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Show December FamifyVkekfyf 2i,im f V a i i j sauce, u cusiara is preiacea oy we toast we inneritea irom my English grandfather, "Now, I mend, drink to thee, friend, as my friend drinks to me, etc" I wonder whether anyone knows the origin of it? I've never been able to locate it After a drowsy lull and the carrying of the real presents from their hiding places to the tree, we gather once more in the living room. We sing to the beautiful sparkling tree and the heaped gifts beneath it. The music is the German "Tannenbaum" (the first Christmas tree came from Germany), but the words are of our own simple devising: O Christmas tree, dear Christmas tree With pretty baubles twining You came to us from snow and cold To shed on us your light of gold; O Christmas tree, dear Christmas tree With holy candles shining. The father of the family acts as Santa Claus and again bestows on each one in rotation. "Its my turn now!"-N-o, irs mine. and I'm getting that big red and gold package with the squashed corners." "Oh, boy, I wonder if Daddy remembered!" Daddy had remembered. Everyone had. Joy is enhanced by the slow attentive pacing, while each gift is opened and acknowledged separately. Gifts from outside the group are duly noted for written thanks later. 9 Christmas A By ANYA I irf4 U WJr I SETON I Arthor of Dfogonwydl,' Woman," md "Dovfl WoW a a a a The "snapdragons" must be snatched from flaming alcohol Christmas," a couplet from each person. We drink only the wassail bowl (a mixture of grape juice, ginger ale, and nutmeg). One of us reads aloud the story of the Nativity from the Bible, and then the whole family hangs up stockings by the fireplace. The little ones will try to stay awake to hear Santa Claus' sleighbells or to see if at midnight the cat and dog will be able to talk all animals are supposed to talk at midnight on Christmas Eve. After supper there is the ceremony of "blessing the silver," a custom often performed at the feast of the Epiphany. For this, the mistress of the house, holding a lighted candle, leads the others through the house while asking a blessing on all possessions, including the pets. One year the furnace was forgotten, and the children refused to believe it a coincidence when it broke down two days later! On Christmas morning the elders must remain in bed until the young ones are gathered in the hall singing "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" before we go to the living room to discover that Santa Claus has indeed visited us again. The stocking presents are opened in rotation so that each gift,has everyone's attention. Then there Is time for a walk, and church for those who hadn't gone the night before, since this family differs from others in opening the tree presents in the afternoon. It prevents that frantic rush of and prolongs the pleasure. Dinner" and Christmas dinner is known as "The Piggy-Figcomes from Tudor England. We have a suckling pig (cranberries for eyes, apple in mouth) and a dried fig souffle with brandied mid-Easte- rn gift-grabbi- ng gy The mistress of the house asks for blessing on all possessions. It will be seven o'clock before our Christmas drama is ended. We are a little sad, as one always is when the curtain falls and the theater darkens. But there are the new presents to enjoy,' new books to read, new games to play, and there is deep satisfaction. Again we have made Christmas come in our hearts. We have joined together in celebrating its true meaning, from the unselfish worshiping of the creche, that picture of Christ's rebirth, through secular jollity and games, to the climax of giving and receiving beside the Christmas tree. Again we have evoked richness and deep security founded on long traditions.,, For two days we have felt an effortless good will, and the memory will sustain us through all the inevitable trouble, storms, and uncertainties of the coming year. And we all agree with the excited cry of the youngest: "Christmas makes you feel good inside Christmas is magic!" Family Weekly, December U, 1967 5 |