It’s so easy at this time of year to start reminiscing of years gone by. Ads depict vintage looking family films and memorabilia of Christmases 50 or 60 years ago. We imagine what Christmas might have looked like at the height of Victorian London, thanks to Charles Dickens!
At the same time we eagerly anticipate our own cherished Christmas traditions. Going out to pick a live tree, or bringing down the fake one from the attic and placing the ornaments in just the right place. The inevitable tangle of the lights. The meals we’d eat together and bundling up for the candlelight service. So many pleasant memories to be nostalgic about.
In my family, our main celebration was always on Christmas Eve. We followed the German tradition of opening presents after Dad read the Christmas story in German. We’d celebrate Oma’s birthday, too, because it was on the 24th.
Our meal every Christmas Eve was a big German pot roast with all the trimmings. Afterwards, we’d walk the dog around the block while Mom cleaned up the kitchen. Usually, the youngest kids (one of whom was me) distributed the presents and we’d all go around and open one at a time until the last one was opened. We’d all “oooh and ahhh” over each gift and Mom would carefully collect the used paper to reuse. We’d tease my sister about her wrapping with so much tape. One year, we wrapped her gifts with duct tape. We all laughed and laughed, it was so funny!
Mom would leave first to go to the final choir practice before the midnight service at church. After a little bit, the rest of us would get our coats and hats and scarves and gloves back on to join her at church. Church at night has a different atmosphere than during the day. It was always so hushed and peaceful with the soft glow of the candles while singing Christmas hymns. Truly beautiful.
A couple of my favorite Christmas memories were in my earlier childhood and while Oma was still alive. There was the year Dad bought our very first VCR and rented Back to the Future as the first movie to watch on it. Oma laughed and laughed over it! It still tickles me, thinking of my little German grandma, who lived through WWII, lost everything and immigrated to the US, laughing over that silly, classic movie.
Another fond memory was the year we got our first Nintendo. Both my brothers and I stayed up all night playing Mario and Duck Hunt. Remember Duck Hunt?
Every Christmas morning Mom would make palicinta, or Hungarian pancakes. They’re kind of like the Hungarian version of a crepe and can be sweet or savory. For our Christmas palicinta, we’d spread butter on them and then heap a generous spoonful of our chosen jam, roll them up and pour maple syrup all over.
Christmas Day in our family was usually low-key. It was full of lounging, playing with our new toys and opening stockings. While Oma was still alive, she’d make the traditional German fish dinner for later that day. As we grew up, we still lounged, napped, watched movies together and grazed on hor d’oeuvres throughout the day.
Of course things have shifted as we’ve grown up and siblings have married and started their own families. But we keep the traditions that mean the most to us going. Doing everything we can to connect, even if we’re separated by several states, is as important today as it was for all of those years.
And to you, dear reader, may your Christmas this year be merry and bright with the ones you love!
