snow on the
ground.) We did this always, in married student's housing, at
our campground, and at our home in small town. We always
included parents, children, grandchildren, and friends. Of
course not everyone was there or dropped in every year. Last
year was the first time we didn’t see our best friends in about
50 years.
Now we are old and tired, but we still have the family over for
those grilled steaks.
#Post#: 20617--------------------------------------------------
Re: Year-End Holiday Traditions You Loved.
By: Thitpualso Date: December 3, 2018, 12:51 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
When I was a child our next door neighbors had the tradition of
grilling steaks for Christmas dinner. They had a brick
fireplace in the back yard and we could see it from our kitchen
window. Late on Christmas morning we’d see the Dad of the house
venture out to do the cooking. Bundled up to the ears, he’d
grill the steaks and then run back into the kitchen with the
tray of steaming meaty goodness.
#Post#: 20626--------------------------------------------------
Re: Year-End Holiday Traditions You Loved.
By: camlan Date: December 3, 2018, 2:26 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
My oldest sibling's birthday is January 1. We always had a
birthday party for him on New Year's Day. I think I was in high
school before I realized what New Year's Eve is all about for
most people. My family never did anything on NYE because of the
birthday party the next day.
New Year's Day just doesn't seem right without birthday cake. If
I'm not seeing my sibling that day, I still make a cake--because
the New Year is celebrating its birthday!
#Post#: 20708--------------------------------------------------
Re: Year-End Holiday Traditions You Loved.
By: Thitpualso Date: December 4, 2018, 1:41 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
In my family, NYE was always a big deal. We’d get all dressed
up and go to Uncle Ned’s house about 9PM in the evening. There
would always be lots of food and drink. Monsignor Smith would
have the pride of place in the comfy chair next to the
television where Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians would be
holding forth.
We were all given funny hats. We all had noisemakers for
Midnight. Monsignor Smith always wore a green top hat. He’d
quietly sit in his chair with a glass of beer in one hand and
his noisemaker in the other. When Midnight came, Monsignor
Smith would blow his noisemaker twice, bless the assembled
throng and go home. He never seemed to be having much fun at
the party but that green top hat could be seen in the back
window of his car For the rest of the year.
Uncle Ned was also the town justice. During the party he might
be called into his office to arraign DUIs or
vandals. It all made for a very unusual family NYE party.
*****************************************************